Tag: trending

 

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger announced the Commonwealth of Virginia is joining the Governors Public Health Alliance (PHA), a nonpartisan coalition of 16 governors representing more than 40% of the U.S. population, working across state lines to protect their residents and strengthen public health. Read the full news release. ###

For Immediate Release: October 15, 2026
Contact: Charlotte.Gomer@governor.virginia.gov

RICHMOND, Va. — Today Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa announced that Virginia ranks among the nation’s leaders in the health of women and children, according to the 2026 Health of Women and Children Report from America’s Health Rankings, a project of the United Health Foundation.

Virginia ranked 13th overall among all 50 states and Washington, DC, with the Commonwealth earning top rankings across a range of measures that reflect the health and well-being of women and children.

Virginia ranked No. 1 in the nation on measures related to children’s access to food and mental health treatment, and among the top states for women’s overall health, safe and integrated communities, and low e-cigarette usage among children. Virginia also ranked No. 4 nationally for protecting women from intimate partner violence before pregnancy.

“These rankings are worth celebrating, and I’m grateful to the people who care for Virginia’s women and children every day,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa. “We have a lot to build on, but we won’t be satisfied until every family can get the care and support that they need to build the life they want.”

The report also found that Virginia performs particularly well across measures related to physical environment, including air and water quality, climate and health, and housing and transportation.

The findings build on the Spanberger Administration’s work to improve health outcomes for women and children across the Commonwealth. In the opening months of her administration, Governor Spanberger signed a package of bipartisan legislation — commonly known as the Momnibus — to improve and expand healthcare coverage for Virginia mothers and families, particularly women who face the highest risks. Bills included in the Momnibus expanded access to maternal mental healthcare screenings, directed the Department of Health to develop a reporting system to better track Severe Maternal Morbidity, improved care for high-risk mothers by expanding Medicaid reimbursements to include remote monitoring of pregnant women at greater risk of heath complications, and directed the Commissioner of Health to assess a future statewide maternal health safety initiative.

Governor Spanberger has remained laser-focused on the safety and well-being of children in Virginia. Earlier this year, the Governor signed bipartisan school safety legislation to ensure Virginia teachers have the resources and training to respond to emergencies. These include strengthening training on red flag laws, helping teachers identify student mental health challenges, and modernizing internet safety education.

Governor Spanberger is also working alongside legislators to make healthcare, housing, and energy more affordable, accessible, and reliable for Virginians. The Governor signed bills to crack down on rising prescription drug costs, increase the supply of available housing, and protect Virginia families and small businesses from increased energy costs.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –  August 27, 2026
Media Contact:  Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Public Health Officials Investigating a Potential Measles Exposure in Northern Virginia
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health was notified of a confirmed measles case involving a person who traveled through Northern Virginia Sunday, August 16, while infectious. The person is a resident of another state.  To protect the patient’s privacy, VDH will not release additional information. Health officials are working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed.

Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of the potential exposure sites in Virginia:

• Sheraton Reston Hotel, located at 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston, Sunday, August 16.
• MOTW Coffee and Pastries, located at 11830 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 200 in Reston, Sunday, August 16.
• 7-Eleven, located at 11854 Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston, Sunday, August 16.
• Barber & Men’s Spa, located at 11830 Sunrise Valley Dr, Unit 900 in Reston, between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, August 16.

Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed should:

• Report your exposure to VDH by completing this short survey. Public health officials will follow up with respondents if additional actions are needed.
• Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
  • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
  • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.
• People who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles should contact their healthcare provider or call their local health department promptly to discuss any questions they might have. If you have already completed the above survey, your local health department will reach out to you to provide recommendations if additional actions are needed.
• Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
  • If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. If you need to seek healthcare, call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.
  • The most likely time you would become sick would be between August 23 and September 6.
  • Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

To date in 2026, Virginia has 179 reported cases of measles. For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

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Virginia Department of Health Commits to Evidence-Based Vaccine Recommendations and Ensuring Access to Childhood Vaccinations 

Richmond, Va. – In response to the recent Presidential Executive Order pertaining to childhood vaccine recommendations, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is reaffirming its previously stated commitment to vaccines as an essential tool in protecting the health of children, their families, and their communities. 

