Tag: Vital Records

Mecklenburg County Health Department Opens Chase City Facility for Clinical Services

November 17, 2025

Media Contact: Brian C. Little, Sr., Central Virginia PIO, brian.little@vdh.virginia.gov

Mecklenburg County Health Department Opens Chase City Facility for Clinical Services

CHASE CITY, Va. – Southside Health District is proud to announce the official opening of Mecklenburg County Health Department’s new clinical services facility located at 200 East 5th St. in Chase City. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on November 14, marking the department’s commitment to providing access to essential public health services for the Mecklenburg community.

Ribbon cutting of the Chase City Health Clinic. Pictured: Southside Health District staff, Southside Health District Director Scott J. Spillmann, MD, MPH, Chase City Mayor Alden Fahringer, Delegate Otto Wachsmann (83rd District), Senator Tammy Brankley Mulchi (9th District), and Mecklenburg County Administrator Alex Gottschalk.
Ribbon cutting of the Chase City Health Clinic.
Pictured: Southside Health District staff, Southside Health District Director Scott J. Spillmann, MD, MPH, Chase City Mayor Alden Fahringer, Delegate Otto Wachsmann (83rd District), Senator Tammy Brankley Mulchi (9th District), and Mecklenburg County Administrator Alex Gottschalk.

“We were pleased to welcome government officials and the community to our new facility as staff showcased the range of services we provide,” said Southside Health District Director Scott J. Spillmann, MD, MPH. “This open house offered a chance for people to meet our dedicated team and learn more about how we can help them lead healthier lives.”

Although the clinic has been serving residents since April, the ribbon cutting provided the opportunity to formally celebrate the new facility. The Chase City clinic makes it easier to meet the health needs of families and individuals across the county.

Services offered at the Chase City clinic include:

  • Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program: Nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and supplemental food program for eligible families.
  • Immunizations: Routine childhood vaccinations, boosters for adults, and protection against preventable diseases like the flu.
  • Family Planning: Confidential counseling, birth control options, pregnancy testing, and physical exams.
  • STI Clinics: Clinical exams, lab work, and counseling for sexually transmitted infections, to include HIV.
  • Vital Records: Virginia birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.

“This new clinic strengthens our ability to provide our community with the resources they need to live healthier lives. We are excited to provide high‑quality services in a space that meets the needs of our residents” said Tina Slabach, Nurse Manager Senior, Mecklenburg County Health Department.

For additional information on these clinic services, or to schedule an appointment please contact the Mecklenburg County Health Department at 434-533-8213.

Mecklenburg County Health Department’s environmental health, epidemiology, and population health programs remain at the Boydton office located at 478 Washington St., Boydton, Va.

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Piedmont Health District Announces Transition of Services as Cumberland County Health Department Relocates

July 3, 2025
Media Contact: Sarah Kott, Sarah.kott@vdh.virginia.gov

Piedmont Health District Announces Transition of Services as Cumberland County Health Department Relocates

CUMBERLAND, VA – Effective Monday, July 14, the Piedmont Health District will temporarily relocate the clinical services and administrative operations offered at 15 Foster Road by the Cumberland County Health Department in preparation for a move to a new health department location.

While the new space for the Cumberland County Health Department is determined, certain services previously offered in Cumberland will continue at the Prince Edward County Health Department, 111 N South St., Farmville, VA 23901, beginning Monday, July 14. These services include:

· Vaccination Clinics

· Family Planning/Pregnancy Prevention Clinics

· Sexual Health Clinics (including STD/STI testing and treatment)

· Naloxone (Opioid Overdose Reversal) Training

· Animal Bite Investigations

· Requests for Medicaid Long-term Services and Support (nursing home) screenings, coordinated with DSS

· Records Requests including clinical or septic system/well records

· Requests for septic system/well permit applications

The WIC clinic for Cumberland County residents will initially be offered at the Buckingham County Health Department, 80 Administration Lane, Buckingham, VA 23921. A new location will soon be available for WIC clients in Cumberland County.

