The Alexandria Health Department will see a leadership change next month after director Dr. David Rose departs his role.
After Nov. 9, Rose will be leaving the AHD to take a role as regional director of the north/northwest region at the Virginia Department of Health. The AHD is part of the state-run Virginia Department of Health and falls under the northern region that Rose will oversee.
As the season for increased flu and other respiratory illnesses arrives, the Alexandria Health Department is providing guidance on vaccines and other recommendations for residents.
Flu season begins in October and continues until May, although activity may peak in the winter months. Other respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) also circulate during the season.
After a reported uptick in flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses in the city, the Alexandria Health Department is recommending the flu shot and and other preventative measures to stay healthy.
Flu-related emergency department visits more than tripled in Alexandria during the last two weeks of December, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health. Alexandria’s current flu vaccination rate is low, sitting at less than 30% of the population, AHD spokesperson Eve Elliott told ALXnow.
Virginia is moving to ensure residents have quick access to the latest COVID-19 vaccines ahead of the fall respiratory illness season, with State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton signing a statewide standing order this week that expands pharmacy vaccination authority.
The order, signed Tuesday and announced Thursday, allows pharmacists across Virginia to administer the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine formulation to residents 65 and older, as well as adults aged 18-64 with underlying medical conditions, without requiring individual prescriptions.
