Families in the Madison and Oakton pyramids have less than four weeks to get their children's required immunizations before the first day of school on Monday, August 24.
The Fairfax County Health Department is opening free back-to-school vaccination clinics starting Friday, July 31, at four public health centers across the county.
The clinics run through Friday, August 21, across 12 dates. Multiple sessions include extended hours until 6 p.m. to accommodate working families.
Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, whose district includes Vienna, flagged the clinics Tuesday on X, directing families to the county's clinic schedule page.
Who needs shots
Virginia law requires immunizations at three school-entry points: kindergarten, seventh grade, and 12th grade. Students transferring into Fairfax County Public Schools must also show proof of vaccination. The Health Department warns that students who don't meet requirements may not be allowed to return to school in the fall.
Kindergartners need DTaP, polio, MMR (two doses), Hepatitis B, varicella and Hepatitis A, among others.
Seventh-graders need a Tdap booster, a first dose of meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY), and an HPV vaccine series (with a parental opt-out option). Twelfth-graders need a second MenACWY dose, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
Where and when
The four clinic locations are:
- Herndon-Reston Public Health Center
- Annandale Public Health Center
- Franconia-Springfield Public Health Center
- Mount Vernon Public Health Center
Fridays run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (July 31, August 7, August 14, and August 21) at all four sites. Weekday sessions on August 4, 10, 11, 12, and 18 run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at all four centers. Saturday morning sessions (8 a.m. to noon) are available August 1, August 8, and August 15 at select locations.
The full schedule with addresses is available on the county's immunization locations page.
Appointments are encouraged. Walk-ins are welcome. Parents should bring their child's immunization record. To schedule, call 703-246-7100.
Additional options
FCPS is also partnering with Inspire Health Alliance to provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots at designated school locations at no out-of-pocket cost, according to the district's July 22 newsletter. Specific dates and locations for those events have not yet been announced.
The clinics come as national measles vaccination rates among kindergartners have fallen to 92.5% in the 2024-25 school year, down from 95.2% in 2019-20, according to WTOP. The U.S. has already logged 2,318 measles cases in 2026, surpassing the full-year record set in 2025.
The final clinic session is Friday, August 21, three days before school starts.
