Vienna families with children at Madison, Oakton, Thoreau and other Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) can get free flu shots at school locations through a new district partnership with Inspire Health Alliance.
Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Fairfax County's director of health, outlined the program and fall illness guidelines in a Wednesday, Oct. 7 letter to FCPS parents. She urged families to get children vaccinated before the end of October, the ideal window for flu protection.
The Inspire Health Alliance program covers flu shots and school-required immunizations for all FCPS students ages 18 and under at no out-of-pocket cost. Families with insurance provide that information, but uninsured students also receive shots at no charge. Participation is voluntary.
Students under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older. Families can book appointments through Inspire's School Health portal, which is available in multiple languages. Walk-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis but face longer waits.
Specific event dates and locations have not been announced. The district's immunization page will post additional dates throughout the school year, according to the FCPS fall wellness newsletter.
When to keep kids home
Addo-Ayensu's letter also spells out when sick children should stay out of school:
- Fever: Children with a temperature of 100°F or higher must stay home until the fever is gone for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. The FCPS attendance page lists a slightly higher threshold of 100.4°F.
- Strep throat: Students should remain home at least 12 hours after starting antibiotics, be fever-free without medication and show improving symptoms.
- COVID-19: Isolation is no longer based on a set number of days. Children can return when symptoms are improving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without medication. The letter recommends added precautions for the next five days, including masking and keeping distance.
The letter noted a person can spread the flu starting about one day before feeling sick and up to a week after. It also warned parents not to give aspirin to children with flu-like symptoms because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.
2026 flu vaccine
The Fairfax County Health Department's fall respiratory alert said the 2026 flu shot protects against three strains, including the influenza A(H3N2) subclade K virus that spread widely during the 2025-2026 season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the vaccine for everyone six months and older.
Addo-Ayensu's letter called vaccination the most effective protection against serious flu complications.
Parents with questions can contact their school's public health nurse. Additional return-to-school guidance is posted on the FCPS attendance page.
Families have until the end of October to schedule a shot through the Inspire portal or a local pharmacy listed at vaccinefinder.org.
