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Sickness on the rise in Pike County!

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It likely goes without saying that there are many unwelcomed illnesses arriving at your household this holiday season. Our communicable disease nurse reports that the COVID level is high as well as flu; especially influenza A. We are also aware that strep throat and RSV is hitting our county hard. We want to take this time to remind everyone to take these proper preventative precautions to keep yourself, your family and friends safe during this holiday season:

  1. Check with your healthcare provider on vaccines you may be eligible for to help prevent illness such as Flu, Pneumonia and Covid.
  2. Take everyday preventive measures to help reduce the spread of illnesses:
    1. Avoid close contact with sick people
    2. If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible
    3. Do not go to work or school if you are sick
    4. Cover coughs and sneezes
    5. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
    6. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
    7. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects

COVID-19 Boosters Temporarily Out-of-Stock

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Per the CDC guidance released on 8/31/22 PCHD currently does not have the appropriate COVID 19 vaccines on hand to provide booster shots to anyone 12 years and older at this time.  We are working on getting the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines authorized for booster shots and we will announce when these become available.

We will notify when we are re-stocked! We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

 

 

Stay on track with your child’s vaccinations

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As a parent, you want to keep your children safe. Routine childhood vaccinations are an important way to ensure that your child and community remain healthy and protected against serious diseases, like measles and whooping cough.

Pike County Health Department encourages parents to make sure children are up to date on routinely recommended vaccines. Well-child visits and check-ups are essential for routine vaccination, even during the pandemic.

You can also review the 2022 easy-to-read immunization schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  If you’re pregnant, now is a great time to find a doctor for your baby and schedule a visit to discuss any questions you have about vaccines.

For more information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, visit these resources from the CDC:

If you have questions about vaccines, talk to your child’s healthcare provider. If you are in need of your child’s shot records we can get copies for you at no charge that will show all of their immunizations that we or your physician has input into the State of Missouri’s Show-Me-Vax system.

We offer many immunizations at little to no cost to you at our Walk-In Clinic; Monday through Friday from 8am-12pm & from 1pm-4pm. Additionally, we offer extended hours prior to the start of the school year to make it easier for you to get your children the immunizations they need for school.

COVID-19 Community Impact Survey! / Encuesta del Impacto de COVID 19 a la Comunidad

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Pike County Health Dept. is seeking the input from members of our community to better understand their needs.
Please take a moment for this brief and anonymous survey, you may also take it online here >>>

 

This survey is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $35,569,951 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are thos e of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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El Departamento de Salud del Condado de Pike busca las opiniones de la comunidad. Queremos aprender mejor las necesidades de la comunidad para mejorar el bienestar de los vecinos. Le pedimos favor de completar esta encuesta. No necesitamos su nombre; mantenemos el anónimo. También Ud. puede completar la encuesta por internet en el sitio web: www.pikecountyhealth.org.

¡Gracias!

El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos se apoyan esta encuesta como un parte du un premio financiero de $35,569,951. Cien porcentajes financiados por el CDC/HHS. La encuesta es do los autores y no se representan ni las opiniones ni es una aprobación del CDC/HHS ni el gobierno de los

EE UU.

CDC Strengthens Recommendations and Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots

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CDC has expanded eligibility of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone 5 years of age and older, recommending that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.

Vaccination with a primary series among this age group has lagged behind other age groups leaving them vulnerable to serious illness.

CDC has also strengthened its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after their first.

While older Americans have the highest coverage of any age group of first booster doses, most older Americans received their last dose many months ago, leaving many who are vulnerable without the protection they may need to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

Learn More >>>

Catching up on routine childhood and adolescent immunizations

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Missouri Dept. of Health & Senior Services PSA:

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The COVID-19 pandemic has brought disruption to lives in many forms. For many children and families, even routine preventative healthcare has been disrupted. This National Infant Immunization Week, the Missouri Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (MOAAP) and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) highly encourage parents to ensure their children get caught up on or stay on track with routine vaccinations starting at birth to help protect them from serious diseases.

“As a parent, one of the best things you can do to protect your child is ensure that they see their doctor for well-child visits and recommended vaccines,” said Paula Nickelson, DHSS Acting Director. “Many vaccine-preventable diseases can have such devastating impacts, especially on vulnerable children. Assuring your child receives the vaccines can help you keep your child as healthy as possible.”

New CDC data show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood immunization. During the 2020-2021 school year, national vaccination coverage dropped from 95% to below 94%, which amounts to 35,000 more children across the U.S. entering kindergarten without documentation of complete vaccination against common diseases. Moreover, nearly 400,000 fewer children entered kindergarten than expected. Those children, too, might not be up to date on their routine vaccinations— further evidence of how pandemic-related disruptions to healthcare and education could have lingering consequences for school-age children.

