Dr. Goodfriend, invited by the board, briefed supervisors on Nov. 6 about influenza, COVID and routine childhood vaccinations ahead of the winter holidays and answered questions about availability, safety and guidance.

Dr. Goodfriend emphasized that vaccines undergo Food and Drug Administration review and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides recommendations identifying which populations most benefit from a particular vaccine. He highlighted that measles (MMR) remains highly contagious and urged keeping childhood vaccinations up to date: "For measles, it's just waiting for an opening," he said, noting that the U.S. had recorded an elevated number of cases earlier in the year. He described pertussis as particularly dangerous for infants and urged family‑wide immunization to protect newborns. For influenza and COVID, he recommended getting vaccinated now because the immune response takes about a week to build and because these vaccines reduce severe outcomes and hospitalizations even when breakthrough infections occur.

Board members asked for guidance about which sources of information are reliable amid conflicting federal messages; Dr. Goodfriend urged patients to talk to their health care provider or pharmacist and to contact the Loudoun County Health Department (health@loudoun.gov; phone provided in meeting) for local guidance and availability. On cost and coverage, he said most insurers are covering the COVID vaccines and that the health department can provide vaccine doses at no vaccine cost through vaccines‑for‑children and related programs, though there may be small administrative fees in some settings.

The board asked about combination dosing (MMR as a combined vaccine) and whether separating doses would be appropriate; Dr. Goodfriend said separation is not supported by objective evidence and that combinations have been reviewed for safety and efficacy. He noted a single recent pediatric example where the CDC recommended separation, but that was specific to that vaccine formulation.

Dr. Goodfriend closed by urging residents to get vaccinated at least a week before travel and family gatherings and offered the health department as a point of contact for verification and local vaccine availability.