BRHD Newsletter 12/29/2023

Updates to Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

and the Return of Test & Go

Beginning January 2024, we will no longer host walk-in Monday COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department, but you still have one more chance to get vaccinated without an appointment! We are hosting a walk-in COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinic on Friday, January 5 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (1138 Rose Hill Dr, Charlottesville VA 22903) through Door #1. Call 434-972-6269 or visit the BRHD website for more information on this clinic.

Blue Ridge Health District. Flu & COVID-19 Vaccines. Walk-in flu vaccines for ages 2+ years and COVID-19 vaccines for ages 6+ months. Friday, January 5 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department. 1138 Rose Hill Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Door #1. Providing regular flu vaccines for ages 2 years and older and COVID-19 vaccines for ages 6 months - adults. Walk-in only. No appointments. Vaccine quantity is limited & will be given on a first come, first served basis. How to prepare: bring proof of insurance. Uninsured children and adults are eligible for vaccines at reduced cost. Minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian aged 18+. For more information: 434-972-6269, BlueRidgeHD.org

Distrito de Salud de Blue Ridge. Vacunas contra la gripe y COVID-19. Vacunas contra la gripe sin cita previa disponsible para mayores de 2 años y vacunas COVID-19 para mareos de 6 meses. Viernes, 5 de enero de 1:00 a 5:00 PM. Departamento de Salud de Charlottesville/Albemarle. 1138 Rose Hill Dr, Charlottesville VA. Puerto #1. Proporcionamos vacunas regulares contra la gripe para mayores de 2 años y vacunas COVID-19 para mareos de 6 meses a adultos. Solo visitas sin cita previa. La cantidad de vacunas es limitada y se administrará por orden de llegada. Cómo prepárate: traiga una copia de su seguro. Los niños y adultos sin seguro pueden optar por vacunas a precio reducido. Los menores deben estar acompañados por un padre/tutor mayor de 18 años. Para mas información: 434-972-6269, BlueRidgeHD.org.

Don't worry if you cannot make this final walk-in clinic: Flu and COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be offered during our local health departments’ standard immunization clinics. Appointments are required for immunizations and can be made by calling your local health department. Visit our Immunizations webpage for more information on our clinic offerings, including immunizations.

Blue Ridge Health District Immunization Clinics. For infants, children, and adults at each locality’s health department. Available vaccines include: school-required vaccines (ex: TDap, Meningococcal), COVID-19 vaccines, regular dose flu vaccines, Hepatitis B vaccines, and more! Insurance and cost information: bring proof of insurance. Many immunizations are available at reduced cost to eligible individuals. Exception: uninsured individuals are eligible for COVID-19 and flu vaccination at reduced cost only while supplies last. Minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian aged 18+. By appointment only- no walk-ins. Call your local health department to schedule. Charlottesville/Albemarle: 434-972-6269. Greene County: 434-985-2262. Fluvanna County: 434-591-1960. Louisa County: 540-967-3703. Nelson County: 434-263-8315. BlueRidgeHD.org.

Distrito de Salud de Blue Ridge Clínicas de Inmunización. Para bebés, niños, y adultos en el departamento de salud de cada localidad. Las vacunas disponibles incluyen: vacunas obligatorias en las escuelas (ej.: Tdap, VPH, meningocócico), vacunas contra el COVID-19, vacunas contra la hepatitis B, dosis regulares de vacunas contra la gripe, ¡y más! Información sobre seguros y costos: traiga un comprobante de su seguro. Muchas vacunas están disponibles a un costo reducido para las personas elegibles. Excepción: las personas sin seguro son elegibles para recibir la vacuna contra el COVID-19 y la gripe a un costo reducido solo hasta agotar existencias. Los menores deben estar acopañados por el padre/la madre/el tutor mayor de 18 años. Solo con cita previa, so se atiende sin cita. Llame a su departamento de salud local para programar una cita. Charlottesville/Albemarle: 434-972-6269. Condado de Greene 434-985-2262. Condado de Fluvanna: 434-591-1960. Condado de Louisa: 540-967-3703. Condado de Nelson: 434-263-8315. BlueRidgeHD.org.

