Central Shenandoah Health District Observes World AIDS Day

December 1, 2025
Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, Rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-480-4998

Central Shenandoah Health District Observes World AIDS Day
Wear a Red Ribbon to Show Your Support

STAUNTON, Va. — The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) recognizes December 1 as World AIDS Day and encourages communities to stand together, united with a red ribbon. Remember those who have been lost, unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and raise awareness to prevent new cases of HIV.

“About 13% of those living with HIV are unaware of their positive status,” says Dr. Allison Baroco, Acting Health Director for CSHD. “Getting tested is the only way to know your status for sure. We now have many medications that can treat HIV infection and can help people live long and healthy lives, so getting tested early before you may have symptoms is important.”

CSHD provides STI testing at the Staunton-Augusta, Harrisonburg-Rockingham, and Waynesboro-Augusta health departments. You can make an appointment for STI testing by calling (540) 332-7830.

More than 28,000 people are living with HIV in Virginia, including 424 people within CSHD. More than 75% of people with HIV in Virginia are men, and more than half are 50 years or older. While Black, non-Hispanic people make up 19% of the population in the Commonwealth, 56% of people with HIV identify as Black, non-Hispanic in Virginia.

Support from family and friends can be helpful. If you know of anyone who has been diagnosed with HIV, help is available. Financial assistance with medication costs or copays is available through local, state, or federal programs. Visit the Virginia Department of Health to learn about prevention, treatment, financial assistance, STI data, and other related resources.

To learn more about HIV:

Call the Disease Prevention Hotline at (800) 533-4148.
Learn more about HIV treatment at greaterthan.org.
Visit the National Institute of Health to learn about coinfections and conditions.
Search the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website to view national data on sexually transmitted infections

Let’s work to fight against HIV and AIDS. The Central Shenandoah Health District encourages you to wear a red ribbon on December 1. To make an STI testing appointment, call CSDH at (540) 332-7830.

RHHD Shares the Importance of Heart Health World Heart Day is September 29

September 29, 2025

Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov

RHHD Shares the Importance of Heart Health
World Heart Day is September 29

RICHMOND, Va. – World Heart Day is September 29. Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) remind you to add healthy habits into your daily lives to prevent your risk of heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Virginia. Simple lifestyle changes can decrease your risk of experiencing heart-related issues.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the most common type of heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart attack. In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both Richmond City and Henrico County, and our region has higher hospitalizations rates for heart disease and hypertension than the state average,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Population Health Manager Tamara Jones-Groves. “Small steps like eating healthy, staying active, and getting regular check-ups with a healthcare provider can save lives.”

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Other leading preventable risk factors include:

High LDL (bad) cholesterol
Smoking
Poor nutrition
Physical inactivity
Type 2 diabetes
Obesity

If you have a heart attack, you are more likely to survive if you know the signs and symptoms. The major symptoms of a heart attack include:

Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint
Chest pain or discomfort
Pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder
Shortness of breath

If you think that you or someone you know is having a heart attack, you should call 911 immediately.

For more information about heart disease, visit the Virginia Department of Health Heart Disease webpage. Visit rhhd.gov for more health and safety information. Follow RHHD on Instagram (@richmondcity_hd) and Facebook.

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Central Shenandoah Offers School Required Immunizations at Staunton and Waynesboro Back-to-School Events

July 9, 2025
Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov

Central Shenandoah Offers School Required Immunizations at Staunton and Waynesboro Back-to-School Events

STAUNTON, Va. – The Central Shenandoah Health District will offer school required immunizations for rising 7^th and 12^th graders at the Staunton City Schools’ and Waynesboro Public Schools’ Back-to-School events this summer. The types of vaccines available at these clinics are Human papillomavirus (HPV), Meningococcal ACWY, and Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap). The Code of Virginia requires children entering daycare, and public or private schools to give proof of vaccination before enrolling in school. The vaccines should be given based on the schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians.

The locations and dates of these Back-to-School events are listed below:

Monday, July 21, 1-6 p.m.
Staunton High School, 1301 N Coalter St, Staunton, VA 24401

Sunday, July 20, 1-6 p.m.
Embrace Community Center, 932 Fir St, Waynesboro, VA 22980.

“These summertime vaccine events are one of the most convenient ways for children and parents to prepare for the next school year,” said Dr. Allison Baroco, acting health director. “Taking advantage of this opportunity now will prevent the last-minute rush as the first day of school approaches. It is important for children to be vaccinated so they may be less likely to get sick and miss school. Ultimately, this will enable them to devote more time to their academic performance and social development.”