Routine, safe and effective vaccinations during childhood help prevent 16 diseases. These diseases can have life-altering and sometimes tragic impacts on families. Severe symptoms can include:

  • Skin infections
  • Pneumonia (serious lung infection)
  • Long-term flu-like symptoms
  • Infections causing cancer
  • Severe dehydration
  • Seizures
  • Intense muscle spasms
  • Brain damage
  • Paralysis
  • Deafness (temporary or permanent)
  • Loss of limbs
  • Meningitis (swelling of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord)
  • Encephalitis (swelling of the brain)
  • Orchitis (swelling of the testicles) in males who have reached puberty
  • Oophoritis (swelling of the ovaries) and/or mastitis (swelling of the breasts) in females who have reached puberty

The key is for infants, children and adolescents to keep up on their well-child visits for preventive care. These visits allow the doctor to track the child’s growth and development, provide recommended vaccinations and answer questions about the child’s health.

“Immunizations are a key tool to ensuring children stay healthy,” said Dr. Kristin Sohl, President, Missouri Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics. “We encourage parents and caregivers to schedule well-child checks to ensure your child’s overall health and wellbeing, as well as getting them up-to-date on important vaccinations..”

Missouri falls just below the national average, ranking 30th among states, for children ages 0-17 completing one or more well-child visits in 2021.

 

“Childhood vaccines have all been studied in depth to determine the most appropriate time in a child’s life for them to be given,” said Dr. Rachel Orscheln, Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University in St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “We really want to vaccinate children at the earliest possible moment because young children, particularly infants, can be at risk of severe illness from certain infections.”

 

Among children born from 1994-2018, vaccinations will prevent an estimated 936,000 early deaths, 8 million hospitalizations and 419 million illnesses.

 

The Vaccines for Children program is funded by the CDC and provides free vaccines to children who qualify. Children 18 and under are eligible to receive free vaccines if they are Medicaid-eligible, do not have health insurance, are American Indian or Alaskan Native or are underinsured. Find the nearest Vaccines for Children program provider.

 

 

View the schedule of recommended childhood and adolescent vaccinations.

 

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COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Walk-In’s Welcome!

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March 31, 2022 PCHD COVID PSA

2 years of COVID-19 in Pike County, MO – Where are we now?

PIKE COUNTY, MO – Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the Pike County Health Department has continued to implement mitigation strategies to help keep our communities safe and informed. Since 2020, our agency staff has worked hard to keep up with the ever-changing data, information and education in order to ensure we are giving the most up-to-date recommendations per CDC guidelines and apply them to our current county level situation. We continue to address many other public health issues with education and prevention strategies. We believe these last two years have prepared us to be even better at responding to any future COVID-19 surge and other public health emergencies.  We continue to promote and protect the health, safety, and well-being of all through the many services we have to offer. Our community has grown stronger together through these hard times and it makes us proud to continue serving such amazing individuals.

In the recent months we have slowly been making changes to our online reporting; you will see that we are currently updating positive case counts twice weekly. We have also added direct links that will take citizens directly to the CDC and MODHSS (Missouri Department Health & Senior Services) online COVID-19 dashboards for more data and statistics per county, state, and national levels.

Although we are no longer making contact with positive COVID-19 cases or contact tracing to the extent we were in the beginning of the pandemic, we continue to monitor these cases as we do with other communicable diseases; investigating outbreaks and offering recommendations to individuals and businesses on how to manage and/or mitigate the illness for their specific situation. We are seeing that our COVID-19 case managing duties are becoming increasingly similar to how we have always managed other communicable diseases, which we believe is a positive movement.

BEGINNING APRIL 1st, 2022 we will be offering COVID-19 vaccines daily with no appointment necessary for those ages 12 and up. Pediatric COVID-19 vaccines (ages 5-11) will still be required to make an appointment. Those interested can receive their vaccines at our office from 8am-12p and from 1-4pm. Walk-ins will be on a first come, first serve basis and are subject to availability just as any other vaccine we have to offer.

CDC now states that those who have had their primary doses (two dose series of Pfizer or Moderna OR a single dose of Johnson & Johnson) are considered fully vaccinated, and those who have received their primary doses along with their boosters are considered up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.