After a much-anticipated wait, BRHD’s Test & Go is returning in January and will be held the 3rd Tuesday each month from 4:30 – 6:00 PM (or when capacity is reached) at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (1138 Rose Hill Drive, Charlottesville 22903) through Door #1. Call 434-972-6269 or visit the BRHD website for more information on sexual health services, including Test & Go.

BRHD Test & Go. Free Walk-in STI Testing. 3rd Tuesday of every month from 4;30 - 6:00 PM beginning January 16, 2024. First come, first served. Limited capacity. We provide free testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis B & C. Exams and treatment are not available at this event. Location: Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department. 1138 Rose Hill Drive Entrance #1, Charlottesville VA 22903. STI testing is free for everyone! No ID needed. Free safer sex items like condoms, dental dams, and lube will be available. For more information, call 434-972-6269.

BRHD Test & Go. Pruebas gratuitas de ITS sin cita previa requerida. Cada 3er martes de cada mes de 4:30 a 6:00 PM a partir del 16 de enero de 2024. Por orden de llegada. Capacidad limitada. Proporcionamos pruebas gratuitas de gonorrea, clamidias, VIH, Hepatitis B & C, y sífilis. Los exámenes y tratamientos no están disponibles en este evento. Ubicación: Departamento de Salud de Charlottesville/Albemarle. 1138 Rose Hill Drive, Entrada #1, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Las pruebas de ITS son gratuitas para todos! No se necesita identificación. Habrá artículos gratuitos para sexo más seguro, como condones, protectora dentales y lubricantes. Llame para más información: 434-972-6269.

January Infant Safety Class

Free infant safety class for new and expecting families. Grandparents welcome! When and where: Saturday, January 13 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department. 1138 Rose Hill Drive, Charlottesville VA 22903. Enter at Door #3. What to expect: medication safety, friends & family CPR (non-certification), choking hazard prevention, room-by-room baby proofing, and local resources. Questions? Contact Diane Sampson. Phone: 434-972-6214. Email: Diane.Sampson@vdh.virginia.gov.

BRHD’s Maternal Child Health (MCH) Program is back to host another in-person comprehensive Infant Safety Class! This class is free and open to any new or expecting parents, grandparents, family members, or others who may be caring for newborns in our District. It will cover a variety of topics, including:

Safe medication storage
Choking hazard prevention
Room-by-room home baby proofing
American Heart Association (AHA) Friends & Family CPR (non-certification)
Local and national resources

This event will take place on Saturday, January 13 from 10:00AM-12:00PM inside the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (1138 Rose Hill Dr, Charlottesville). Enter through Door #3. Pre-registration is required- fill out the Infant Safety Class Registration Form on our website to RSVP. For any questions, email Diane Sampson, BRHD Maternal and Child Health Program Coordinator.

2024 Naloxone Distribution Schedule

Naloxone is a nasal spray used to treat opioid overdoses in an emergency. As most accidental overdoses occur in a home setting, it was developed specifically for first responders and any family, friends, or bystanders without medical training who may encounter an overdose.

Each month, BRHD hosts free naloxone trainings at each local health department! Individuals are trained on how to identify an overdose and properly administer naloxone. In addition to receiving free naloxone, community members can pick up rapid in-home HIV test kits, condoms, lube, and other health-related supplies at no cost. We are excited to announce the January – June schedule for 2024 Naloxone distribution!

Free Rapid Revive Naloxone training. Also offering free rapid in-home HIV test kits, condoms, fentanyl testing strips, Xylazine Test Strips, Benzodiazepines Test Strips, and other educational materials. Location: Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (1138 Rose Hill Dr, Charlottesville VA). Dates: third Monday of the month (January 22, February 26, March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, 2024). Hours: 3:00 to 4:00 PM. Location: Fluvanna County Health Department (132 Main St, Palmyra VA). Dates: second Tuesday of the month (January 9, February 13, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, 2024). Hours: 3:00 to 4:00 PM. Location: Greene County Health Department (50 Stanard St, Stanardsville VA). Dates: second Tuesday of the month (January 9, February 13, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, 2024). Hours: 3:00 to 4:00 PM. Location: Louisa County Health Department (101 Woolfolk Ave Suite 202, Louisa VA). Dates: third Wednesday of the month (January 17, February 21, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 26, 2024). Hours: 3:00 to 4:00 PM. Location: Nelson County Health Department (4038 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Arrington VA). Dates: third Tuesday of the month (March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, 2024). Hours: 3:00 to 4:00 PM. No ID or payment required. For more information, call Shannon Meade at 434-872-1017.

