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Immunizations
Immunizations are given every Wednesday at VMH Community and Home Care. The 1st and 3rd Wednesdays hours are 1pm - 6pm. All other Wednesdays are 1pm - 4pm. No appointment is needed during clinic hours. NO DOCTORS ORDERS NEEDED. Must be accompanied by a Parent. Medcaid Accepted. There is a $10 administration fee unless covered by Title-19.
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According to testing performed by the State Hygienic Laboratory, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) says children ages 5 to 14 years make up the bulk of reported pertussis cases, but it’s important to note that adults are considered the primary ‘spreaders’ of the disease.
“Children receive pertussis vaccine series beginning at 2 months of age, and are recommended to get a booster dose of pertussis vaccine at 11 or 12 years of age,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “Most adults haven’t had a pertussis vaccination since childhood so they probably have no immunity left to pertussis. When they get the disease, their symptoms are milder and are often mistaken for a lingering cough, but they still spread the disease to others.”
The most common symptoms of pertussis in children are fits of coughing, sometimes followed by vomiting or a ‘whooping’ sound as air is inhaled. Adults also cough, but usually the cough is not as severe, and the “whoop” is not heard. This is why many adults do not realize they have pertussis.
It’s especially important that adults who are around children receive pertussis-containing vaccine because they can spread the disease to infants and young children who are too young to be fully immunized. This is called cocooning - providing a cocoon of safety around the child who cannot be vaccinated or is not old enough to be fully vaccinated.
In infants, pertussis can be severe and even deadly. Adults can receive the Tdap shot (the adult “tetanus booster” that also contains pertussis vaccine). Getting vaccinated with Tdap at least two weeks before coming into close contact with an infant is especially important for families and caregivers of new infants. Adults 65 years and older who have close contact with infants should also get a dose of Tdap if they never have before.
While taking antibiotics will treat the infection and prevent an individual from spreading the disease any further, the cough may continue for weeks while the irritated airways completely heal. If you are diagnosed with pertussis, it is especially important to stay home for 5 days while taking the antibiotic prescribed by your physician and to limit contact with others to prevent the spread of this disease.
The Tdap vaccine is available every Wednesday afternoon at the weekly Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care immunization clinic, located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. For more information and to answer any questions, please call Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care, formerly Allamakee County Public Health, at 563-568-5660. |
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Infants are the group at highest risk of being hospitalized and dying from influenza and whooping cough, yet they are too young to be fully immunized against these serious diseases. As families prepare for a new child by readying a crib and installing a baby car seat, they should also make sure everyone who will be caring for that child is fully vaccinated against both the flu and whooping cough. Those needing to be immunized include mom and dad, siblings, and other caregivers like grandparents and baby sitters.
“About 75 percent of the time in Iowa, infants with whooping cough got the disease from a family member with the disease,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “Anyone who will be in frequent contact with the baby, including mom and dad, siblings, and other caregivers like grandparents and babysitters need to be vaccinated. ‘Cocooning’ the baby with healthy people will prevent the baby from being exposed to the flu and whooping cough.”
Both health care providers and new parents should make protecting their baby from vaccine-preventable diseases a priority. During prenatal visits, as well as after delivery, health care providers should check to ensure that all family members and potential care givers are vaccinated. New parents should insist that all those caring for their baby – parents, grandparents, siblings, baby sitters, day care providers – are all fully immunized before they are allowed to care for the child.
With winter here, now is the perfect time to check the immunization status for all those who are already or will be around babies this winter. Adults need to receive a Tdap (the adult tetanus booster that contains pertussis –whooping cough) and a seasonal influenza vaccination. When family members and care givers get vaccinated, they are not only protecting their own health; they are also providing important protection for the very vulnerable baby.
These immunizations, plus the season flu and pneumonia vaccinations, are available at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care office each Wednesday afternoon. The immunization clinics are offered the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., and all other Wednesdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Community and Home Care is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. For more information, please call Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care at 568-5660. |
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Parents may not realize vaccines given to their child as a baby were a great start, but adolescents need protection against disease as well. Some vaccines received as a baby may need boosters to continue to provide protection and new vaccines may have been developed since the first shots were given. Immunizations have the potential to protect not only the health of adolescents, but their friends, families, and communities.
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Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care
Immunization Hours
Waukon 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each Month, 1:00-6:00 p.m.
All other Wednesday’s, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
At Veterans Memorial Hospital, Upper Level (3rd Floor)
No appointment needed during clinic hours
WIC Clinics Located in either Luana or Waukon
Call for an appointment 563-245-1145
NO Doctors Orders Needed
Must be accompanied by or have Parental consent for shots ***Medicaid Accepted
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Age
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Shot
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| 2 months |
Pediarix, HIB, Prevnar, Rotavirus
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| 4 months |
Pediarix, HIB, Prevnar, Rotavirus
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| 6 months |
Pediarix, HIB, Prevnar, Rotavirus |
| 12 months |
MMRV, Hep A, DTap, HIB, Prevnar |
| 18 months |
MMRV, Hep A |
| 4-6 years |
DTap, IPV |
| 11-18 years |
TDap, HPV, Menactra, Hep B, Flu |
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Immunizations