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Header image with the City of Falls Church seal, the title, "COVID-19 Update" and the tag line "Vaccination + Masks + Washing Hands + Staying Home When Sick = Stop the Spread of COVID-19".
Black, orange, and green graphic with ghost clipart accents. The message is: Have a Safe Halloween 2021. Safe Practices are (1) Incorporate a cloth or surgical mask; (2) Trick-or-treating in small groups outdoors or enjoying other outdoor activities; (3) Wash hands before eating candy; and (4) Get the COVID-19 vaccine (ages 12+) and your flu shot.  Unsafe practices to beware of and avoid are: (1) Indoor parties and gatherings; (2) Inviting trick-or-treaters inside; (3) Using a costume mask instead of a cloth/surgical mask; (4) Crowded doorsteps; and (5) Trick-or-treating if you feel sick.
There are ways to enjoy Halloween and still protect your health!

The best way to protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19 and possibly spreading the virus to others is to get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible and wear a mask indoors when there is substantial or high levels of community transmission.

While trick-or-treaters under 12 aren’t eligible for vaccine yet, this fun tradition can be done safely if families keep activities outdoors, wear a cloth or surgical mask (don’t rely on a costume mask to protect you), avoid crowded doorsteps, and wash hands before eating candy.

See detailed tips and guidance from the Fairfax Health Department: https://bit.ly/3netNpi.

More about Halloween in The Little City


When is Trick-or-Treating in the City of Falls Church?
The City government does not set a date for trick-or-treating. Traditionally, neighbors hand out candy on October 31, no matter the day of the week. Check with your neighbors and homeowners' association to confirm.

Halloween Carnival
The Halloween Carnival will be completely outdoors this year in Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave.)! The spooky fun for ghouls and goblins ages 2-11 on Saturday, October 30, provides families a choice of timeslots -- either attend 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wristbands are $1 per person (adults and children), cash only. Carnival activities will include games, inflatables, and snacks. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask and stay home if feeling unwell. More details here

Health Department is Planning and Preparing for Approval of the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5 to 11


What steps are remaining to get approval of the Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11?
First, the FDA advisory committee meets tomorrow, October 26. 

Then, if the FDA authorizes the vaccine for the age group, the CDC advisory committee would meet the first week of November.

After that, the CDC would create written recommendations, and then the Virginia Department of Health would give the go-ahead.

How big a dose would the children receive?
If authorized, children ages 5-11 will receive two 10-microgram doses, which is 1/3 of the amount given to those 12 years old and older. Despite the lower dose, vaccinated 5- to 11-year-olds produce similar antibody levels as adults who received the higher dose. Vaccine doses are expected to be given 21 days apart.

Where will parents and guardians find the vaccine for their children?
  • Your Doctor's Office. Check with your pediatrician or family medical practice -- some have wait lists, or will release appointments once the vaccine is approved.
     
  • Online. You can also check with pharmacies once it is approved, and on vaccines.gov.
     
  • Walk-In Clinics. The health department's Community Vaccination Centers will also provide the vaccine in Tysons, the Fairfax County Government Center, and Health Department clinics.
There will be many more opportunities to vaccinate young children -- this is just the start!
The Fairfax Health District and the City of Falls Church are in a Substantial Level of Transmission of COVID-19, down from a High Level throughout September. Community members should continue to take precautions by getting vaccinated, wearing masks, staying socially distant, and staying home when sick.

Vaccine Data

The following is from the Virginia Department of Health and Fairfax Health Department.

City of Falls Church
Date Doses Administered Received At Least One Dose Fully Vaccinated Third Dose or Booster
Today 20,516 10,351
(70.8% of population;
83.4% of adult population)
9,502
(65% of population;
76.7% of adult population)
1,243
(8.5% of population;
11.3% of adult population)
Oct. 18 20,240 10,295
(70.4% of population;
82.9% of adult population)
9,475
(64.8% of population;
76.5% of adult population)
1,046
(7.2% of population;
9.5% of adult population)
Oct. 12 19,057 10,263
(70.2% of population;
82.7% of adult population)
9,369
(64.1% of population;
75.6% of adult population)
No Data
Oct. 4 18,971 10,216
(69.9% of population;
82.3% of adult population)
9,329
(63.8% of population;
75.3% of adult population)
No Data
End of Sept. 18,906 10,185*
(69.7% of population;
82.1% of adult population)
9,294
(63.6% of population;
75% of adult population)
No Data
End of Aug. 18,239 9,815
(67.1% of population)
8,959
(61.3% of population)
No Data
End of July 17,780 9,524
(65.2% of population)
8,768
(60.0% of population)
No Data
End of June 17,372 9,447
(64.6% of population)
8,423
(57.6% of population)
No Data
End of May 15,516 9,813
(61% of population)
7,033
(48.1% of population)
No Data
*Lower number result of regular data audit and adjustment.

