[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; Pause on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine; Islamic Scholars Encourage COVID-19 Vaccines, Even During Ramadan

­­For Immediate Release: April 13, 2021

The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) strongly urge residents to stay home as much as possible, wear a mask over both your nose and mouth, and wash your hands frequently. Pre-register to receive the vaccine and you’ll be notified once appointments are available. AHD estimates that approximately 1 in 20 Alexandrians who have tested positive for COVID-19 have required hospitalization, so without these critical steps, additional lives may be at risk. 

Pause on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a joint statement recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution. To date, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the U.S., and there have been six reported cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. This safety concern has not been seen in other vaccines currently authorized for use in the U.S. According to the CDC, all six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48 with symptoms occurring 6 to 13 days after vaccination. The CDC recommends that adults who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should contact a health care provider if they experience severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination. Individuals with upcoming appointments to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be contacted to either reschedule their appointment or receive a vaccine from a different manufacturer, based on available supplies.

Islamic Scholars Encourage COVID-19 Vaccines, Even During Ramadan

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time of prayer, reflection and fasting, has begun. According to most Islamic scholars, vaccine injections are not considered food or drink, and are permitted during fasting hours in the coming month. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain pork products, gelatin, animal products, or the live COVID-19 virus. The Minnesota Department of Health has developed a guide for “ Staying Safer During Ramadan” to slow the spread of COVID-19, which includes multilingual videos and resources for those considering vaccination during the month.

Pre-register for a vaccine appointment online at alexandriava.gov/Vaccines and select “Pre-Register for Vaccine Waitlist.” Anyone who does not have email or internet access should contact the Alexandria COVID-19 Hotline weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 703.746.4988.

Alexandria COVID-19 Data At-a-Glance

The seven-day moving average chart below shows the number of COVID-19 cases and the daily and cumulative case and fatality counts, and provides detailed information about how preventive measures are impacting Alexandria's response to the pandemic. An interactive version is available at alexandriava.gov/114883. The vaccination chart includes total doses administered across all facilities and the percentage of residents ages 16 and older who have been partially and fully vaccinated, and is available at alexandriava.gov/120654. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, are available through links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus. 



Continue following measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 even after vaccination. Get tested if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. If you test positive, help loved ones and neighbors by informing your close contacts using “ What to Do If You Get Sick” guidance, which is available in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, and Farsi or this brief video.