Measles, Other School Vaccinations Encouraged By Alexandria Health Officials

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As the new school year approaches, the Alexandria Health Department is encouraging families to be prepared by getting vaccines required for school.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia schools require certain immunizations for entry into kindergarten, seventh grade and 12th grade. Some of these include the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine; polio vaccine; chickenpox vaccine; hepatitis A and B vaccines and human papillomavirus/HPV vaccine.

Alexandria City Public Schools has more information on its vaccine requirements for PreK-12 students.

The health department says parents should talk to their child's health care provider about required and recommended vaccines. Vaccines are available through pediatricians, pharmacies, the Alexandria Health Department, and Alexandria’s Teen Wellness Center clinics for ages 12 to 19.

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

The health department says these vaccines are safe and effective to fight the chances of infectious diseases. Officials pointed to recent spikes in measles cases as an example of the need for vaccines. Measles, a highly contagious disease that was declared eliminated in 2000, has experienced a resurgence in the U.S.

As of July 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported just over 1,300 measles cases in 40 states in 2025. About 88 percent of these cases are associated with 29 outbreaks. Three cases have been reported in Virginia.

The CDC says people are protected from measles if they've had a measles-containing vaccine, a lab test confirming they've had measles before or immunity, or were born before 1957. The health department says unvaccinated children exposed to measles may have to be kept home from school for more than two weeks.

"Many of us have seen the frightening news about measles outbreaks," said Rose. "AHD is monitoring the situation closely, but the best thing people can do is to get the recommended 2-dose MMR vaccine series. It’s always great to see families going out and getting these vaccines to protect their kids and our city."

The Alexandria Health Department will offer vaccines at evening appointments on Mondays as well as Aug. 13, 20 and 27. Vaccine services are available on a sliding fee scale for residents with or without insurance. Residents can make an appointment with the health department online or call 703-746-4888. Interpreters are available by emailing LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or calling 703-746-3960.

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