Virginia’s Most Popular Baby Names of 2022 

Have you heard? The Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records just published a list of the most popular baby names given to Virginia infants in 2022! Whether inspired by scripture, royalty, a favorite singer, movie characters, or family heritage, parents are choosing diverse names for their newborns. Topping the list of the most popular name for boys in 2022 was Noah while Charlotte was the most popular for girls. In 2021, there were 95,618 babies born; while the numbers for 2022 are still being counted, the Office of Vital Records estimates there were a similar number of births last year.

Top 15 names for girls in VA

#1 Charlotte

Olivia

Ava

Amelia

Emma

Harper

Evelyn

Eleanor

Sophie

Elizabeth

Lilly

Abigail

Riley

Nora

Chloe

Top 15 names for boys in VA

#1 Noah

James

Liam

William

Henry

Theodore

Oliver

Elijah

Levi

Benjamin

Owen

John

Jack

Asher

Lucas

February COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Schedule 

Another month, another chance to make sure you’re up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination! This February, BRHD will offer Moderna bivalent boosters for eligible individuals ages 6 months + and Moderna primary series vaccines to children ages 6 months – 11 years at the following clinics:  



• Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (zip code 22903) 
• Thursday, February 9 from 8:30-11:30AM 
• Friday, February 17 from 8:30-11:30AM 
• Tuesday, February 28 from 8:30-11:30AM & 12-4PM 
• Fluvanna County Health Department (zip code 22963) 
• Friday, February 3 from 8:30-11:30AM 
• Greene County Health Department (zip code 22973) 
• Friday, February 10 from 8:30-11:30AM 
• Louisa County Health Department (zip code 23093) 
• Thursday, February 23 from 8:30-11:30AM 
• Nelson County Health Department (zip code 22922) 
• Friday, February 24 from 8:30-11:30AM

All clinics will take place inside the health departments. Vaccinations are by appointment only. No walk-ins are available. Schedule an appointment by searching VASE+ with your zip code. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccination webpage for more information about our clinics. 

Remember: the BRHD COVID-19 Hotline will be closed starting February 1, 2023. If you have questions or need help making an appointment, call your local health department. Contact information for each office can be found here. 

COVID-19 Vaccine + Bivalent Booster Eligibility

It can be hard to keep track of when you’re eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine and booster, but BRHD has you covered! Check out the flowcharts below to determine whether you’re in need of another vaccine or booster.

For people who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised: 

For people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised: 

If you haven’t yet received a bivalent booster dose, it’s not too late! The previous monovalent booster doses were made using very first iterations of the SARS-COV-2 virus, and we’ve seen multiple mutations take hold since the first Alpha variant began circulating in 2020. The bivalent boosters, on the other hand, have been created using the much more recent Omicron variant- providing better protection against the current virus in circulation.  

Please note: the CDC and FDA have only authorized one bivalent booster per eligible individual at this time. If you have already received a bivalent booster dose, you are considered up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination. Visit the CDC’s Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination webpage to learn more about the vaccine and booster schedule.

Quit Nicotine/Smoking Blue Ridge Program 

Are you interested in quitting tobacco use this year? Join the Tobacco Free Community Coalition for weekly virtual sessions focused on providing you with new and varied resources to quit using tobacco and nicotine products successfully! These free group sessions are informative, supportive, and confidential. Former nicotine users will also join to share their experiences and talk about what strategies worked best for them. Meetings will take place via Zoom every Wednesday from 5:30-6:30PM, and all BRHD residents are welcome! Register in advance by emailing facilitator Scott Mein or calling 862-432 -0490. 

Rabies on the Rise 

While cases of rabies typically rise during the summer months when the weather is warmer, we’ve seen a significant increase of cases already this winter- particularly among household dogs and cats. Many of these cases are occurring in pets who haven’t been vaccinated against rabies, underscoring the need to make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccines. In addition to getting your furry friend vaccinated, follow these tips to keep them safe and healthy:  

• If your pet is attacked or bitten by a wild animal, report it to the local health or animal control authorities and be prepared to assist with rabies exposure response activities such as booster vaccination and confinement. 
• Limit the possibility of exposure by keeping your animals on your property. Don’t let pets roam free. 
• Do not leave garbage or pet food outside. 
• Do not keep wild animals as pets. Enjoy all wild animals from a distance, even if they seem friendly. A rabid animal sometimes acts tame. If you see an animal acting strangely, report it to your local animal control department and do not go near it yourself. 
• If you suspect you or your pet have been exposed to rabies, contact our BRHD Rabies Program Coordinator at 434-972-6219 to receive more information and guidance on next steps.  

Learn more about the rabies virus and prevention tips here.