COVID-19 and its variants are still a large concern for many people. Those who are severely immunocompromised or unvaccinated are still at highest risk of contracting and spreading this virus. We continue to encourage everyone to keep themselves and their families safe by practicing good hygiene, staying home when sick and wearing a mask when in large public spaces. Staying up to date on the currently recommended vaccines is a largely effective way to fight against these viruses. Pike County Health Department is available and willing to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding COVID-19 or any other agency matter. Reach us by calling 573-324-2111, by visiting our website at www.pikecountyhealth.org or follow us on social media.

CDC Recommends Additional Boosters for Certain Individuals

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*The Pike County Health Dept. anticipates to see an increase in vaccine demand following this new recommendation. Please be patient as we work to prepare for assisting those interested in receiving a 2nd booster.*

Media Statement

For Immediate Release: March 29, 2022
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

Data continue to show the importance of vaccination and booster doses to protect individuals both from infection and severe outcomes of COVID-19. For adults and adolescents eligible for a first booster dose, these shots are safe and provide substantial benefit. During the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were 21-times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and 7-times less likely to be hospitalized. CDC continues to recommend that all eligible adults, adolescents, and children 5 and older be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting an initial booster when eligible.

Following FDA’s regulatory actionexternal icon today, CDC is updating its recommendations to allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago to be eligible for another mRNA booster to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19. Separately and in addition, based on newly published data, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

These updated recommendations acknowledge the increased risk of severe disease in certain populations including those who are elderly or over the age of 50 with multiple underlying conditions, along with the currently available data on vaccine and booster effectiveness.

The following is attributable to Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky:

“Today, CDC expanded eligibility for an additional booster dose for certain individuals who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. Boosters are safe, and people over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster 4 months after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time. CDC, in collaboration with FDA and our public health partners, will continue to evaluate the need for additional booster doses for all Americans.”

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CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.

GOVERNOR PARSON ANNOUNCES END TO COVID-19 CRISIS IN MISSOURI

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MARCH 30, 2022

JEFFERSON CITY — Today, during a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson announced an end to the COVID-19 crisis in Missouri and that the state will be shifting to an endemic phase of the pandemic on Friday, April 1, 2022.

A whole-of-government COVID-19 emergency response was taken for more than two years, an effort that responded to the needs of all Missourians during the global pandemic and sustained state operations as more was learned about the novel virus. Vaccines, testing resources, and treatments are now readily available for all Missourians, and much of the population now has some immunity to the virus.

“Over the past two years, we have learned a lot that will help us respond to future outbreaks and challenges that may come our way,” Governor Parson said. “We don’t know if this virus will ever completely go away, but we do know that there is no longer a need to live in crisis mode and that we can shift our response to meet the current needs of Missourians. The COVID-19 crisis is over in the state of Missouri, and we are moving on.”

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is expected to continue to circulate in communities, meaning it will be considered endemic like many other diseases. The endemicity also means that surveillance priority will change from monitoring case numbers to monitoring disease severity and societal impact as new waves of infection come and go. This transition does not minimize the continued importance of public health surveillance, investigation, and response activities, as is necessary to mitigate any disease.

“As we enter this phase of our state’s recovery, we continue to encourage Missourians to safeguard their own health and the health of loved ones through tried and true public health measures,” said Department of Health and Senior Services Acting Director Paula Nickelson. “Missourians should feel confident that we will remain vigilant when monitoring COVID-19 levels throughout the state.”

Over the past two years, the state was able to achieve some incredible milestones in responding to COVID-19:

Testing Capacity

  • More than 14 million tests performed by public health partners

Treatment Options

  • More than 81,000 treatment courses distributed by the State of Missouri

Vaccine Availability

  • More than 8.7 million doses administered by public health partners

In addition to vaccines, testing, and treatment options, which are some of the most effective tools to fight COVID-19, Missouri has expanded capabilities over the past two years in areas of personal protective equipment (PPE), hospital capacity, and data collection. These capabilities allow Missouri to adapt to changing needs regarding COVID-19 in the future.

Missouri’s approach moving forward will allow state and local health officials to closely monitor community level of COVID-19, determine which variants of SARS-CoV-2 are circulating through the genomic surveillance, and assess disease severity and impact of COVID-19-associated illnesses.

Beginning Friday, the Department of Health and Senior Services will provide weekly dashboard updates that will include 7-day case rate data, activity by region and county, statewide data on COVID-19 hospitalizations, and circulating virus variants. This is a flexible approach allowing accommodation for future surges, should they occur, and require more frequent updates and additional datasets.

More information about vaccines, testing resources, and treatment options along with the updated COVID-19 dashboard and details about this phase of the pandemic can be found by visiting health.mo.gov/coronavirus.

A booklet with more information regarding the transition to endemic phase can be found by clicking here.