COVID grants and volunteers improve the Jewell County Health Department facility
Jewell County Health Department News
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March 9, 2023
With lots of volunteer labor and the assistance of grant money, the structure housing the Jewell County Health Department looks like a different building inside. With new flooring, stylish paint color selection and designated areas for additional services, the facility provides an inviting decor for those who work there and the patrons they serve. Perhaps it is time to schedule a visit if you have not been there recently.
Jewell County Health Department celebrated Dr. Seuss Week. Children were given hats, books, stickers, bookmarks, pencils and crayons with coloring pages. The health department is a member of the American Pediatric Academy which enables the department to provide TAP-TAM book to all eligible children who receive immunizations.
COVID Updates
Jewell County Health Department is still providing COVID vaccines and testing. The Public Health Emergency for COVID is expiring May 11, which means all funding for supplies (testing and vaccines) will be changing. The department will update the public when they know more information. The Kansas Department of Health and Environmental will phase out the Monovalent COVID vaccine and only offer COVID Bivalent vaccine to the public.
Measles Outbreak
Three states have confirmed outbreaks of Measles, Minnesota, Ohio, and more recently, Kentucky. All among children who were not fully vaccinated. Please note that this virus is highly contagious and a huge risk to infants, immunocompromised persons, and organ recipients. Cases have increased from 49 in 2021 to 121 in 2022. If you experience a fever, cough, runny nose, pink eye with a rash developing 3 to 5 days after symptom onset, starting on the face, and spreading downwards, please isolate and contact your doctor immediately. If you are not sure if your child is fully vaccinated, please contact your doctor or local health department. Don't wait!
Other News
The Jewell County Health Department has attended the 365 Health Coalition meeting this past month in addition to, Post Rock Extension meeting where staff participated in discussion topics like, needs in our community; food insecurities; the underserved population; and food safety-nutrition needs for older adults and families with children. The department has also been working on Emergency Preparedness for the community. The co-op plan helps coordinate measures when a disaster strikes in coordination with other responders in the community. The Jewell County Health Department website is set to launch in the next week or two. Upcoming events include the Governor's Conference March 28 through 30. The health department will not be giving immunizations those three days as a nurse will not be available.
Services available
This list is not all inclusive. WIC services are provided every Thursday, walk-in Wednesdays are available for immunizations, referrals to other services, toenail cares, intramuscular injections by doctor orders, TB skin test, blood lead testing, hemoglobin checks, removal of sutures, disease investigations and outbreak information when notified by state, emergency preparedness, public health education, blood pressure/vital check, car seat checks, COVID testing, simple hearing and vision testing.
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