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Stay safer this Holiday season by getting your COVID-19 vaccine booster. Contact Winneshiek County Public Health at 563-382-4662 to schedule your appointment.
Immediate Release Nancy Sacquitne RN, BSN
September 8, 2021, 1400 hours nsacquitne@winneshiekhealth.org
Winneshiek County Joint Covid-19 planning committee update:
Due to the increasing numbers of requests for Covid-19 testing, the committee would like to share some of the available sources in our county.
Over the counter test kits are available but very limited supply at Walmart and Thrifty White pharmacies. These tests are done in your home but unfortunately, the state and the county do not receive any reports if, they are positive. We are requesting that you notify your healthcare provider if you do test positive so that further education and follow-up may be done.
The Test Iowa at-home Saliva kits are reported to local public health and the state as those tests are sent to the state hygienic lab. These results are not rapid and may take 2-3 days to get results dependent on when it arrives at the state lab.
All these tests are to ONLY be used for persons exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 or known exposures to a positive case. You need to remember to isolate after doing the tests until known results. If symptomatic, you should be staying home and having others pick up the kits. These kits are NOT FOR ROUTINE TESTING or SURVEILLANCE. Please test 3-5 days after exposures.
Winneshiek Medical Center will provide COVID-19 swabbing on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12 from 8:00 – 11:00 am. Appointments for weekend swabbing are required and can be made by calling 563-382-2911 between 7:30 am – 10:30 am on either day.
COVID-19 swabbing also continues to be available Monday-Friday during business hours by calling 563-382-2911.
If you are a patient of Gundersen Health Systems, call 563-382-3140 to be further evaluated for possible testing if needed.
COVID-19 swabbing also continues to be available Monday-Friday during business hours by calling 563-382-2911.
A reminder that only persons who are severely immunocompromised and meet specific criteria are eligible to receive their 3rd dose. The remaining public is NOT to be receiving any boosters currently. Please monitor for further announcements after booster information that will be shared from Iowa Department of Public Health.
The committee is recommending vaccination to all our residents and to follow CDC recommendation of masking. We are hearing of more tragic news of young unvaccinated adults in their 30’s to 50’s who contracted Covid-19 and died of complications leaving behind young children.
Please don’t become one of those statistics, protect yourself and your family by being vaccinated. There is plenty of vaccine available.
Did you know?
Health authorities know that the immune response from vaccination for COVID-19 is actually more robust than from natural immunity.
This is which is why Public Health and other healthcare providers recommend that people get vaccinated even if they have had COVID before.
The other thing with natural immunity versus vaccine immunity is that having some level of vaccine
immunity will help your body develop antibodies faster if you are ever exposed to a case and become ill
yourself, therefore shortening your illness and reducing the severity, whereas if you had no immunity
going into the infection, your body will have to start from scratch and therefore will potentially fare far
worse (as we are seeing now with unvaccinated folks making up most of our hospitalizations and
deaths).
Covid-19 vaccines are still available at your local Public Health office, healthcare providers, and local pharmacies.
Call and get vaccinated!!! Call 563-382-4662 to set up appointment today.
Winneshiek County Joint COVID-19 Planning Committee recommendations:
Our Winneshiek County health partners recommend the need for you to receive the COVID-19 vaccines if you have not done so. Individuals 12 years of age and older and younger adults are strongly urged to get the vaccine as the Delta variant which is the predominant strain in Winneshiek County is being seen in the younger population.
Vaccine is available at the following locations:
Winneshiek County Public Health
Winneshiek Medical Center
Gundersen Health Systems
Thrifty White pharmacy
Walmart pharmacy
Donlon pharmacy
Free Test Iowa At-Home saliva test kits remain available from Winneshiek County Public Health Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 PM. They are located under the canopy on the west side of the Smith Building in small indentation of the building.
Please note if no kits are available, call 563-382-4662 and staff will bring kits down. These kits are for emergent use only for those exhibiting symptoms or known close contacts of a positive case.
If you would like to order your own kits, you need to contact Test Iowa at 1-833-286-8378. Just a reminder, these kits are not for surveillance.
If additional questions, feel free to contact Public Health or your healthcare providers.
Wear your mask, wash your hands, stay home if you are ill.
GET VACCINATED!!!
Immediate Release kvandenbrink@winneshiekhealth.org
June 9, 2021
Weekly Joint Planning Team Vaccine update:
COVID-19 changed our lives and lifestyles for several months. Although this public health emergency has not yet been declared over, Winneshiek County healthcare leaders are seeking the public’s feedback through an online JotForm link. The data received will be used to create a local “After Action Report (AAR).” Our intent is to identify a couple areas; (1) identify the best means of communication during a similar event, and (2) gather the public’s feedback in an effort to improve upon our local practices and procedures. This information will be submitted to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) to assist our state level partner agencies in the creation of their own AARs.
To provide input, please go to the following link: https://form.jotform.com/211543677690058
The link will remain active until 11:59 pm on June 27, 2021.
Our local Planning Team will no longer be providing weekly press releases. The Planning Team will continue to collaborate and meet as needed moving forward.
Thank you all.
Immediate Release nsacquitne@winneshiekhealth.org
May 19, 2021
Weekly Joint Planning Team Vaccine update:
All Winneshiek County healthcare partners are looking for children aged 12-15 years old who would like to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination. All parents wanting their children in that age bracket to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination are strongly encouraged to reach out to their medical provider or pharmacist and register their children today! All local medical providers and pharmacists are accepting children aged 12-15 years old.
Don’t Delay – Vaccinate Today!!!!
