08/12/2026
Vaccines are in the news, and updates may feel confusing to follow. Here's what we want families to know:
👉 Virginia's vaccine schedule (the guidance that recommends specific vaccines at specific years in a child's life) remains the same. Specific vaccines are required for students to enter kindergarten, 7th, and 12th grade here in Virginia.
👉Childhood vaccines are available from pediatricians, pharmacies, and here at Alexandria Health Department.
👉Vaccines are safe and effective at protecting kids and families from diseases like measles and pertussis. If you have questions or concerns, we always encourage you to talk to a trusted healthcare provider about how to keep your family healthy.
To learn more, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Vaccines
In response to the recent Presidential Executive Order pertaining to childhood vaccine recommendations, the Virginia Department of Health is reaffirming its previously stated commitment to vaccines as an essential tool in protecting the health of children, their families, and their communities.
🔹The Presidential Executive Order does not change vaccine recommendations or school immunization requirements in Virginia.
🔹VDH continues to recommend that children are vaccinated in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. (Read it at https://ow.ly/LI6s50ZyIaG)
🔹VDH expects that healthcare providers will continue to rely on their clinical training and professional judgment and consult information published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians when engaging in shared clinical decision-making with parents, caregivers, and patients.
Read more at https://ow.ly/lJx650ZyIaI
