VDH confirms a rabies case in Clarke County
A press release from Risk Communications Manager Lorrie Andrew- Spear of the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) warns of rabies.
The press release confirms a case of rabies in the northeast area of Berryville.
Residents are reminded to vaccinate their pets and keep up to date with inoculations.
Where the kitten that was diagnosed is no longer a threat precautions should be taken.
Residents are asked to not leave food out for strays or wild animals.
Should you or your pet be bitten, scratched or licked by an unknown animal it is best to report it to your local health department for advice.
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VDH expands free COVID-19 testing in the LFHD
An email from Lorrie Andrew-Spear of the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Communications Office announced the expansion of COVID-19 testing.
The Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) will now have free COVID-19 testing every Wednesday in February including today Feb. 2.
The clinics will be held each Wed. at the Warren County Health and Human Services Complex at 465 W. 15 Street Front Royal from 1 until 3 p.m..
Enter the clinic on the gymnasium side of the building wearing your mask and have a photo identification with you.
There is no registration required for the clinic and it is on a first come first served basis.
The clinics are for anyone 2 years of age and over.
All those under the age 18 are required to have a parent or guardian with them.
Walk ups will be accepted.
This is the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test with results relayed in as few as three days.
No rapid test will be available at these clinics.
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VDH offers free COVID-19 vaccinations in Shenandoah VA. tomorrow 1/21
The Virginia Department of Health’ s (VDH) Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) has teamed up with Dollar General Stores to offer COVID-19 vaccinations.
A VDH email announced that the Dollar General Store in Shenandoah Virginia will offer a vaccination clinic tomorrow Jan. 21.
The clinic will offer vaccinations at the 727 4 Street Shenandoah Virginia location from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
The clinic will offer first, second, primary and booster doses of the vaccines.
All three of the vaccines will be available at the clinic.
Anyone 5 and older is eligible for certain vaccines.
Everyone under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to be vaccinated.
Walk ups are welcomed but appointments can also be made at vase.vdh.virginia.gov.
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Dr. Greene joins Gov. Youngkin’s health team
Governor Glenn Youngkin on the official Governor Web Page announced several key administrative appointments.
Youngkin calls the appointments the most important management team he has ever assembled.
Telling Virginians that they can rest assured they have brought together the most qualified team that they deserve.
One of those appointments includes the current Director of the Lord Fairfax Health District Dr. Colin Greene as the acting commissioner of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).
Dr. Greene will continue to serve as the director of the Lord Fairfax Health District but expects to have a replacement ready within the week.
Dr. Greene will replace out going commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver who served under Gov. Northam.
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Free COVID-19 tests in Front Royal
The Virginia Department of Health is offering free COVID-19 tests in Front Royal.
On the next three Wednesdays, January 19th, 26th and February 2nd, free tests will be offered at the Warren County Health and Human Services Complex.
The test available will be the three-day PCR test.
No rapid tests will be given.
Tests will be given on a first come, first serve basis with no cost or insurance needed.
Walk-ups are encouraged as no appointments are required.
Please bring a mask and your ID if attending.
For more information about this event, call (434)713-5199 or (434)766-9800.
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VDH will open more community COVID-19 testing centers
An email from Governor Northam announced that the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) will open more COVID-19 testing centers in the state.
Nine new Community Testing Centers will increase testing availability across the Commonwealth.
The centers are expected to open around or near the same locations that were used as vaccination centers previously.
The new centers will be funded by an initial $5 million from the VDH.
The VDH is seeking funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse expenses.
Statewide testing sites are projected to perform over 50,000 test in the month of January alone.
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VDH closes all community vaccination centers today 1/3
A social post from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced the closing of all of its community Vaccination Centers today Jan. 3.
Individuals with appointments will be notified by email or text.
Visit vase.vdh.virginia.gov to reschedule your appointment.
The VDH is expected to make a decision this afternoon Jan. 3 on reopening tomorrow Jan. 4.
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Samuel’s Public Library offers home COVID-19 testing kits
An email from Samuels Public Library announced that home COVID-19 testing kits are now available through Dec. 31 at the library.
Samuel’s Library joined libraries across the state and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) in an effort to bring testing to more rural and remote communities.
A virtually guided COVID-19 antigen card home test is for use in your home with digital results in 15 minutes.
A person using the test will need an internet connected device enabled with a camera and a microphone, smartphone or laptop to be a part of the virtual testing session.
More on Samuel’s Public Library and the program is available here.
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VDH launches a new COVID-19 Health Equity Dashboard
A new dashboard from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) provides accurate information on the breakdown of ethnic groups is being reported by ABC and NBC news.
Using rate ratios information the enhancement shows COVID-19’s impact on various communities.
Along with demographics, community transmission, outbreaks, cases by vaccination status and hospitalizations.
The newly created enhancement shows up to the minute data on disparities among racial and ethnic groups as well.
The Health Equity enhanced Dashboard is found here.
You will find all important COVID-19 information including vaccination updates at vdh.virginia.gov.
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LFHD offering Pfizer-BioNTech Booster Covid-19 Vaccines
(Winchester, Va.) — Beginning immediately, the Virginia Department of Health’s Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) will offer vaccine boosters for the Pfizer-BioNTechCOVID-19 vaccine in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) below. The booster vaccine can be obtained anytime after 6 months from the date of second Pfizer vaccine. Please note that only those who have received two shots of Pfizer vaccine and meet the following criteria are eligible:
- people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series
- people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series
- people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks
- people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizerprimary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) encourages all eligible persons to get their COVID-19 vaccine if they haven’t already done so. To find a vaccination site near you, visitvase.vdh.virginia.gov or visitwww.vaccines.gov.
“The COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness may decrease slowly after six months, but people still have strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death,” said Dr. Colin Greene, director of LFHD. “The CDC recommends that the booster dose be given six months or more after the second shot, but individuals who have not yet received a booster will still be considered fully vaccinated.”
LFHD will offer COVID-19 boosters on a walk-in basis at all five local health department clinics. Look for the sign outside the clinic.
Again, those who received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are not authorized for booster doses at this time. We expect additional recommendations regarding these vaccines in the coming weeks.
If you are coming for your booster dose, wear a mask and please bring your vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine you received for your second dose. We recommend you wait at the clinic site for 15 minutes after receiving the booster dose.
For more information on COVID-19 in Virginia, visit vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus. Find convenient, free vaccination locations near you by visiting vaccinate.virginia.gov or calling 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1).