Any VDH health department will be able to assist with obtaining vital records, which include birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates. Alternatively, vital records may be obtained online at www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/

For more information, please contact Sarah Kott at sarah.kott@vdh.virginia.gov or call the Prince Edward Health Department at 434-392-8187 x137.

Office of Vital Records Streamlines Newborn Birth Certificate Request Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 11, 2025
Media Contact: Brian C. Little, Sr., Central Virginia PIO, brian.little@vdh.virginia.gov

Office of Vital Records Streamlines Newborn Birth Certificate Request Process

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Vital Records (OVR) has streamlined its newborn birth certificate request process. The family can now complete the entire process online.

Effective Monday, March 3, parents of newly born babies in Virginia are now able to request copies of their baby’s birth certificates from the comfort of their hospital room, or from home. They just notify the hospital that they would like to request copies. Then they can pay the fee through a secure payment link sent by OVR.

Prior to this change, parents completed paper forms in the hospital and paid by check or money order. Hospitals then forwarded the signed forms and payment to OVR.

This streamlined process means families no longer have to remember to pack a checkbook in their hospital bag. The new system gives customers greater convenience and reduces stress for families as they welcome a new family member into the world.

“The birth certificate is the first legal document a newborn has as an individual,” said VDH State Registrar Seth Austin. “The Virginia Department of Health is happy to offer new parents a more convenient and streamlined process for requesting birth certificates for their newborns.”

Additionally, VDH is now able to email payment links to customers and collect administration fees for all types of applications. This feature is particularly useful when an amendment is required after an application is reviewed. OVR can now collect any additional fees not included in the original submission.

OVR partnered with VDH’s information technology team to make these changes.

For more information on OVR, call (804) 662-6200, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/.

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Petersburg Health Department Closed Until Further Notice

May 13, 2024
Media Contact: Julie Thacker, Julie.Thacker@vdh.virginia.gov

Petersburg Health Department Closed Until Further Notice
Services Are Being Redirected to Other Health Department Locations

PETERSBURG, Va. – Effective immediately, the Petersburg Health Department will be closed until further notice. During recent roof repair work on the health department building, the Petersburg Health Department discovered a potentially hazardous environmental odor. Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of staff and clients, the department has suspended operations until the cause of the odor has been identified and evaluated for potential health hazards.

In the interim, the Petersburg Health Department will be relocating its services and staff to other local health departments within the Crater Health District as follows:

Clinical Services — All appointments for clinical services including immunizations, family planning, STI, and the Men’s Sexual Health clinic scheduled for Monday, May 13 have been canceled to allow time for staff to relocate and will be rescheduled for a future date. The walk-in STI clinic scheduled for Petersburg on Friday will be held at the Hopewell Health Department, 1501 W City Point Rd. on Friday. Tuesday’s immunization clinic appointments will be held at the Prince George Health Department, 6450 Administration Drive.

Environmental Health — All environmental health services will be rerouted to the Dinwiddie Health Department, 14010 Boydton Plank Rd.; correspondence regarding all environmental health services can be sent to craterehs1@vdh.virginia.gov.

WIC — Scheduled WIC appointments for Monday, May 13 were moved to the Dinwiddie Health Department. Those with WIC appointments scheduled for the Petersburg Health Department on upcoming dates will be contacted regarding their new appointment location.

Vital Records — Vital Records services are provided each day 8:30-11:45 a.m. and 1:00-4:30 p.m. at each open health department location. For a list of all health department locations and contact information, go to www.vdh.virginia.gov/crater/contact/

For concerns regarding appointments, to reschedule an appointment, or for information regarding all other health department services, please call (804) 863-1652.

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Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records Announces Top Baby Names of 2023, Other Interesting Virginia Birth Data

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — February 6, 2024
Media Contact: Logan Anderson, PIO, logan.anderson@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records Announces Top Baby Names of 2023, Other Interesting Virginia Birth Data

RICHMOND, Va. – What to name the newest member of the family? It can be a nerve-wracking decision for new parents. Something out of scripture? A favorite singer or film star? A sports player or a Disney character? Virginia parents are choosing diverse names for their newborns. Today, the Office of Vital Records in the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) unveils its lists of Top 15 baby names for children born in the Commonwealth in 2023, perhaps providing some inspiration for stressed-out parents-to-be.

