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Healthcare Professionals Newsletter
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Updated Syphilis Screening Guidelines
VDH recently revised its syphilis screening recommendations for sexually active people aged 15–44 based on recent Virginia data. The guidelines now use rates of all stages of syphilis among women 15–44, instead of only primary and secondary cases. There are 78 counties in Virginia where syphilis testing is now recommended for all sexually active people ages 15-44.
Why the Change? Congenital syphilis can occur from infection at any stage during pregnancy. In Virginia, most women are diagnosed in later stages — only 21% of cases in 2024 were diagnosed in early stages. Including all stages, it gives a more accurate picture of high-risk areas and ensures counties with congenital syphilis cases are not overlooked.
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 Better Hearing and Speech Month: Supporting Early Detection of Hearing loss in Virginia
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month — a time to highlight the importance of early identification and intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Through Virginia’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (VA EHDI) program, we work to ensure that every newborn receives timely:
- hearing screening
- congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) screening when indicated
- audiological evaluations, and
- access to early intervention services.
Early detection connects families to the support they need to build strong communication skills and meet development milestones. VA EHDI promotes CDC’s 1-3-6 benchmarks: screening by 1 month, diagnosis by 3 months, and enrollment in early intervention by 6 months.
This month, we celebrate the progress made across the Commonwealth and recognize the providers and families who make this work possible. In Virginia, 95% of infants receive a hearing screening by 1 month of age, and 84.8% of children are diagnosed by 3 months of age. Timeliness has also improved. The average time between initial hearing screening and rescreening decreased from 101 days in 2020 to 35.7 days in 2025. The average age at diagnosis dropped from 85 to 65 days. Together, we can continue strengthening systems of care to support every child’s ability to communicate, connect, and thrive.
For more information about Virginia EHDI resources and services, please reach out to our team @va_ehdi@vdh.virginia.gov or visit our website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/early-hearing-detection-and-intervention/.
April 13-18 was STI Awareness Week!
Virginia Plan for Well-Being
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The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) have released of the 2025–2029 State Health Improvement Plan, also known as the Virginia Plan for Well-Being.
The comprehensive plan serves as a data-driven roadmap to improve health outcomes, advance equity and ensure that all Virginians live in conditions that allow them to thrive.
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The VPfWB focuses on six key priority areas identified through statewide data and community input, including:
- Infant mortality,
- Firearm-related deaths,
- Obesity,
- Mental health,
- Drug overdose and substance use disorder, and
- Housing, transportation and economic stability.
These priorities reflect the most pressing health issues and preventable drivers of health outcomes in Virginia and are supported by coordinated strategies designed to create lasting impact. The plan will serve as a blueprint with targeted action that will drive meaningful change and improve health outcomes across Virginia.
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Heart Health Educational Videos
VDH has a new library of educational videos on topics related to heart health. These videos can be shared in patient instructions, websites, waiting rooms, and community settings. New videos will continue to be added.
VDH monitors immunization rates to ensure the health and safety of children across the Commonwealth. These dashboards provide a public record of vaccination trends by locality and health district.
Interactive dashboard tools can be used to view immunization coverage for:
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Individual rates for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), Polio, DTaP, and others.
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Locality Comparisons: Coverage levels by locality in Virginia.
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Demographic Comparisons: Coverage levels by race/ethnicity and sex.
The data is sourced from the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS), the state’s registry for vaccination records.
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Data Source: Information is reported to VDH by healthcare providers and health departments.
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Updates: Figures are updated weekly to reflect the most current information available.
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Purpose: These rates are used by public health officials and the public to identify areas where additional health resources may be needed.
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