The CDC is still recommending the use of face coverings while in a healthcare setting environment. Please respect this recommendation and continue to wear a face covering when visiting your local healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Immediate Release nsacquitne@winneshiekhealth.org
May 12, 2021
Weekly Joint Planning Team Vaccine update:
On Monday, May 10, 2021 the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents 12-15 years of age. This approval by the FDA is an important step in reducing the burden of COVID-19 in our community. However, before the Pfizer vaccine can be administered to this age group, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) must meet to discuss safety and use of Pfizer vaccine for adolescents. This meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 12. If the evidence shows that the vaccine is safe and effective for use in individuals 12 to 15 years of age, then clinical guidance for providers will be finalized. It may take a few days for the written clinical guidance to be available for local vaccine providers.
Winneshiek County Public Health asks parents and guardians of adolescents ages 12 to 15 to wait to schedule appointments for this age group until the written clinical guidance is available to vaccine providers. Winneshiek County vaccine providers understand many parents and guardians are eager to make these appointments and asks individuals to be patient as providers await final recommendations and guidelines for vaccinating this age group. Winneshiek County Public Health will make an announcement once adolescents aged 12 to 15 can begin receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. As a reminder, currently individuals aged 16 and older may receive the Pfizer vaccine, and individuals 18 and older may receive the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. Getting a vaccine is easy and convenient. Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J COVID-19 vaccine is currently available in Winneshiek County. Contact your local health provider today to get vaccinated.
The ability to vaccinate new segments of the population will help protect our community. Parents and guardians can be assured that the FDA and ACIP conduct rigorous and thorough review of all available data prior to making any recommendations. Vaccination of the younger population will bring us closer to ending this pandemic and returning to normalcy. If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, please contact your healthcare provider or call Winneshiek County Public Health at 563-382-4662. COVID-19 Vaccine Information Session recordings are available in multiple languages and are available at https://www.iowacovidinfo.org/recordings.
Don’t Delay – Vaccinate Today!!!!
Immediate Release nsacquitne@winneshiekhealth.org
May 5, 2021 1430 hour Nancy Sacquitne RN, BSN
WE NEED YOU! GET YOUR VACCINATION!
Weekly Covid-19 planning team update
Please keep calling, there is a shot for you! We continue to strive for higher numbers of vaccinated individuals.
Please see below on how to contact your local healthcare providers for making a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.
Winneshiek County Public Health (WCPH)
Call 563-382-4662 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday – Friday. Moderna and J&J available.
Winneshiek Medical Center (WMC)
Call 563-382-2911 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday – Friday. Moderna vaccine available.
Gundersen Health Systems
Call 563-382-3140 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday – Friday or schedule an appointment through MyChart. Moderna vaccine available.
Donlon Pharmacy
Pharmacy hours are 9:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday – Friday and 9:30 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday or go to donlonrx.com to schedule online. Call 563-382-3929 with questions. Moderna & J&J vaccines available.
Walmart Pharmacy
Pharmacy hours are 9:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, and 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday. Call 563-382-8456 with questions. Walk-ins accepted or go to www.walmart.com/covidvaccine to schedule. Moderna & J&J vaccines available.
Thrifty White Pharmacy
Pharmacy hours are 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday – Friday, and 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday or go to www.thriftywhite.com to schedule your appointment online. Call 563-382-8765 with questions. Moderna & Pfizer vaccines available. Walk-in appointments for patients 18 & older wanting the Moderna vaccine are welcome.
Please remember to call your local provider or pharmacy to have your name removed from their internal COVID-19 vaccination waiting list if you have received the vaccination elsewhere.
Immediate Release nsacquitne@winneshiekhealth.org
April 28, 2021
Weekly Joint Planning Team Vaccine update:
Come one! Come all! Let’s get ready for summer!!!!
All 3 COVID-19 vaccines are available for you in Winneshiek County.
Help yourself, help your family and help your friends and neighbors by getting the vaccine. The more that are vaccinated, the closer we get to herd immunity. Encourage your loved ones to get the vaccine so your family and friends can better enjoy the summer.
Get to know the true facts about the vaccine! Ask your providers, pharmacists, or Public Health.
COVID-19 vaccines are important and the best way to beat COVID-19. The members of the Winneshiek County COVID-19 Joint Planning Team strongly recommend everyone eligible receive a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.
Winneshiek County Public Health (WCPH)
Call 563-382-4662 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday – Friday. Moderna and J&J vaccines available.
Winneshiek Medical Center (WMC)
Call 563-382-2911 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday – Friday. Moderna vaccine available.
Gundersen Health Systems
Call 563-382-3140 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday – Friday. Patients can also self-schedule through MyChart at any Gundersen location that has an opening. Moderna vaccine available.
Donlon Pharmacy
Pharmacy hours are 9:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday – Friday and 9:30 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday or go to donlonrx.com to schedule online. Call 563-382-3929 with questions. Moderna and J&J vaccines available.
Walmart Pharmacy
Pharmacy hours are 9:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, and 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday. Call 563-382-8456 with questions. Go to www.walmart.com/covidvaccine to learn more about Walmart’s vaccine rollout. Moderna and J&J vaccines available.
Thrifty White Pharmacy
Pharmacy hours are 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday – Friday, and 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday or go to www.thriftywhite.com to schedule your appointment online. Call 563-382-8765 with questions. Walk-in appointments for patients 18 and older wanting the Moderna vaccine are welcome. Moderna and Pfizer vaccines available.
Please remember to call your local provider, pharmacy, or public health to have your name removed from their internal COVID-19 vaccination waiting list if you have received the vaccination elsewhere.