Only students enrolled in Staunton and Waynesboro City Schools and their corresponding events may participate in these immunization opportunities. School required immunizations are also available at your local health department by appointment. To see when a child is due for their next vaccine, view the VIRGINIA VACCINATION SCHEDULE.

Pittsylvania-Danville Health District Conducts Free Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic

December 12, 2024
Media Contact: Chris Garrett Christopher.garrett@vdh.virginia.gov

Pittsylvania-Danville Health District Conducts Free Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic

DANVILLE, Va. – The Pittsylvania-Danville Health District will conduct a public health exercise offering a free seasonal flu vaccine clinic on Friday, December 27. The clinic will be held from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Pittsylvania County Health Department, 200 HC McGhee Drive in Chatham.

This drive-thru event will offer influenza (flu) vaccinations for everyone age 3 and older. A limited supply of free influenza vaccine will be available for this event on a first-come, first-served basis. A parent or legal guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18.

The purpose of these exercises is to simulate a mass vaccination event in which the health department and local agencies would work together so community members could be vaccinated efficiently during a time of emergency. Near Southwest Medical Reserve Corps volunteers will assist health department staff with this exercise. The vaccine is provided by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Preparedness.

“We’ve already documented cases of influenza this season in the area, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health recommend vaccination each year for everyone 6 months and older,” said Scott J. Spillmann, MD, MPH, director, Pittsylvania-Danville Health District. “Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its potentially severe complications.”

All persons aged 6 months or older should be vaccinated against influenza each year. Particular effort should be made to vaccinate people at higher risk for influenza complications, including:

Pregnant and postpartum women, or those who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
Persons 65 years of age or older, including residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
People who have chronic lung or heart problems, including asthma; and
People who have other serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, anemia, cancer, weak immune systems (including those with HIV) or a seizure disorder.

Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is a serious disease caused by the influenza virus that affects the respiratory tract. It is highly contagious and generally spreads from person-to-person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can be transmitted even before flu-like symptoms appear. A person usually becomes sick one to three days following exposure to the virus. Typical flu symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue.

To minimize your risk of contracting or transmitting the flu, follow these simple steps:

Get vaccinated;
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds;
Cover your cough, either by using a disposable tissue or coughing into your sleeve, not your hand; and
Stay at home when you are sick.

For questions about the flu vaccination event, please call (434)766-9887 or for more information or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/influenza-flu-in-virginia/.

Drive Thru to Fight the Flu!

September 23, 2024
Media Contact: Christie Wills, Communications Officer, Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD), christie.wills@vdh.virginia.gov

Drive Thru to Fight the Flu!

ROANOKE, Va. – The Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts will offer free seasonal flu vaccinations at a special drive-thru clinic on Wednesday, September 25 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Berglund Center in Roanoke.

Drive-Thru to Fight the Flu – Roll in, Roll up, and Roll OUT!

Wednesday, September 25, 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Berglund Center, 710 Williamson Rd, Roanoke

Vaccinations will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to those ages 6 months and older. Walk-ins welcome, while supplies last. No advance registration is required. The vaccine will be given as individuals remain seated in their vehicles. Since the flu shot is given in the upper arm, please wear clothing that either has loose-fitting sleeves or is sleeveless.

Caused by the influenza virus, “the flu” is a highly contagious infection that spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. While flu vaccination is recommended as long as influenza viruses are circulating, September and October remain the best times for most people to get vaccinated.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu vaccinations prevent millions of influenza illnesses each year, and tens of thousands of influenza-associated hospitalizations. Flu-related deaths range from 12,000 to 56,000 each year, averaging 34,000 per year over the last three decades.

“Our top recommendation for protecting yourself and your loved ones from respiratory illness is to get vaccinated,” said RCAHD Health Director Cynthia Morrow, M.D., M.P.H. “Make a plan now for you and your family to get updated respiratory vaccines this fall, before the respiratory virus season is in full swing.”

Media Availability:

Media are invited to schedule advance on-site interviews at the Berglund Center ahead of the event (RSVP required).

WHEN: Tuesday early afternoon, September 24, by appointment

WHERE: Berglund Center Parking Lot

To RSVP: Email christie.wills@vdh.virginia.gov no later than 10am on Tuesday, 9/24 to schedule an advance on-site interview early Tuesday afternoon.

LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts Offer Injectable Flu Vaccine

September 20, 2024
Media Contact: Dan Hunsucker, population health coordinator, 276-328-8000

LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts Offer Injectable Flu Vaccine

The LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts now offer injectable seasonal flu vaccine to anyone 6 months of age and older on a first-come first-served basis while supplies last. The Health Department will accept payments from insurance companies with which the Virginia Department of Health has a contractual billing arrangement. Please call your local health department to ask about the availability of seasonal flu vaccine as well as to schedule an appointment.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health recommend vaccination each year for everyone 6 months and older,” said Reisa Sloce, director of the LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts. “CDC recommends antiviral medications for treatment of influenza as an important additional step to annual influenza vaccination. Anti-viral medications can help reduce the severity and the duration of illness. Anti-virals are an important part of treatment in all hospitalized, severely ill or high-risk patients with suspected or confirmed influenza.”

High-risk patients include children younger than 2 years; adults aged 65 years and older; persons with chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, hematological and metabolic disorders, or neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions, people with immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV infection; women who are pregnant or postpartum; people younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy; American Indians/Alaska Natives; people with extreme obesity and residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.

The LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts are also available to provide flu vaccine at the site of any business or organization who wants their employees to receive the annual shot. This service is available on a first-come first-served basis while supplies last. For more information, please contact your local health department.

To minimize your risk of catching or transmitting the flu, follow these simple steps:

Get the shot—protect yourself and your community!
Practice good hygiene – wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds
Cover your cough, either by using a disposable tissue or coughing into your sleeve, not your hand
Stay home from work or school if you think you are sick until you have no fever for 24 hours
If you are sick with the flu, contact your health care provider early during your illness because early treatment can impact the course of the disease

For more information, call the LENOWISCO Health District at 276-328-8000 or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov.

In-School Spring Vaccination Clinics for Middle and High Schoolers Hosted by Central Shenandoah Health District

March 18, 2024
Media Contact: Laura Lee Wight
Population Health Manager
Laura.Wight@vdh.virginia.gov

In-School Spring Vaccination Clinics for Middle and High Schoolers Hosted by Central Shenandoah Health District

(STAUNTON, VA.) – The Central Shenandoah Health District will be holding in-school vaccine clinics for rising 7^th and 12^th graders within Staunton City, Augusta County, and Waynesboro City Public School Districts this spring. The types of vaccines available at these clinics are HPV, Meningococcal ACWY, and Tdap. The Code of Virginia requires children entering daycare, public, and private schools to give proof of vaccination before enrolling in school. The vaccines should be given based on the schedule recommended by the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians.

The locations and dates of these in-school vaccine clinics are below.

Staunton High School and Shelburne Middle School: March 22
Stuarts Draft Middle & High School, Wilson Middle & High School: April 5
Stewart Middle School, Beverly Manor Middle School, Fort Defiance High School: April 19
Waynesboro High School and Kate Collins Middle School: April 26

These vaccines are available at no cost for those with and without insurance. Those who qualify for the Vaccine for Children Program will not be billed. If a student has insurance, they must provide their insurance information since insurance will be billed. Parents must complete and submit to the school a signed consent form for their children to receive any vaccines at these clinics. Signed consent forms should be turned in to the children’s school prior to the clinic date. Without a signed consent form, children cannot receive any vaccinations.

“In-school vaccine clinics are one of the most convenient ways for children and parents to prepare for the next school year,” said Dr. Elaine Perry, acting health director. “They don’t require you or your student to take time out of your summer, helping you cross off a to-do earlier in the year, and ensuring your child starts their next school year on time”.

Only students enrolled in the individual schools and their corresponding clinics may attend these in-school clinics. School required vaccines are also available at your local health department; Call ahead to make an appointment.

Call your local health department for more information, and see when your child is due for their next vaccine here:
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/11/2021/03/VDH-Vaccine-Schedule.pdf

Central Shenandoah Health District Holding In-School Spring Vaccination Clinics for Middle and High Schoolers

March 18
Media Contact: Laura Lee Wight
Population Health Manager
540-430-1699

Central Shenandoah Health District Holding In-School Spring Vaccination Clinics for Middle and High Schoolers

(STAUNTON, Va.) – The Central Shenandoah Health District will be holding in-school vaccine clinics for rising 7^th and 12^th graders within Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County Public School Districts this spring. The types of vaccines available at these clinics are HPV, Meningococcal ACWY, and Tdap. The Code of Virginia requires children entering daycare, and public or private schools to give proof of vaccination before enrolling in school. The vaccines should be given based on the schedule recommended by the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians.

The locations and dates of these in-school vaccine clinics are below.

