The Code of Virginia § 32.1-14 tasks the Board of Health with submitting an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly. This report must include comprehensive information on the Commonwealth’s vital records and health statistics, along with a thorough analysis and summary of the health care issues affecting citizens of the Commonwealth. The content of the report shall encompass, but is not limited to, health status indicators, assessments of the effectiveness of health care delivery, evaluations of progress made toward established health standards and goals, and analyses of both the financial and geographic accessibility of care and the distribution of health care resources across the state. Particular focus must be given to health care access for citizens residing in rural communities, inner-city areas, and other regions where residents face the greatest economic need. Additionally, the report must include detailed statistics and analyses of the health status and conditions of minority populations in Virginia, disaggregated by age, gender, and locality.

The 2025 Board of Health Annual Report has been prepared by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) in fulfillment of this statutory obligation and on behalf of the Board of Health. This document offers an updated assessment of the current state of public health in Virginia and ongoing public health initiatives. Reflecting VDH’s overarching vision to make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation, the 2025 report reviews the Commonwealth’s performance in key health indicators against national averages and those of peer states, thereby providing a broader context for evaluating health outcomes and progress across the Commonwealth.