Fairfax County Health District Expands Community Vaccination Clinics for Childhood and School-Required Immunizations
The Fairfax County Health Department is offering nine additional community childhood vaccination clinics and has expanded district office hours to provide Tdap vaccine at three clinics in Fairfax County. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of one of the free vaccination clinic opportunities soon so their children are immunized in time for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Vaccines are still required to enroll into Fairfax County Public Schools even though all students will start the year with virtual learning.
“We know families are hesitant to venture out for routine health services, like vaccines, during the pandemic,” said the Health Department’s Director of Health Services Shauna Severo. “However, as restrictions continue to ease, children not up to date on their immunizations will be at greater risk for vaccine-preventable illnesses. Equally important, parents need to remember that school-required immunizations are mandatory, even when distance learning this fall.”
Today’s childhood vaccines protect against potentially life-threatening illnesses, including polio, measles, whooping cough and chickenpox. Seventh graders and transfer students also need a booster dose of Tdap vaccine before entering 7th grade. Preteens and teens need vaccines like HPV, which protects them against certain types of cancer later in life.
To allay parents’ concerns of visiting a community vaccination clinic or a district office, the Health Department will adhere to strict safety protocols to limit exposure to others. To protect families at the community vaccination clinics and district offices, only a select number of appointments per site will be made available.
Visitors will be asked to limit the number of individuals they bring to the appointment and will require everyone 2 years of age and older to wear face coverings that cover their nose and mouth. In addition, the Health Department will be conducting temperature checks at the entrance, visitors will be spaced at least 6-feet apart, and vaccination stations will be separated by partitions.
Community vaccination clinics offering childhood immunizations:
- July 25, 10am–2pm: Bethlehem Baptist, 7836 Fordson Rd., Alexandria
- August 8, 10am–2pm: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5800 Backlick Rd., Springfield
- August 15, 10am–2pm: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 3305 Glen Carlyn Rd., Bailey’s Crossroads
- August 17, 2pm–6pm: London Towne Elementary, 6100 Stone Rd., Centreville
- August 20, 2pm–6pm: Annandale District Office, 7611 Little River Tnpk, #400E, Annandale
- August 29, 10am–2pm: Mt. Vernon District Office, 8350 Richmond Hwy, #233, Alexandria
- September 5, 10am–2pm: Annandale District Office, 7611 Little River Tnpk, #400E, Annandale
Vaccination clinics offering school required Tdap immunizations:
- July 21, 4pm–7pm: Joseph Willard Health Center, 3750 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax
- July 31, 1pm–4pm:
- Herndon-Reston District Office, 1850 Cameron Glen Dr., #100, Reston
- Joseph Willard Health Center, 3750 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax
- Mount Vernon District Office, 8350 Richmond Hwy, #233, Alexandria
- August 4, 4pm–7pm: Mount Vernon District Office, 8350 Richmond Hwy, #233, Alexandria
- August 11, 4pm–7pm: Herndon-Reston District Office, 1850 Cameron Glen Dr., #100, Reston
- August 14, 1pm–4pm:
- Herndon-Reston District Office, 1850 Cameron Glen Dr., #100, Reston
- Joseph Willard Health Center, 3750 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax
- Mount Vernon District Office, 8350 Richmond Hwy, #233, Alexandria
- August 21, 1pm–4pm:
- Herndon-Reston District Office, 1850 Cameron Glen Dr., #100, Reston
- Joseph Willard Health Center, 3750 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax
- Mount Vernon District Office, 8350 Richmond Hwy, #233, Alexandria
- August 28, 1pm–4pm:
- Herndon-Reston District Office, 1850 Cameron Glen Dr., #100, Reston
- Joseph Willard Health Center, 3750 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax
- Mount Vernon District Office, 8350 Richmond Hwy, #233, Alexandria
To schedule an appointment, call 703-246-6010, TTY 711. To minimize face-to-face time during the vaccination clinic, families are encouraged to send a picture of their child’s vaccination record ahead of time.
Parents, especially those with children under 2, are also encouraged to call their child’s provider to see if any vaccinations are due. Now more than ever, it’s important that families stay connected to their medical home and get their children vaccinated on time.
“We want to ensure our children stay healthy and encourage parents to check their children’s vaccination records,” said Ms. Severo. “If you don’t know the status of your child’s vaccination, once you have called to make an appointment, a nurse will review your child’s record to determine what vaccines are needed.”
Why Vaccines Are Important
When people are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk for diseases and can also spread diseases to others in their community — including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer or other health conditions.
“Every dose of every vaccine is important to protect you and others in the community from infectious diseases,” said Ms. Severo.
More information on childhood vaccinations can be found on the Health Department’s Childhood Immunizations webpage.