COVID-19 Vaccines
The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent serious illness and death from the COVID-19 virus. All individuals 6 months and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
On Sept. 12, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.
Everyone aged 5 and older is up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines if you have been vaccinated with the Updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. Those aged 6 months old through 4 years old may need 2 or 3 doses of the Updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine to be considered up to date.
All Health Department locations within the Lord Fairfax Health District have the Updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. Please call your local health department to make an appointment. Prior to receiving your COVID-19 vaccine, you should call your insurance provider to verify if your specific insurance plan has requirement of where you can receive your vaccine.
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.
Uninsured children and adults have the ability to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through either Vaccines for Children or the CDC Bridge Access Program.
- Learn more about the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program which provides recommended vaccines to uninsured children.
- Learn more about the CDC Bridge Access Program which provided uninsured adults with free COVID-19 vaccines though December 2024.
If You Are Sick...
If you’re sick with a respiratory virus, such as COVID-19, influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or a cold, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and others.
Symptoms of a respiratory virus can include fever, chills, fatigue (tiredness), cough, runny nose, and headache, among others. See this fact sheet for symptoms of common respiratory illnesses.
Stay Home if You're Sick
- Stay home and away from others when sick with symptoms of a respiratory virus.
- Resources are available if you need support while staying home.
- Get treatment right away if eligible.
- You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both of these are true:
- Your symptoms are getting better overall, AND
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
- Once you resume normal activities, take added precautions for the next five days.
- If you start to feel worse or get a fever after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again and follow the steps above.
If at any point your symptoms worsen, or you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing or chest pain), seek medical care immediately.
For more information on respiratory illness recommendations, visit the VDH Precautions When Sick website.
Testing Resources
All of the Lord Fairfax Health Departments have at home COVID-19 tests for free. At-home rapid antigen tests are also available through VDH, through Medicare and private insurance companies, and for purchase from retail pharmacies.
For more COVID-19 testing resources, visit the VDH COVID-19 Testing Website.