Vaccines & Boosters
The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent serious illness and death from the COVID-19 virus. Every COVID-19 vaccine is offered free of charge regardless of insurance status. All individuals 6 months and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
On Sept. 1, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
Both updated bivalent boosters are formulated to combat the BA.4 and BA.5 sub variants of the Omicron variant. The Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster is available for individuals 12 years and older at least 2 months after receiving their most recent monovalent booster dose or completing their primary series. The Moderna bivalent booster is available for adults ages 18 years and older at least 2 months after receiving their most recent booster dose or completing their primary series.
You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you.
All Health Department locations within the Lord Fairfax Health District have walk-in hours for individuals to receive COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters. COVID-19 vaccine walk-in hours: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Monday thru Friday. No appointment is needed.
You can also search for local vaccine appointments on vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
Guidance
If you think that you may be sick with COVID-19:
People with COVID-19 might not have any symptoms. If they do, their symptoms can range from mild to severe. Symptoms typically appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
Symptoms may be:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms which may indicate severe illness caused by COVID-19.
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
If you feel sick, begin isolating from others and get tested for COVID-19. There are many ways to access COVID-19 testing in Virginia. At-home rapid antigen tests are available through VDH, through Medicare and private insurance companies, and for purchase from retail pharmacies.
If your results are positive, follow recommendations on this page and read VDH’s Isolation Guidance.