Topping the list of the most popular names for boys in 2023 was Liam, while Charlotte was the most popular for girls, as it was in 2022. In 2022, there were 95,583 babies born; while the numbers for 2023 are still being counted, the Office of Vital Records estimates there were a similar number of births last year.

“It’s always fun to see what the most popular baby names will be in Virginia,” said Seth Austin, state registrar and director of VDH’s Office of Vital Records. “The inspiration for a name can come from so many different places, and no matter the inspiration, these new babies’ names will be central to their identity as they grow up and do great things in the world.”

Following Liam in popularity among Virginia parents in 2023 were Noah, James, Oliver, William, Lucas, Henry, Theodore, Benjamin, Levi, Elijah, Luke, John, Michael, Gabriel. Charlotte was followed by Emma, Oliva, Sophia, Amelia, Evelyn, Ava, Isabella, Elizabeth, Mia, Eleanor, Harper, Sofia, Luna, Abigail for girls in Virginia in 2023. And for your consideration, may we suggest “Virginia” as a little girl’s name if you’re expecting in 2024?

Office of Vital Records data also indicate the most popular 2023 baby names for the largest ethnic groups in the state: Asian, Black, Hispanic and White.

  • Among Asian babies born in 2023, Noah and Olivia were the most popular names. Lucas, Muhammad, Ethan and Alexander fill out the Top Five list for boys; Ava, Sophia, Sophie and Charlotte complete the Top Five list for girls.
  • For Black babies born in Virginia in 2023, Noah and Ava remained the most popular names from 2022. Amir, Josiah, Elijah and Legend round out the Top Five for boys, while Naomi, Nova, Serenity and Autumn fill out the Top Five for girls.
  • Liam and Mia remain the top names for Hispanic boys and girls born in Virginia in 2023, as they were in 2022. Mateo, Dylan, Thiago and Lucas fill out the Top Five list for Hispanic boys’ names, while Camilla, Genisis, Isabella and Sofia complete the Top Five list for girls’ names.
  • James and Charlotte were the top names for White babies born in 2023, followed by William, Oliver, Henry and Liam for boys and Olivia, Emma, Amelia and Sophia for girls.

Half a century ago in 1973, VDH data shows that Michael and Jennifer were the most popular names for baby boys and girls born that year, retaining their top spots from 1972. James, Christopher, John, Robert, David, William, Brian, Jason, Kevin, Charles, Matthew, Richard, Thomas and Mark complete the Top 15 for boys’ names in 1973. Among girls in 1973, the rest of the Top 15 include Angela, Kimberly, Melissa, Amy, Michelle, Stephanie, Lisa, Heather, Mary, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Tammy, Crystal and Karen. Information about popular names in each of the 50 states going back to 1960 is available from the Social Security Administration by using its Popular Names by Decade tool.

Office of Vital Records data also reveals other interesting information about 2023 births.

  • The most births occurred in August with 8,426 babies delivered, but July 7 saw the greatest number of babies born on a single day – 332.
  • Fridays are the busiest day of the week in Virginia delivery rooms: 14,231 babies were born on a Friday in 2023; Sundays, on the other hand, are the slowest days of the week, with only 8,768 born on a Sunday in 2023.
  • There were 2,620 sets of twins born in Virginia in 2023, while there were 76 sets of triplets born in the state.
  • And on New Year’s Day 2023, 178 new Virginians came into the world.

The Office of Vital Records is Virginians’ one-stop shop for any number of personal records requests including birth and death certificates, and marriage and divorce records. The Office’s headquarters is located in Richmond at 2001 Maywill Street, Suite #101, Richmond, VA 23230; it is open to the public Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The vital records call center — (804) 662-6200 — is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The public may also apply for a vital record, pay for it, and receive updates on the request’s fulfillment online using this tracking tool.

The public may also access Office of Vital Records services through their local health district offices and Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices. Use this Health Department locator tool to find your local health department office; please call ahead to ensure your local office offers the services you need to access. Use this DMV office locator tool to find a DMV office near you; DMV offices are open for walk-ins and appointments.