Capacitación gratuita sobre el reanimador rápido naloxona. También se ofrecen kits rápidos gratuitos para realizarse la prueba de VIH en el hogar, condones, tiras de prueba de fentanilo, tiras de prueba de xilacina, tiras de prueba de benzodiacepinas y otros materiales educativos. Ubicación: Departamento de Salud de Charlottesville/Albemarle (1138 Rose Hill Drive (Puerto #1) Charlottesville, VA). Fechas: 3er lunes de cada mes (22 de enero, 26 de febrero, 18 de marzo, 15 de abril, 20 de mayo, 17 de junio, 2024). Horario: 3:00 a 4:00 PM. Ubicación: Departamento de Salud del Condado de Fluvanna (132 Main Street, Palmyra VA). Fechas: 2o martes de cada mes (9 de enero, 13 de febrero, 12 de marzo, 9 de abril, 14 de mayo, 11 de junio, 2024). Horario: 3:00 a 4:00 PM. Ubicación: Departamento de Salud del Condado de Greene (50 Stanard Street, Stanardsville VA). Fechas: 2o martes de cada mes (9 de enero, 13 de febrero, 12 de marzo, 9 de abril, 14 de mayo, 11 de junio, 2024). Horario: 3:00 a 4:00 PM. Ubicación: Departamento de Salud del Condado de Louisa (101 Woolkfolk Ave Suite 202, Louisa VA). Fechas: 3er miércoles de cada mes (17 de enero, 21 de febrero, 20 de marzo, 17 de abril, 15 de mayo, 26 de junio, 2024). Horario: 3:00 a 4:00 PM. Ubicación: Departamento de Salud del Condado de Nelson (4038 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Arrington VA). Fechas: 3er martes del mes (19 de marzo, 16 de abril, 21 de mayo, 18 de junio, 2024). Horario: 3:00 a 4:00 PM. No se requiere identificación ni pago. Para obtener más información, llame a Shannon Meade al 434-872-1017.

For a full list of BRHD Narcan distribution events, including flyers for each locality, visit our Opioids webpage or call 434-484-0255.

New Community Health Workers Office Hours

Community Health Worker Jacinto Gonzalez stands outside at the top of a hill that extends to a small clearing with trees behind him. His hands rest comfortably in the pockets of his navy-blue zip-up as he smiles brightly at the camera.

BRHD Community Health Workers (CHWs) have released their Office Hours schedules for January – March! CHWs routinely host Office Hours throughout the District to connect community members with services and resources (like housing or food) and provide education on different health topics, translation services, and a range of other types of support and assistance. Stop in and meet them sometime!

To view the Office Hours schedules by locality for January through March, visit our Community Health Workers webpage .

UVA Cancer Center Focus Group

Are you at least 50 years old and a smoker or former smoker? We would like to hear from you. The University of Virginia Cancer Center is conducting a study to create educational materials to help patients learn more about lung cancer screening. Participants will complete a brief survey and join small group discussions. Participation is voluntary. Participants will receive $50 for each discussion session for a total of up to $100. For more information, please contact Iqra Haji at 434-924-2074 or aay3kj@uvahealth.org, or scan the QR code in the bottom right-hand corner.

The University of Virginia’s Cancer Center is conducting a study to create educational materials that help patients learn more about lung cancer screening- but they need your help! They are recruiting participants aged 50+ who are current or past smokers for this educational study. Participants will join up to 2 focus groups and share their thoughts and opinions on educational materials. They will be compensated $50 for each focus group they join, for a total of up to $100.

If you are or anyone you know is interested, you can learn more on the UVA Cancer Center website .

BRHD offices will be closed Monday, January 1

We will resume normal operating hours at 8:00am on Tuesday, January 2.

Cheers to a healthy start to 2024 for you and all you love. We look forward to continuing to serve you in the new year!

E: BRHD Holiday Hours. BRHD will be closed all day on Monday, January 1 in observance of New Year’s day. BlueRidgeHD@vdh.virginia.gov. www.BlueRidgeHD.org.

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