Scott County Health Department offering flu and COVID-19 booster vaccinations
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Scott County Health Department (SCHD) personnel delivered flu vaccines to the communities of Manchester, Alsey and Bluffs on Thursday.
According to SCHD BSN/RN Meghan VanDeVelde, the flu vaccine clinics are part of a concerted effort on the part of the department to thoroughly vaccinate county residents against the flu.
Residents can arrange for a flu vaccination at any time during SCHD’s hours of operation.
SCHD will also be hosting a drive-through flu vaccination clinic at Winchester’s Funk Building on Oct. 17 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
In addition to the flu vaccine, SCHD is making an effort to ensure residents receive the latest COVID-19 booster shots.
Last week, VanDeVelde reported that SCHD received one of the latest bivalent COVID-19 vaccines.
SCHD provides weekly booster shot clinics at the department’s offices at 335 West Cherry Street in Winchester.
“We just got the latest Moderna COVID-19 bivalent booster,” VanDeVelde said. “We will be doing our booster clinics recurring on Fridays again at our office.”
VanDeVelde said that in order to get the new bivalent Moderna booster, residents must be mindful of the date of their initial vaccination or their last booster shot.
“We only have Moderna bivalent boosters, and it must be 2 months after a person’s 2nd dose or their last booster dose, whichever happened to be their latest dose,” VanDeVelde said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that, because the virus that causes COVID-19 changes over time, residents should maintain protection against COVID-19 up to date by getting a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.
According to information released by the FDA, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines include a component of the original virus strain to provide broad protection against COVID-19 and a component of the omicron variant to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the more recent omicron variant.
These new boosters are called bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, because vaccines contain both the original and omicron components.
The Moderna bivalent booster – which is the booster available at SCHD – is one of two bivalent boosters approved by the FDA. A Pfizer bivalent booster has also been approved.
In addition to keeping in mind the date of their last COVID-19 vaccination, residents must take into account their age.
The Moderna bivalent booster is only approved for individuals 18-years-old and up. Individuals as young as 12-years-old may receive the Pfizer bivalent booster.
VanDeVelde also reported that SCHD has begun receiving doses of flu vaccine, and residents may visit SCHD’s offices to receive a flu vaccine shot.
“We are getting flu vaccine shipments in,” VanDeVelde said. “If folks would like a flu vaccine now, they may do so at our office.”
SCHD staff is also mindful that some residents have limited mobility. In order to accommodate Scott County residents who may be homebound and unable to come to a flu and/or COVID bivalent booster clinic, SCHD will perform in-home vaccinations upon request.
If you or somebody you know is interested in one of these vaccines, please call 217-742-8203.
SCHD also reminds residents that the deadline for students to receive school vaccines is rapidly approaching.
“The school vaccination requirement deadline is approaching fast,” SCHD staff wrote in a Facebook post. “These vaccines are due by October 15th.This includes those who are entering grades kindergarten, 6th, or 12th this school year.”
For more information on vaccines, to schedule a vaccination,, or for more information on other services provided by SCHD, contact the department at (217) 742-8203.
