IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 3, 2026
Media Contact – Cheryle Rodriguez, PIO, Cheryle.rodriguez@vdh.virginia.gov
Virginia Marks Sickle Cell Awareness Month with a Focus on Knowing Your Status, Newborn Screening and Connecting to Care
VDH highlights the importance of knowing your status, newborn screening and connecting to care
(RICHMOND, Va.) — This September, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recognizes Sickle Cell Awareness Month and Newborn Screening Awareness Month with a simple message: Know. Screen. Connect. Know your sickle cell status. Understand the lifesaving role of newborn screening. And connect people and families living with sickle cell disease (SCD) to the specialized care and support they need.
“Knowing your sickle cell status matters, and early screening can make a real difference,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin Figueroa. “The Spanberger administration is committed to making sure families get answers early and children with sickle cell disease get connected to the right care as soon as possible.”
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder passed from parents to children. When both parents have sickle cell trait, there is a 1 in 4 chance with each pregnancy that their child will have SCD. A simple blood test can determine whether a person has sickle cell trait.
Newborn Screening Provides an Early Connection to Care
Sickle cell disease and other blood disorders are among the 30-plus conditions all infants born in Virginia are screened for through the Virginia Newborn Screening Program (VNBSP). As a part of VNBSP, babies are also screened for early hearing detection and critical congenital heart disease. Newborn screening provides timely diagnosis and intervention and connects families with healthcare providers who specialize in genetic diseases like sickle cell.
“Through newborn screening, we can identify babies with sickle cell disease shortly after birth and connect them to specialized care within the first weeks of life,” said Director of Office of Family Health Services, Dr. Vanessa Walker Harris. “Early connection to care can make an important difference in their health throughout their lives.”
Each year, approximately 66 babies are identified with sickle cell disease, and 1,700 babies are identified with sickle cell trait through Virginia’s newborn screening program. When a baby is identified with sickle cell disease through newborn screening, VDH works to connect the child and family to specialized care in their region within weeks of birth.
“The goal is to ensure that every child identified with SCD is connected to the treatment, disease management and support needed to live a healthy life,” said Mary Lowe, Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program Supervisor.
Know Your Sickle Cell Status
Sickle cell disease is one of the most common inherited blood disorders in the United States. It affects people from many racial and ethnic backgrounds and is more common among people with African ancestry.
“Because a person can have sickle cell trait without experiencing symptoms, many people may not know their status, said Marcus Allen, program director, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program. “Knowing whether you have sickle cell trait can help you better understand your health and the possibility of passing the trait or sickle cell disease to your children”.
Virginians are encouraged to talk with their healthcare provider about sickle cell trait testing and what their results may mean for themselves and their families.
Virginia Is Strengthening Sickle Cell Care
VDH works with clinical partners across the Commonwealth to connect children and adults living with sickle cell disease to specialized care, treatment, disease management and support.
Virginia’s pediatric clinical partners include Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), University of Virginia (UVA), Carilion, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) and Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV). Adult clinical partners include UVA, VCU, Carilion, Inova and Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS).
These clinical partners provide access to specialists with expertise in the diagnosis, treatment and management of sickle cell disease. Babies identified through newborn screening are referred to appropriate care in their region. As children grow, coordination between pediatric and adult providers helps support their transition to adult care and continued access to the treatment and services they need throughout their lives.
Virginia also maintains a statewide sickle cell registry, housed within VDH’s Office of Family Health Services. The registry supports public health efforts to better understand the needs of Virginians living with sickle cell disease and strengthen services across the Commonwealth.
During Sickle Cell Awareness Month and Newborn Screening Awareness Month, VDH encourages Virginians and healthcare professionals to remember three important actions:
Know. Know your sickle cell status and understand what it means for you and your family.
Screen. Recognize the importance of newborn screening in identifying sickle cell disease early and connecting babies to timely care.
Connect. Help individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease connect to specialized treatment, disease management and ongoing support.
For more information about how you can get connected to VDH services, visit the Sickle Cell Program. For more information about infant screening, visit the Virginia Newborn Screening Program.