Fairfax Health District
Includes the City of Falls Church, City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, and towns within the county
Date Doses Administered Received At Least One Dose Fully Vaccinated
Today 1,609,028 824,722
(69.7% of population;
82.4% of adult population)
754,274
(63.7% of population; 
75.6% of adult population)
Oct. 18 1,587,708 820,987
(69.4% of population;
81% of adult population)
751,471
(63.5% of population; 
75.3% of adult population)
Oct. 12 1,523,004 819,482
(69.2% of population;
81.8% of adult population)
740,791
(62.5% of population; 
74.2% of adult population)
Oct. 4 1,512,938 815,401
(68.9% of population;
81.4% of adult population)
736,772
(62.3% of population; 
73.8% of adult population)
End of Sept. 1,515,627 814,362
(68.8% of population;
81.3% of adult population)
740,341
(62.6% of population;
74.3% of adult population)
End of Aug. 1,462,524 787,408
(66.5% of population)
712,389
(60.2% of population)
End of July 1,401,348 752,842*
(63.6% of population)
683,428
(57.7% of population)
End of June 1,349,160 737,991
(62.4% of population)
644,361
(54.4% of population)
End of May 1,176,202 671,602
(56.7% of population)
533,418
(45.1% of population)

Virginia
Date Doses
Administered
Doses Administered
Daily Average
Received at Least One Dose Fully Vaccinated Third Dose or Booster Dose
Today 11,248,991 18,964 5,921,619
(69.4% of population;
82.3% of adult population)
5,324,523
(62.4% of population;
74.2% of adult population)
373,171
Oct. 18 11,107,332 19,702 5,882,459
(68.9% of population;
81.8% of adult population)
5,292,282
(62% of population;
73.7% of adult population)
300,339
Oct. 12 10,694,251 11,176 5,847,362
(68.5% of population;
81.3% of adult population)
5,212,441
(61.1% of population;
72.6% of adult population)
No data
Oct. 4 10,609,562 9,636 5,803,367
(68.0% of population;
80.7% of adult population)
5,168,716
(60.6% of population;
72.1% of adult population)
No data
End of Sept. 10,532,362 12,532 5,765,519*
(67.5% of population;

80.2% of adult population)
5,127,636
(60.1% of population;
71.5% of adult population)
No data
End of Aug. 9,943,774 15,818 5,458,608
(64.0% of population)
4,830,302
(56.6% of population)
No data
End of July 9,353,649 11,438 5,097,227
(59.7% of population)
4,577,793
(53.6% of population)
No data
End of June 9,015,280 17,111 5,013,266
(58.7% of population)
4,306,417
(50.5% of population)
No data
End of May 8,020,944 47,792 4,595,153
(53.8% of population)
3,691,281
(43.2% of population)
No data
*Lower number result of regular data audit and adjustment.

Case Data

The following is from the Fairfax Health Department and the Virginia Department of Health.

City of Falls Church
Date Cases Hospitalizations Deaths # Cases per
100,000 People
Today 544 22 8 3,682.6
Oct. 18 542 22 8 3,669.1
Oct. 12 535 22 8 3,621.7
Oct. 4 524 22 8 3,547.3
End of Sept. 514 21 8 3,479.6
End of Aug. 465 21 8 3,147.8
End of July 430 21 8 2,910.9
End of June 430* 21* 8* 2,910.9
End of May 433 22 9 2,931.0
*This data point is lower than the previous data set because VDH discovered the individuals were outside the City limits, in the Fairfax County part of Falls Church.

Fairfax Health District
Includes the City of Falls Church, City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, and towns within the county
Date Total Cases Hospitalizations Deaths
Today 92,739 4,360 1,209
Oct. 18 91,980 4,349 1,201
Oct. 12 91,120 4,337 1,193
Oct. 4 90,010 4,308 1,181
End of Sept. 88,817 4,283 1,178
End of Aug. 83,902 4,253 1,164
End of July 79,024 4,171 1,152
End of June 78,104 4,137 1,141
End of May 77,949 4,111 1,125
*The change in this data point is due to a regular data audit by the Virginia Department of Health.
WHO GETS A PFIZER BOOSTER? COVID-19 booster doses are available to some recipients of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their second dose, based on the following recommendations as of September 2021: People who should get a booster: (1) People 65 years and older; (2) Residents in long-term care facilities; (3) People 50-64 years old with underlying medical conditions. People who MAY get the booster: (1) People 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions, based on their individual benefits & risks; (2) People 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting based on their individual benefits & risks.
Stock image showing a row of blue chairs, as if in a waiting room.

COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments, Walk-In and Pop-Up Clinics -- Walk-In Clinic Near the City This Week!


OPTION #1
Go to vaccines.gov or vacunas.gov

Make an appointment at pharmacies (like CVS), grocery stores (like Harris Teeter), and doctor's offices through www.vaccines.gov or vacunas.gov. You can filter results by vaccine type (Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson) and location.

OPTION #2
Make an Appointment through Fairfax Health Department

Register through VAMS

OPTION #3
Walk In to a Fairfax Health Clinic -- No
Appointment Necessary
The list of clinics varies by week; check here for the complete list. The clinics this week include:


**NEAR THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH** Willston Community Center, 6131 Willston Dr., Falls Church
  • Friday, October 29 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Pfizer
  • Walk-in
Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax
  • Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Pfizer
Fairfax County Mt. Vernon District Office, 8350 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria
  • Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Pfizer
Tysons Mall Community Vaccination Center, 7950 Tysons Corner Center, McLean
  • Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson
  • Walk-in or by appointment (vaccinate.virginia.gov or 877-829-4682 (TTY 711))
Springfield Town Center, 6500 Springfield Mall, 1st Floor, Springfield
  • Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6 p.m.
  • Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna
  • Walk-in

Where to Find Important Information

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The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).