To celebrate the upcoming ban on smoking in restaurants, Virginia’s Health Commissioner called on Virginians to show their support for the new law and local businesses by dining at their favorite smoke-free restaurants.
The Commonwealth’s new law to eliminate smoking in Virginia restaurants and protect restaurant workers and patrons from secondhand smoke takes effect Dec. 1.
Virginia Congressman Jim Moran, Co-Chair of the Congressional Prevention Caucus, welcomed the release of a new report by the Partnership for Prevention and discussed legislation he has introduced to address the national epidemic of childhood obesity at briefing today on Capitol Hill.
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the creation of The Ignite Institute, a nonprofit medical research institute established by Inova Health System and Dr. Dietrich Stephan, a recognized leader in the field of molecular medicine. The Institute is the first entity built around the application of personalized medicine innovation in the community health setting. The project’s $200 million investment in Fairfax County will create 415 jobs.
On Friday, November 13, a limited number of nasal H1N1 flu vaccine doses will be available at the Alexandria Health Department, 4480 King Street. The vaccination will be distributed at 1 p.m. This vaccination clinic is focused on providing vaccine to children (including pre-school children). The nasal form of the vaccine can be given to healthy children two years old and older who are not immunosuppressed and do not have asthma. No injectable vaccine will be available at this site at this time.
The 1500 doses of H1N1 vaccine made available to the public today in Alexandria went fast. The vaccine was distributed at George Washington Middle School. By 9:09 a.m. there were more than 1200 people in line. The vaccine was originally going to be made available from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., but the clinic reached capacity by noon.
In keeping with the administration’s proactive approach to H1N1 Flu, President Obama last night signed a proclamation declaring 2009-H1N1 Influenza a national emergency. The proclamation enhances the ability of our Nation’s medical treatment facilities to handle a surge in H1N1 patients by allowing, as needed, the waiver of certain standard federal requirements on a case-by-case basis.
Last week, Alexandria Councilman Krupicka, Flavor Magazine and a number of prominent farmers, chefs and local restaurants hosted approximately 200 people last week at a showing of the local food documentary FRESH. The evening raised approximately $1500 for ALIVE’s food bank program.
A limited number of nasal H1N1 vaccine doses will be available at the Alexandria Health Department, 4480 King St., on Friday morning, October 23.
Beginning at 8 a.m., numbers will be given to people wishing to receive the vaccine, with vaccination administration starting at 8:30 a.m. The Health Department will stop giving out numbers once the limit of the vaccine supply has been reached.
As Virginia sets priorities for giving H1N1 vaccine, the City of Alexandria has planned several clinics. Contingent on vaccine availability, the first public vaccination clinic will be held October 31, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the George Washington Middle School Cafeteria, 1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.