The Presidential Executive Order does not change vaccine recommendations or school immunization requirements in Virginia. VDH continues to recommend that children are vaccinated in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2026 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. VDH expects that healthcare providers will continue to rely on their clinical training and professional judgment and consult information published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians when engaging in shared clinical decision-making with parents, caregivers, and patients.   

“Virginia’s families should be able to trust that our vaccine recommendations are grounded in the best available science and focused on protecting the health and well-being of their children,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb. “The evidence supporting the AAP immunization schedule is extensive, and we remain confident that following it is one of the best ways to protect children from serious, preventable diseases. VDH will continue to follow the evidence, work with trusted clinical partners, and ensure families have access to the vaccines and reliable information they need.” 

“The Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (VA AAP) stands behind the AAP’s Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, which is evidenced-based and rooted in decades of research and data,” said Dr. Erin Brickley, a practicing pediatrician in Marion, Va., and chair of the VA AAP’s Immunization Committee. “We will work together with VDH to continue protecting Virginia children from vaccine-preventable illnesses and ensuring parents have accurate information regarding the importance of on-time immunization.” 

Virginia is already taking action to evaluate and protect access to vaccines.  Pursuant to Item 278 M1, Ch 1, 2026 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, VDH will convene its newly established Workgroup on Childhood Immunization Schedules and Public Health Emergencies in late August 2026. This group will bring together key partners – including healthcare practitioners, insurance representatives, and public health stakeholders – to review Virginia’s statutory and regulatory frameworks pertaining to access to childhood and emergency immunizations. 

If you have questions about vaccines or vaccine-preventable diseases, please talk to your healthcare provider or contact your local health department for more information.   

Virginia Department of Health and Gilead Settlement
VDH remains committed to the health, dignity and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS in Virginia. 

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. have reached a settlement agreement to resolve an approximately $16.8 million overpayment to the Virginia Medication Assistance Program (VA MAP) for AIDS Drug Assistance (ADAP) rebates under the Ryan White Part B Program. Gilead is a biopharmaceutical company that manufactures antiviral drugs used to treat HIV.

VDH and Gilead determined that the overpayment resulted from a data mismatch involving ineligible rebate claims submitted between the second quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of 2023. In 2022, VA MAP transitioned to a new vendor and began submitting data to Gilead using a new nomenclature for identifying ineligible rebate claims. That nomenclature was not compatible with Gilead’s data format specifications, resulting in rebate overpayments. Through good faith discussions, VDH and Gilead agreed on the amount of overpayments, resolved the technical issues that caused it, and implemented measures to prevent similar instances in the future. VDH also is strengthening its quality assurance and quality improvement processes for program administration.

Under the settlement, VDH will reimburse Gilead through deductions from future rebates owed to VDH. No additional funding sources will be used for repayment. Importantly, VDH and Gilead structured the repayment terms to support the continued operation of the Ryan White Part B Program.

The reduced rebate revenue for the Ryan White Part B program necessitated cuts to the program including service providers, reductions or elimination of some services and programs, and staff reductions. Despite these challenges, VDH remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the health, dignity and well-being of Virginians living with HIV. VDH has prioritized core medical services to ensure that eligible Virginians continue to have access to essential HIV care and medications. Patients remain covered and are receiving medications.

VDH is working closely with health care providers, community organizations and HIV advocates to strengthen and build a more resilient statewide infrastructure for Ryan White and HIV services. The department also is pursuing additional funding opportunities, including federal grants, to help sustain these critical services.

In addition, the General Assembly included more than $13 million over the next two fiscal years to help address the program’s funding gap and support continued access to HIV care for Virginians.