Harrisonburg High School: March 22
Broadway High School & JF Hillyard Middle School: April 29
Turner Ashby High School & Wilber Pence Middle School: April 30
Spotswood High School & Montevideo Middle School: May 3
East Rock High School & Elkton Middle School: May 3
Harrisonburg City Middle School: May 6
Harrisonburg High School: May 10

Call your local health department for more information, and see when your child is due for their next vaccine here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/11/2021/03/VDH-Vaccine-Schedule.pdf

Central Virginia Health District to Host National Health Survey

August 8, 2022

Media Contact: Kim Foster, MHA, kimberlee.foster@vdh.virginia.gov

Central Virginia Health District to Host National Health Survey

The Central Virginia Health District (CVHD) announces that the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is coming to Campbell County and Lynchburg, VA, beginning on August 20, 2022.

NHANES is the most comprehensive survey of the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population.

Why Campbell County and Lynchburg? All counties and cities in the United States have a chance to be selected for the NHANES and, this year, portions of Campbell County and Lynchburg were picked as one of 15 areas selected to be part of this initiative. Each year, only 5,000 residents nationwide are chosen to participate in NHANES, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We gladly encourage selected residents to participate in the NHANES process,” said Dr. Kerry Gateley, Health Director, CVHD. “NHANES provides us in public health with valuable information for creating, directing and improving programs that serve our communities.”

Since 1960, NHANES has had a prominent role in improving the health of all people living in the U.S. NHANES data address critical health concerns, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Public health officials, legislators, and physicians use this information to develop sound health policies, direct and design health programs and services, and expand the health knowledge of the nation. NHANES data also help produce national references and standardized growth charts used by pediatricians across the country.

NHANES collects a broad range of data that affect the lives of everyone in the country, regardless of age, addressing everything from air quality to vaccinations and the low-fat and “light” foods found in grocery stores. Now more than ever, collecting timely information on the status of the nation’s health is critical. An NHANES team of health professionals, nutritionists, and health technicians is heading to Campbell County and the City of Lynchburg and urges everyone who has been selected for the survey to participate.

Residents will have an invitation-only opportunity to participate in NHANES. Addresses are randomly sampled within the area selected. By selecting participants this way, when combining data from all counties visited this year, NHANES data can more accurately represent the U.S. population.

Households will be sent one or more letters inviting them to be part of NHANES by completing a brief online questionnaire to see if anyone in their home is eligible to take part. Those eligible will be contacted by an NHANES representative to set up a telephone health interview at a convenient time, followed by a health examination that takes place in the NHANES mobile examination center. While no medical care is provided directly in the mobile examination center, a report on physical findings is given to each participant, along with an explanation of those findings from survey medical staff. Participants will be provided local referral sources, if needed, in order to follow-up on findings. All information collected in the survey is kept confidential and individual privacy is protected by law.

NHANES provides important national data on critical public health issues. “NHANES serves as the nation’s ‘health check-up’ by going into communities throughout the country to collect health information,” said Brian C. Moyer, PhD, Director of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). “The survey provides a wealth of important data about many of the major health and nutritional issues affecting the country.”

NHANES is taking all precautions needed, as recommended by the CDC, to keep survey participants and staff safe by following guidelines on social distancing, use of personal protective equipment, handwashing, and sanitation of the mobile examination center and all equipment.

National Health Survey Open House/Media Day to be Held September 9

September 6, 2022

Media Contact: Kim Foster, MHA, kimberlee.foster@vdh.virginia.gov

National Health Survey Open House/Media Day to be Held September 9

NHANES, the nation’s mobile health survey, has been traveling across the country learning about the health of the U.S. population since 1960.

The Central Virginia Health District (CVHD) previously announced that the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is coming to Campbell County and Lynchburg, VA. NHANES is the most comprehensive survey of the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population. As a reminder, all counties and cities in the United States have a chance to be selected for the NHANES and, this year, portions of Campbell County and Lynchburg were picked as one of 15 areas selected to be part of this initiative. Each year, only 5,000 residents nationwide are chosen to participate in NHANES, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A representative from the CDC has been attempting to contact chosen households via letters and/or stopping at their residence to explain the process.

On Friday, September 9, NHANES will be hosting an open house/media day from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Local media, city/county officials and community members are welcome to stop by for a tour. This is the only day that cameras are allowed into the examination trailers to see the examination process. The NHANES trailers are located in the parking lot of the Lynchburg Health Department at 307 Alleghany Ave.

We encourage selected residents to participate in the NHANES process as it provides us in public health with valuable information for creating, directing and improving programs that serve our communities.