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Virginia Department of Health Launches New Online Vital Records Application

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — April 27, 2022
Media Contact:  Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health Launches New Online Vital Records Application

RICHMOND, VA – In an effort to increase accessibility and convenience, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has launched a new online Vital Records Application.  This application can be used to request certified copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.

The new online application can be accessed on the VDH website under Vital Records or directly at: www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/applications-for-a-vital-record/.

“We believe the new system will help us meet the needs of our customers faster, and provide them service in a more accessible and convenient way,” said Director of the Office of Vital Records Seth Austin.

About a year ago, the Office of Vital Records added a printable application and online payments to the website to increase convenience for users.  This new online application is the next step.

The new fully online application allows users to complete the entire application online in about five minutes. Users can sign the application electronically, upload identification and pay fees entirely online.  An application tracking ID is assigned to each application, and users will receive email and/or text updates on the status of their application.

The Code of Virginia requires a cost of $12 per certificate search. A fee of $10 is charged for making an amendment to an existing record. All applicants must provide a photocopy of required identification. Applications without proper identification and signature will be rejected and not processed.

Individuals can still visit the main Vital Records office in Henrico, local health departments and select Department of Motor Vehicle locations to request vital records in person.  For a complete list of vital record locations, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/vital-record-walk-in-locations/. Please check with the specific location before visiting since hours of operation may be limited at some locations.

Individuals who need help using the new online application or have vital records questions can call (804) 662-6200 or visit the vital records contact page on the website.

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Virginia Department of Health Temporarily Scales Back Call Center Operations in Office of Vital Records as Pandemic Causes Staffing Shortages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —  January 7, 2022
Media Contact: Logan Anderson, VDH PIO, logan.anderson@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health Temporarily Scales Back Call Center Operations in Office of Vital Records as Pandemic Causes Staffing Shortages

(RICHMOND, Va.) – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced today that the Office of Vital Records (OVR) will be temporarily scaling back operations of its Call Center (804-662-6200) public call-in line, due to staffing shortages and COVID-19 infections affecting its employees.

The Office provides vital event certificates to families who have had a vital event in Virginia, such as birth, death, marriage or divorce. It serves the entire state and has customers across the world. The office partners with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices and local health districts to provide access to certified records at those locations.

Due to staffing shortages and COVID-19 infections among OVR staff members, some operations will be temporarily suspended so that the office can continue to provide essential services to the general public. The first step in this process is to take live operators off the Call Center public call-in line from January 7 through January 14. During this time, when residents call this line, they will be given information about accessing services through the OVR website and information about current processing times for certified vital records requests mailed to the office.

There are multiple service options available to fulfill customer requests. Customers can receive in-person service at DMV offices, local health districts or the Vital Records central office in Henrico County. To find the nearest location, please use this tool here. Check with the specific location nearest you, since hours of operation may be limited at some locations. Vital Records central office, located at 2001 Maywill St., Suite 101 in Henrico, operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“We recognize this change will inconvenience our customers and wish it could be avoided. We hope  this change will limit the impact on customers by focusing on our ability to continue processing customer requests, which we are receiving at consistently high rates. The Office of Vital Records will restore full functionality as quickly as possible,” said Seth Austin, director of the Office of Vital Records. “We have experienced absentee rates of between 20 percent and 30 percent for the past two weeks resulting from multiple COVID-19 cases that are causing people to miss work due to illness, exposure isolation or the need to seek testing.”

During this time, the Office will be redirecting available staff to the continuation of certifying vital events and processing applications for vital records. Customers are encouraged to use the Contact Us page on the website to communicate with the office. Customers can check the status of existing records requests if they already have an Application Tracking ID here. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found here.

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Those who are unvaccinated remain at the highest risk of severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19. This population remains VDH’s top priority. Everyone 5 years or older is eligible to be vaccinated. To find free vaccines at a Community Vaccination Center or another location near you, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more than 100 other languages. At Community Vaccination Centers, appointments are strongly encouraged to ensure you get the vaccine you want and to avoid extended wait times, but walk-ins are welcome.

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