COVID19 Update: If a person presents with a temperature, you will be asked to return home. Further instructions will be given by your health care team. For our patient’s protection, there is a limit one (1) visitor per patient if necessary. No visitors are allowed in the chemo infusion room. Telemedicine visits are available for routine office visits.
Message to All Patients, very important: Regardless of vaccination status – If you are experiencing a fever or cold-like like symptoms, which also include GI Symptoms and Diarrhea, you should contact your Virginia Cancer Specialists Advice Line before visiting our clinics for scheduled appointments. This includes symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing or difficulty breathing.
Effective May 11, 2023: the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) will expire. Virginia Cancer Specialist (VCS) will adopt a mask optional policy. The Health and Safety of our Patients and Employees is always our top priority. If you prefer your healthcare team to wear a mask during your visit, please let us know. Additionally, VCS may ask you to wear a mask during your visit.
Who is eligible to receive a single booster dose and when:
August 23, 2024 – The new approved vaccine will cover the newest variants of COVID, see below. Vaccines should be available in local pharmacies, PCMD or health departments within the next few days-week.
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- The Food and Drug Administration approved updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, putting the shots on track to reach most Americans in the coming days as the virus surges.
- The jabs target a strain called KP.2, a descendant of the highly contagious omicron subvariant JN.1 that began circulating widely in the U.S. earlier this year.
- The CDC recommended that everyone over 6 months old receive an updated Covid vaccine this year.
These are the current guidelines for remaining out of the clinic for patients – using the immunocompromised patient population guidelines:
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- Patients should remain out of the clinic for 10 days if COVID positive, unless medically necessary – per physician for treatment and improving/no symptoms
- If patients are cleared to come in, they should also wear a mask for 10 days to protect our team members and other patients.
- The CDC only references that in this patient population, recovery can be expected to be longer due to weakened immune systems and have not updated recommendations.
