Schools open vaccination sites as COVID-19 transmission rates grow in Virginia

Schools open vaccination sites as COVID-19 transmission rates grow in VA counties.

Fairfax County officials continue to urge people to get vaccinated as the level of community transmission of COVID-19 has reached a "significant" level, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay has recommended everyone in the county to wear a mask indoors as the delta variant continues to spread.

we have the potential to improve it," McKay said in a statement to the community. "The data shows that the majority of cases are from those who have not been vaccinated."

The large category means the county has seen 50 to 100 cases per 100,000 people. Other Northern Virginia counties at the same rate include Prince William County, Loudoun County, and Arlington County.

Stafford County, Foucor County, and Spotsylvania County have been rated "high" by the CDC.

According to the Fairfax Health District, more than 690,000 people in the entire Fairfax County have been vaccinated, including 70% of adults 18 or older.

"If you want to reopen schools and give our children (many of whom are not yet eligible to be vaccinated) a chance to be protected, you will need to vaccinate them," MacKay added. "Please, I urge you to schedule your vaccination now."

The first clinic began at Herndon Elementary School Wednesday between 2 p.m. And 7 p.m. was not a required time for students.

Supervisor Dr. Scott Brabrand is visiting the school to help encourage more students to get vaccinated. He said 74% of students aged 12 to 17 had received a single dose till now.

"I'm looking forward that we will be one of the first communities in the country actually to achieve herd immunity," Brabrand added. "We want to reassure parents not only that they have mitigation strategies like masks, sanitation, and ventilation, but also a chance to vaccinate their children. We want to make it easy and safe."

"I'm getting vaccinated because I don't want to get sick," 13-year-old Tristan Callahan said before he got vaccinated. "I don't know if we will end the school year with masks, so I hope to go to school by the end of the year if I get vaccinated."

"We don't want to get sick, and we don't want other people to get sick," 12-year-old Joso Santos Melgar said as he waited in line with his older sister.

Fairfax County has joined other school districts in Northern Virginia to issue a blanket mask policy regardless of vaccination status. More than 95% of students are expected to return to the classroom.