The goal of VDH's media update is to provide timely information on public health issues affecting communities across the Commonwealth, including disease trends, prevention guidance, safety advisories, and community resources. We strive to keep media partners and the public informed about emerging health concerns, response efforts, and actions Virginians can take to protect their health.
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In This Update - October 2, 2026
VDH Internship Academy Named a 2026 Internships Virginia Top Employer
Update:
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Internship Academy has earned new recognition for the experience it provides to emerging professionals.
The Academy was named a 2026 Internships Virginia Top Employer by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). The recognition honors Virginia employers that provide high-quality, paid internships designed to give students real-world opportunities to learn and contribute while strengthening the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline.
Hands-on experience across public health
At VDH, interns do more than observe. They work alongside VDH staff and contribute to projects across a wide range of fields, including public health, environmental health, communications, finance, human resources, information technology and more.
That exposure helps interns see how different roles and disciplines work together to support VDH’s mission to protect the health and promote the well-being of all people in Virginia.
This year, 34 interns were selected from 1,274 applicants for the Academy’s fourth cohort. Since the program began, 127 interns representing 47 colleges and universities across 19 states and Washington, D.C. have participated.
An agencywide investment in interns
The Internship Academy depends on VDH employees throughout the agency who create meaningful assignments, supervise projects, mentor interns and help them build skills they can take into their careers.
The Top Employer designation reflects that commitment to providing interns with valuable professional development while introducing students and recent graduates to VDH as a place where they can put their skills to work for public health.
Learn more about VDH’s Internship Academy.
Read more from the Governor’s Office: Governor Spanberger Recognizes Virginia’s Top Employers for Interns.
Respiratory Season Vaccines
Update:
Vaccines are your best protection against severe disease from flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine which 2026-27 seasonal vaccines are right for you.
Public Guidance:
Influenza (flu)
Virginia Department of Health recommends that everyone six months and older, with rare exceptions, should get an influenza (flu) vaccine every season.
While the best time to get the flu vaccine is by the end of October, it’s never too late. You can continue to get protection from the flu vaccine as long as flu viruses are circulating. Flu activity normally begins increasing in early October and continues to late May, often peaking in January or February.
The updated flu vaccine includes protection against three strains of flu virus, including the influenza A(H3N2) subclade K virus that spread widely during the 2025-2026 season.
COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccines are available for everyone six months and older and are especially recommended for those at high risk of severe disease, including older adults, infants, and during pregnancy.
The Virginia Department of Health recommends getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine, if eligible, because vaccine protection decreases over time.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
VDH recommends that all adults aged 75 years and older receive a single dose of one RSV vaccine. If you are 50-74 years old with a health condition, speak with your healthcare provider to decide if the RSV vaccine is the right choice for you; some health conditions can cause you to be at higher risk for severe RSV illness. If an adult 50 years and older has already received an RSV vaccine in a previous season, they do not need a dose this season.
All babies should be protected from severe RSV by one of two immunization options. A maternal RSV vaccine can be given during pregnancy, or an RSV monoclonal antibody can be given to your baby. These immunization products have been shown to cut the risk of hospitalization significantly for infants going into their first RSV season. Pregnant people and parents of newborns should talk with their healthcare providers about RSV immunizations.