Alexandria Health Department

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Alexandria Health Department needs volunteers to craft five-year health improvement plan

By James Cullum
Alexandria sign in the city's Arlandria neighborhood (via Facebook)

The Alexandria Health Department is looking for volunteers to join community coalitions to create the city’s next five-year Health Improvement Plan.

In the upcoming 2026-2031 plan, AHD will focus on citywide mental wellness, as well as in the Landmark/Van Dorn corridor in the West End and the city’s Arlandria neighborhood. The focus areas were chosen in AHD’s most recent State of Health Report. Each subject matter area will be worked on by a coalition, which will be made up of “Alexandria residents, businesses, faith leaders, community groups, and others who work and spend time here,” according to AHD.

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Alexandria’s childhood vaccination rate drops below critical threshold for disease prevention

By Ryan Belmore
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (Credit: Alexandria Health Department)
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

Alexandria’s childhood vaccination rates have fallen to concerning levels, dropping from 95% in 2019 to just 88% last school year for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, according to new data from an NBC News investigation published Monday.

The decline affects Alexandria City Public Schools’ 16,335 students across 18 schools. It puts the city below the critical 95% vaccination threshold needed for “herd immunity” — the level required to prevent measles outbreaks and stop disease spread within a community.

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Fox tests positive for rabies in Alexandria’s Del Ray/Rosemont area

By Ryan Belmore
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (Credit: Alexandria Health Department)
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

Health officials issued a rabies alert Friday after a fox in Alexandria’s Del Ray/Rosemont neighborhood tested positive for the virus following contact with a domestic cat.

The Alexandria Health Department said the fox encountered the cat on Monday near a home in the area. The fox died, and officials are working with the cat’s owner on safety measures.

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Health officials investigate potential measles exposure at Dulles Airport

By Ryan Belmore
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (Credit: Alexandria Health Department)
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

Alexandria residents who traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport on Aug. 12 may have been exposed to measles, according to health officials.

The Virginia Department of Health was notified of a confirmed measles case involving an out-of-state resident who traveled through the airport that day. The potential exposure occurred in the main terminal, at the TSA security checkpoint, in Concourse B and on transportation between the main terminal and Concourse B from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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Beat the Back-To-School Rush: Alexandria Health Department urges early vaccine appointments

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

As summer winds down and the new school year approaches, the Alexandria Health Department is encouraging families to schedule their children’s required immunizations now to avoid the typical back-to-school rush.

Virginia mandates specific vaccines for students entering kindergarten, seventh grade, and 12th grade. These immunizations protect against preventable diseases, including measles, pertussis (also known as whooping cough), and meningitis.

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Alexandria makes immunization push before school starts

By James Cullum
School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With the 2025-2026 school year just a month away, the Alexandria Health Department is urging parents to get their children’s school-required vaccinations.

“Scheduling vaccine appointments early makes it easier to find an appointment that fits your schedule,” Alexandria Health Department Director Dr. David Rose said, “and vaccines protect our children from getting sick and being sidelined from school and activities later on.”

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Alexandria Health Department gets $120K from City Council after losing federal grant

By James Cullum
Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

City Council has released more than $120,000 in reserve funding to the Alexandria Health Department.

On Tuesday (July 1), Council approved the one-time funding to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan, immigrant and refugee resource programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. AHD lost the funds, which were from a federal COVID-19 grant earlier this year.

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State of Health presentation reveals major disparities between Alexandria neighborhoods

By Ryan Belmore
State of Health Presentation. (screenshot)

The Alexandria Health Department presented findings from its comprehensive community health assessment to the Alexandria City Council Tuesday night (July 1), revealing stark health disparities between neighborhoods and outlining plans for a more targeted approach to community health improvement.

Dr. David Rose, Director of the Alexandria Health District and Alexandria Health Department, told the council that the extensive assessment revealed “large differences in health between our neighborhoods” and calls for collaboration “with the people most impacted to move the needle on health outcomes.”

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City Council looks to continue funding Alexandria Health Department’s Healthy Homes Action Plan

By James Cullum
Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The Alexandria Health Department lost dedicated federal COVID-19 grant funding earlier this year, and now the City Council will vote on a proposal for various health initiatives.

AHD is requesting one-time funding of $120,510 from the city to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan for the current fiscal year, in addition to community health outreach, continued resource funding for immigrant and refugee programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. The Healthy Homes program brings together dozens of city organizations to recommend home improvements.

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Alexandria Health Department warns of another potential measles exposure in Northern Virginia

By James Cullum
Skin of a patient after three days with measles rash (via CDC)

The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) is sharing details on a June 19 potential measles exposure in Northern Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Health was notified that on June 19, a child with a confirmed case of measles traveled from another country to Washington Dulles International Airport en route to North Carolina. VDH announced the potential exposure on June 25 (Wednesday).

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