COVID Vaccine Still Free From Fairfax Health Department Clinics

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Even if an extension of federal aid for COVID-19 vaccines and testing falls through, the Fairfax County Health Department is continuing no-cost vaccine clinics and mobile testing sites.

There has been recent uncertainty about Congress coming to an agreement on funding for the COVID-19 response. Without any action, the federal government will no longer take reimbursement claims for vaccinations for the uninsured on Tuesday. Claims for testing the uninsured already ended on March 22.

For now, the Fairfax County Health Department is providing free vaccinations for all at its clinics, which include the Fairfax County Government Center, Hyland South County Government Center and rotating pop-up sites.

"The Health Department will continue to work with the state to determine the future impact on these programs," the health department said in a statement.

Free COVID-19 testing is encouraged by ordering at-home tests from the federal government at www.covid.gov/tests. The health department continues to offer free testing at mobile testing clinics. Residents should call individual pharmacies to check if they are providing no-cost testing.

Congress may have reached a deal in funding for the federal government's COVID-19 response, the Washington Post reported. The federal funding would include buying more tests and vaccines, along with treatments and other supplies, according to the Post. The deal reportedly does not include funds sought by the Biden administration to help with the international COVID-19 response.