BRHD COVID-19 Hotline Ends January 31

After nearly three years of operating and over 81,000 calls answered, the BRHD COVID-19 hotline will close at the end of this month on Tuesday, January 31. The VDH state-wide COVID-19 Resource Hotline will remain open and can be reached at 877-829-4682 on Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm. You can continue to email us with questions related to COVID-19 at BlueRidgeHD@vdh.virginia.gov and we will continue to update our COVID-19 testing and vaccine web pages with the latest resources. We are grateful for the many staff and volunteers who have dedicated thousands of hours towards answering calls since the hotline launched in March 2020!

BRHD COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in January

Have you gotten a COVID-19 booster vaccine yet? During the month of January, the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department will offer Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and bivalent boosters to anyone 6 months+ at the following clinics:  

• Friday, January 20 from 8:30-11:30am 
• Tuesday, January 24 from 8:30-11:30am and 1-4pm 

All clinics will take place inside the Health Department through door #1. Vaccinations are by appointment only. No walk-ins are available. Schedule an appointment by searching VASE+ via zip code 22903.  

Tobacco Free Tuesdays

It may be a new year, but Tobacco Free Tuesdays are still here! Join us on Tuesday, January 17 from 10-11am to hear from Marlena Parson, PMNHP-BC, with the Duke Smoking Cessation Program and Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) training program. Marlena will be talking about what it means to be a TTS and the pharmacology of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and cessation medication. Participants should register via Zoom and are encouraged submit questions for the Q&A portion.

Make My Test Count

Want to help public health institutions better track COVID-19? The National Institute of Health (NIH) has launched Make My Test Count (MMTC), a new initiative aimed at providing a more accurate picture of COVID-19 testing rates in our community and nation.  

What is the goal? 

While the CDC data only reports on positive PCR tests, MMTC collects positive and negative results, from both PCR and rapid COVID-19 tests. This can give public health officials a clearer picture of community spread by providing data on how many people are testing for COVID-19 in general, in addition to including cases that tested positive via an at-home or rapid test. By better understanding the current rates of transmission, public health officials can more accurately track how fast the virus is spreading and where a surge might occur.  

Do I have to give personal information to participate?  

No! The only information MMTC requires is your test result (positive or negative) and zip code. MMTC does not collect your name, address, or date of birth. You have the option to provide demographic information that can improve public health’s understanding of transmission- like race, ethnicity, sex, and whether you’ve experienced COVID-19 symptoms- but it is not required. All information provided to the initiative is kept confidential, protected, and anonymous.  

Ready to report your COVID-19 test? Visit MakeMyTestCount.org to anonymously share your results now.

National Blood Donor Month

We’d like to start off 2023 by recognizing January is National Blood Donor Month and extending our sincere gratitude to all the blood donors in our community and beyond. Did you know that roughly 3% of the US population donates blood every year? Blood transfusions occur every two seconds in U.S. and a single donation can save multiple lives! Our healthcare systems have been struggling through a national blood shortage over the course of 2022 and it’s far from over. Visit America’s Blood Center’s National Blood Donor Month website to learn more about the importance of donating blood and how you can get involved. Ready to donate now? Visit America’s Blood Center search portal to find a donation center near you!

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month; help reduce the rate of cervical cancer in our community by getting your regular cervical cancer screening. 

Do you or a loved one need a cervical or breast cancer screening? Every Woman’s Life (EWL) program at UVA Health may be able to help cover your screenings if you are uninsured. Click the button below to determine if you may be qualify for EWL services! 

Please call 434-243-9782 or visit Free Breast & Cervical Cancer Screenings | UVA Health to learn more. Visit the CDC’s Cervical Cancer Awareness webpage to for more information about screening tests and the HPV vaccine.

BRHD Closed for MLK Day

All BRHD locations and offices will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will resume service as normal at 8am on Tuesday, January 17.