Monkeypox Vaccine Update

Thus far in the monkeypox response, Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) has received 90 doses of monkeypox vaccinations and administered 74 first or second doses to persons deemed to be at intermediate or high levels of risk to exposure to the virus.

If you are interested in getting a monkeypox vaccine in the BRHD, please fill out this interest form. For information on monkeypox in Virginia, visit the VDH website or call the VDH hotline at 877-829-4682.

Extreme Heat

Last week, the National Weather Service released data trends on severe weather related deaths that were surprising to many. Over the past three decades, heat has caused more deaths each year than any other hazardous weather event. With local temperatures soaring daily, it’s crucial to be able to recognize extreme heat and know how to avoid heat-related illnesses. Follow these tips to stay cool and beat the heat!

Stay hydrated

• Drink water
• Avoid sugary beverages

Wear appropriate clothing

• Remember the 3 Ls → lightweight, light-colored, & loose-fitting

Keep cool

• Stay indoors in air-conditioned environment when possible
• Don’t have AC at home? Visit public places like malls and libraries- even just a couple hours with AC can help your body stay cooler when you’re back in the heat

Plan outdoor activities carefully

• Stick to shady areas
• Limit activities to early morning or later evening when temperatures are lowest
• Wear sunscreen

Pace yourself

• Cut down on exercise → exertion may increase your risk of heat-related illness
• If you start feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or short of breath, STOP all activity

Do NOT leave children or pets in cars

• Even cracking the windows isn’t enough to prevent heat exhaustion or stroke

To read more about the CDC’s tips to stay safe in extreme heat, visit their website.

COVID-19 Vaccine Opportunities

Back to School Bash on the Downtown Mall

Does your child still need a COVID-19 vaccination before the new school year starts? Get back into the swing of things with us at the Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 20 from 10 AM - 12 PM at Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall (700 East Main Street, Charlottesville). We’ll be offering free COVID-19 vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and up, and boosters for everyone ages 5 years and older on the BRHD Mobile Unit or “Mobi”. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred for ages 6 months to 5 years- schedule an appointment here.

Homebound Baby Vaccines

Do you know someone with a 6 mo - 11 yr old that's unable to take their child to a vaccine site due to mobility, childcare, or transportation issues? We can bring baby vaccines to them! Complete this form on our website to request a homebound vaccine. We service homebound vaccinations once a month on the first Monday from 9:30am-4:30pm.

National Immunization Awareness Month

With so many children having fallen behind on routine immunizations over the past two years and schools opening their doors, what better time than now to talk about National Immunization Awareness Month (NAIM)? This annual recognition is intended to highlight the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life… not just during a pandemic! 

Virginia has seen an overall decline in routine immunization rates since 2015, notably among kindergarten aged children in private and public schools over the 2021-2022 school year. Particularly for young children, forgoing routine immunizations leaves the door open to serious diseases like whooping cough (pertussis), measles, and others. Lack of immunization uptake, among children and adults alike, can lead to the spread of vaccine-preventable disease. As we’ve seen with the current COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable populations like the elderly, disabled, and immunocompromised face the highest risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Taken with how many healthcare staff are burnt out from the last two years of COVID-19 response, it’s more crucial than ever to do your part in protecting yourself and your community.

Routine Immunization Schedule for Adults

Not quite sure what vaccinations you are recommended to receive? Visit the CDC Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool webpage and answer a few questions to find out what immunizations you might be missing! This assessment tool is intended for adults ages 19+ years old.

Routine Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents

For those with children or adolescents ages 18 and younger, take a look at the CDC’s Immunization Schedule Table webpage to determine which immunizations are recommended and when they should be administered.

Fallen behind on the recommended schedule and not sure when to seek vaccinations now? Check out the CDC’s Catch-Up Immunization Schedule Table webpage for ages 18 and under who are a month or more behind on the schedule.

National Breastfeeding Month

"Together We Can Do Great Things"

This August we’re also recognizing National Breastfeeding Month (NBM), hosted by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC). This month-long campaign, with this year’s theme of “Together We Can Do Great Things,” began in 2011 with an official proclamation from USBC outlining the variety of benefits to both infants and breastfeeding parents, as well as the need for our healthcare providers and organizations to actively engage in programs designed to increase breastfeeding rates.

To learn more about each week’s hosting organization(s) and how you can get involved, check out the hyperlinks below!

• Week 1: World Breastfeeding Week
• Dates: August 1-7
• Theme: Educate and Support

• Week 2: Indigenous Milk Medicine Week
• Dates: August 8-14
• Theme: Strengthening Our Traditions From Birth and Beyond

• Week 3: Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week
• Dates: August 15-21
• Theme: Telling Our Own Stories: Elevating Our Voices

• Week 4: Black Breastfeeding Week (BBW)
• Dates: August 25-31
• Theme: BBW 2022: 10 Years, A New Foundation