The Prince William Health District (PWHD) operates multiple programs to protect and improve the health and well-being of its residents. Services provided include: immunizations; environmental health services, including restaurant and pool inspections; woman and teen wellness; confidential diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for sexually transmitted diseases; tuberculosis screening and diagnostic chest x-rays; confidential HIV testing and early intervention services; nutritional education and food vouchers for women, infants, and children (WIC) clients; processing of marriage, divorce, birth and death certificates; Every Woman’s Life breast and cervical cancer screenings, and investigation and response of emerging diseases of public health threat and other reportable diseases. Services are provided at several different locations throughout the community.
Vision: Prince William Health District, a community of healthy people and a healthy environment.
Mission: The Prince William Health District (PWHD) is dedicated to promoting optimum wellness and a healthy environment. As the community’s Chief Health Strategist, PWHD will work beyond traditional public health programs and services to build strong cross-sector community coalitions that address the social determinants of health to ensure health equity, and to make PWHD the healthiest community in Virginia. More>>
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December 1, 2021![]()
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World AIDS Day: Remembering those who died from the AIDS Epidemic and Supporting those Living with HIV Today ![]()
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Established in 1988, December 1 is known as World AIDS Day. ![]()
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HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) FACTS: ![]()
• HIV infections decreased by eight percent from 2015 to 2019 in the U.S. ![]()
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• Virginia, in 2017 had the 17th highest rate of HIV diagnosis in the U.S. and was 13th in the country of newly reported cases.(1) ![]()
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• In 2019, the most recent year for available data, 1.2 million people had HIV in the U.S. (2) ![]()
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• Of the 1.2 million, 13-percent or 156,000 did not know they were infected and needed testing. ![]()
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KNOW YOUR STATUS ![]()
• Getting tested is the only way to know your HIV status.![]()
• Treatment of HIV can stop the progression of the virus that targets and damages the immune system.![]()
• Without treatment, HIV, in most people, will progress to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).![]()
• AIDS, the advanced stage of HIV, can lead to death. ![]()
• There is no cure for HIV and AIDS. ![]()
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HOW HIV SPREADS![]()
• A person can contract HIV through sex and sharing needles. ![]()
• It can be passed from person to person through semen, vaginal fluids, or infected blood.![]()
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HIV POPULATION IMPACT ![]()
• HIV disproportionately impacts minorities, bisexuals and men who have sex with men. (3)![]()
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*The Prince William Health District offers confidential HIV testing, counseling and education. To schedule an appointment at our Manassas or Woodbridge clinic, call Manassas Clinic: 703-792-6300 or Woodbridge Clinic: 703-792-7300![]()
Resources: ![]()
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• HIV Testing Basics (CDC): www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html![]()
• HIV Self-testing (CDC): www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/hiv-testing/self-testing.html?s_cid=fb_togethergeneralfb0015![]()
• Find HIV Prevention Services (CDC): www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/locator/index.html![]()
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1 Source: www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/NewDX_2017.pdf![]()
2 Source: www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-report-2018-updated-vol-31.pdf![]()
3 Source: www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics
Hoy es el Día Mundial del Sida, un día para unirse con otros alrededor del mundo para prevenir el VIH, apoyar a las personas con el VIH y recordar a los que perdieron su vida por una enfermedad relacionada con el VIH. #detengamoselvihjuntos. #DiaMundialDelSida #WAD2021 bit.ly/3qh3Qsq
Today is World AIDS Day, a day to unite with others around the world to prevent HIV, support people with HIV, and remember those who have lost their lives to an HIV-related illness. Let’s #StopHIVTogether. bit.ly/3F1IyD4 #WorldAIDSDay #WAD2021
COVID-19 VACCINES AVAILABLE IN MANASSAS ON THURSDAY![]()
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• December 2 from 11:30 am-5:30 pm![]()
• 7-Eleven, 9166 Mathis Ave., Manassas, VA. 20110![]()
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First, Second, Third doses, and those eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson Booster doses.![]()
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• COVID-19 Vaccines: Pfizer (for 12 and older) Johnson and Johnson (18 and older). ![]()
• Pfizer 5 to 11-year-old vaccinations offered while supplies last.![]()
• Flu vaccine offered while supplies last.![]()
• No appointments required. ![]()
• Walk-ins are accepted as long as supplies last. Weather permitting.
Q: What’s new with Omicron?![]()
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A: IT’S. STILL. TOO. SOON. TO. TELL.![]()
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We know, the media panic level has been HIGH this week. But the truth is NO expert or TV pundit can predict what will happen with the new variant Omicron right now. We simply don’t have enough data yet on the key questions about the variant: ![]()
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1) Is it more transmissible? ![]()
2) Can it partially evade existing immunity? ![]()
3) Does is cause more severe disease? ![]()
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It’s going to take at least several weeks to answer these questions. While cases are rising rapidly in South Africa where the variant was first sequenced, this rise is from very low case levels meaning we can’t yet distinguish a true “fitness” advantage from the variant just getting lucky. Time will tell if Omicron can outcompete in places where Delta is highly prevalent. Numerous cases have already been found in Europe without connections to travel in Southern Africa, meaning it may have been circulating there prior to the recent discovery. ![]()
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The UK and the US have both used the Omicron news cycle to get more aggressive about their booster/3rd dose vaccination campaigns.![]()
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🇬🇧 In the UK, the Joint Commission on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) this week approved 3rd doses down to age 18 AND a shortening of the minimum interval since the 2nd dose from 6 month to 3 months. Booster invitations will still proceed by invitation via age prioritization but should steadily work their way down to younger age groups over the next few weeks. The JCVI also (finally) approved 2nd doses for ages 12-15 who are at least 12 weeks past their first dose.![]()
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🇺🇸 In the U.S., CDC Director Rochelle Walensky amended guidance that all adults 18 and over SHOULD rather than MAY get a 3rd dose if 6 months after their 2nd dose. Pfizer just requested an extension of their booster EUA to 16 and 17 year olds.![]()
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❓Why such a push for boosters?![]()
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In addition to evidence that 3rd doses might be what’s required to mount the best overall immune response, booster doses have also been shown to KICK ASS against previously identified variants. ![]()
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This includes “Beta” which was originally a worrisome variant because it showed more inhibition of antibodies compared to Alpha or Delta (but note that the higher transmissibility of Delta “won” this evolutionary fitness battle and Beta fizzled out). ![]()
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In the figure below from Pfizer’s booster trial, 3rd doses provided a huge increase in neutralization ability against Beta (the orange bars) compared to two doses. This is why even though variant specific boosters CAN be developed, they might not be needed. Our immune systems after 3 doses may be capable of crushing a variety of the new faces of SARS-CoV-2. ![]()
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So...TURN OFF THE NEWS. Watch this space for updates on the science. ![]()
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Stay safe, stay sane...and Booster Up!![]()
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Love,![]()
Those Nerdy Girls![]()
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#Omicron #Boosters #ThoseNerdyGirls #StaySafeStaySane![]()
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Links:![]()
Pfizer booster trial data![]()
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113468![]()
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New US CDC guidance:![]()
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html![]()
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New UK JCVI guidance:![]()
www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-advice-on-covid-19-booster-vaccines-for-those-aged-18-to-39-and-a...![]()
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Pfizer booster request for 16-17 year olds:![]()
www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/11/30/1060281550/pfizer-fda-covid-booster-16-and-17-year-olds![]()
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Previous post on the case for boosters for everyone:![]()
dearpandemic.org/do-i-really-need-a-covid-booster-dose-if-i-am-young-and-healthy/