Health Department

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our administration office at 10777 Main Street in Fairfax is open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Clinic services are not offered at this location.
703-246-2411 TTY 711
10777 Main Street
Fairfax, VA 22030
Gloria Addo-Ayensu, M.D., M.P.H.
Director of Health

Department Resources

Legislative Changes for Minimum Immunization Requirements in Virginia Day Cares and Schools

HEALTH ADVISORY

SUMMARY

Effective July 1, 2021, children will now require four additional vaccines for school entry. The first day of school for Fairfax County Public Schools is August 23rd. Rotavirus vaccine, meningococcal conjugate vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine, and human papillomavirus vaccine are now required vaccines for school entry. This new legislation brings state vaccine requirements for daycare and school entry in alignment with CDC recommendations. 
 

SUGGESTED ACTIONS

  • Children will now need:
    • Rotavirus Vaccine – Two or three properly spaced doses, depending on the manufacturer, for children up to eight months of age, will be required for school/day care entry. 
    • Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) Vaccine – A minimum of 2 doses of MenACWY vaccine is required for school entry. The first dose should be administered prior to entering 7th grade; the minimum age for dose one is 11 years of age. The final dose should be administered prior to entering 12th grade; the minimum age for dose two is 16 years of age.
    • Hepatitis A (HAV) Vaccine – A minimum of 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine is required for school entry. The first dose should be administered at age 12 months or older. The second dose can be administered at least 6 months after the first dose.
    • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine – A complete series of 2 doses of HPV vaccine is required for all students entering the 7th grade. This requirement has been in place for females, but it is now expanded to include males. The first dose shall be administered before the child enters the 7th grade; the minimum age for dose one is 9 years of age. After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parent's or guardian's sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine. 
  • Community mitigation measures during the early COVID-19 pandemic resulted in declines in outpatient pediatric visits and fewer vaccine doses administered, leaving children at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases. Healthcare providers should work with families to keep children up-to-date with all recommended vaccinations.  
  • Strategies to promote vaccination schedule adherence and ensure catch-up vaccination should be implemented, to include reminder and recall systems to identify patients who are due for, or who have missed, vaccine doses. 
  • Vaccination status of all patients should be assessed at every healthcare visit to reduce missed opportunities for vaccination and prevent a back-to-school rush. Consider using standing orders to improve efficiency of catch-up vaccination.
  • Consider offering extended appointment hours to meet the needs of the families in your practice so that children are ready for school.
  • Physicians must provide documentary proof of adequate age-appropriate immunization with the prescribed number of doses for attendance at a public or private elementary, middle or secondary school, child-care center, nursery school, family day care home or developmental center.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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