Monkeypox Updates

Monkeypox Vaccines

In order to better align with CDC guidance, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) have expanded the qualifying criteria individuals must meet to receive a monkeypox vaccine. 

The broadened guidelines for monkeypox vaccine eligibility now include any Virginia residents who belong to at least one of the following communities:

• People, of any sexual orientation or gender, who have had anonymous or multiple (more than one) sexual partners in the past two weeks; or
• Sex workers of any sexual orientation or gender; or
• Staff, of any sexual orientation or gender, at establishments where sexual activity occurs.

If you are interested in getting a monkeypox vaccine in BRHD, please fill out the new state-wide interest form from VDH. If you are eligible, someone from BRHD will contact you with information on how to schedule a vaccine appointment using the VASE+ system. Please note: the prior BRHD monkeypox vaccination form is no longer active. We are using the state’s interest form now. Anyone who has already utilized the old form and was not eligible at the time of completion will be contacted individually.

For information or data on monkeypox in Virginia, visit the updated VDH monkeypox website or call the VDH hotline at 877-829-4682.

Tell Your Partner Anonymous Messaging Platform

Timely notification of exposure can make a big difference in reducing transmission, but people who test positive for monkeypox may fear notifying their contacts due to misconceptions surrounding the virus and transmission. Helping to combat this stigma is TellYourPartner.org, a secure online platform that recognizes the importance of shame-free messaging around exposure to disease and illness via intimate close contact. Using a secure system, TYP sends anonymous text messages notifying contacts of exposure while maintaining privacy and confidentiality for both parties.

How does it work? 

After visiting the website homepage and clicking the “Send a Text” button, users are prompted to provide their partner’s phone number and select from a list which disease should be tested for. After confirming with the user that the information is correct, TYP sends a notification of exposure message to the contact. The text will read something like this: “This is an important message about your health. Through an anonymous notification service, one of your sexual partners wants to let you know that you may have been exposed to (disease selected will be listed here). Since you may not have symptoms, we recommend getting tested. For more information, including how to find a free clinic, please visit https://tellyourpartner.org/info. If you feel you are getting this text as a form of harassment, please text back REPORT.”

Birth & Baby Talks is Back!

Expecting a baby?! Join our FREE Birth & Baby Talks virtual series on Mondays this fall! This series is hosted by Diane Sampson, Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and will provide you with tips and tools for labor and postpartum care. The classes are fast-paced, will have helpful graphics, time for questions, and local resources. The schedule is:

• All About Labor - Monday, September 12 from 6:30-8:30 PM
• All About Birth - Monday, September 19 from 6:30-8:30 PM
• OMG- Baby in the House! - Monday, September 26 from 6:30-8:30 PM
• Preparing for Postpartum - Monday, October 3 from 6:30-8:30 PM

Fill out this pre-registration form to attend one or all of the virtual talks by September 9th. Questions? Contact Diane at Diane.Sampson@vdh.virginia.gov or 434-972-6241.

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

Novavax Vaccine Now Available for Unvaccinated Individuals Ages 12+

Novavax is a two-dose series intended only for those ages 12+ who haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccine yet. So how does it work? Harmless SARS-COV-2 spike proteins in the vaccine provide your immune system with a blueprint for building an immune response. That response produces antibodies that can protect you if exposed to the virus. To learn more about the Novavax vaccine, visit the CDC’s Novavax website.

Interested in getting vaccinated with Novavax? Sign up now >>

Louisa Novavax Clinic | Nelson Novavax Clinic | Greene Novavax Clinic

Vaccines are also available at the Costco Pharmacy (3171 District Ave, Charlottesville) and the Giant Food Store Pharmacy (1900 Abbey Road, Charlottesville) in Albemarle County. 

BRHD Health Department Vaccine Clinic Schedules for September

To prepare for the anticipated release of Pfizer’s Bivalent booster  –  the new formulation of COVID-19 vaccine designed to protect against two omicron variants -– all vaccine clinics held at our health departments and MOBI on the Mall will only be offering Bivalent boosters for ages 12+ during the month of September. We will accommodate any children (6 month-11 year old) who are currently scheduled to receive their 2nd or 3rd dose by appointment, but we will also be administering ALL kids’ doses (1st-booster) on Saturday, September 17, from 10:00am-12:00pm at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department. Sign up for a kids’ vaccine on September 17 here.

Kids’ Vaccine Clinic Tomorrow at Southwood Community Center

Stop by Southwood Community Center tomorrow, Saturday, August 27 from 3-5pm, to vaccinate your child without having to exit the car! We’ll be administering vaccines to children ages 6 months to 11 years, with boosters available to ages 5-11 years. Minors must be accompanied by a consenting adult. Appointments are preferred, but not required. Sign up for an appointment at Southwood here.

Homebound Vaccines

Unable to travel to a vaccine site due to mobility, childcare, or transportation issues? We can bring COVID-19 vaccines to you! We service homebound vaccinations by appointment only for ages 12+ years on Tuesday and Thursdays, and ages 6 months - 11 years on the first Monday of the month. To request an appointment for a child under 12, complete this interest form. To request an appointment for ages 12+ years, email our Homebound Coordinator Cassidy Moore at cassidy.moore@vdh.virginia.gov.

Closed for Labor Day

BRHD offices and clinics will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022 in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen at 8:30am on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

COVID-19 testing hosted by UVA Health on Monday, September 5, will be canceled. UVA Health will resume COVID-19 testing on Tuesday, September 6. View our COVID-19 testing schedule here.

National Preparedness Month: “A Lasting Legacy”

We’ve seen quite a few examples of extreme severe weather in 2022, and there’s no better time than now to get ready! September is National Preparedness Month and this year’s theme is “A Lasting Legacy”. The life you’ve built is worth protecting; prepare for disasters to create a lasting legacy for you and your family! 

Establishing a plan should always be the first priority of any preparedness strategy. This will look different for everyone, because it should be specific to you and your household. FEMA recommends a four-step process for establishing your emergency preparedness blueprint:

1. Plan out your course of action for an emergency
2. Consider specific daily living needs of your household 
3. Fill out a Family Emergency Plan so everyone is aware
4. Practice the plan!

Visit ready.gov/plan to create your family emergency plan. For households or families with disabled individuals, check out ready.gov/disability to ensure sure your preparedness plan properly meets their necessary accessibility needs.

National Food Safety Education Month

Hosting a BBQ or tailgate soon? Get prepped with National Food Safety Education Month! Learning the do’s and don’ts of food-safe meal prep can help avoid foodborne illness. To make sure the food you serve is safe, the FDA advises everyone to use these four steps when preparing food:

1. Clean → wash hands, utensils, and surfaces often
2. Separate → don’t cross contaminate
3. Cook → to the right temperature
4. Chill → refrigerate and freeze food properly

To learn more about safe food preparation and handling, visit the Health and Human Services food safety website.