Greene County public health director Becky Wolf has provided some important information as we move into fall and what is traditionally known as “flu season”.
CDC COVID Data Tracker: Use “County View” to find information regarding community levels, which are updated every Thursday.
As of September 18, 2022, there have been 2,083 cases of Covid-19 reported in the county, with 25 deaths.
The level of community transmission in GREENE COUNTY has decreased from HIGH to SUBSTANTIAL
Questions about testing positive or recent exposure to someone with COVID? Please refer to this link: Isolation and Precautions for People with Covid-19 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Greene County public health has several COVID vaccines available:
Pfizer (mRNA): Adult (12 and older); Pediatric (five-11 years); Pediatric (six months to four years)
Moderna (mRNA): Adult (18 and older); Pediatric (six months to five years)
Novavax: Adult (18 and older); Two doses given 3-8 weeks apart; Harmless pieces of COVID virus proteins that create immune response to protect from getting sick. After immune response, body discards vaccine ingredients as part of normal body functioning. Protein subunit vaccines have been used for many years, such as Tdap to protect against pertussis (whooping cough)
Pfizer bivalent vaccine booster: One dose booster: Contains mixture of the original COVID vaccine AND Omicron BA.4/BA.5, which have been the dominant strains over the past several months; Anyone 12 years or older who has received the primary series of Pfizer, Moderna, J & J, or Novavax; Regardless of number of doses or boosters previously received; At least two months after a previous dose
“We encourage everyone six months and older to get their influenza (flu) shot during September and October to allow the body to develop antibodies to fight of the flu,” said Wolf.
Greene County public health offers the following vaccines:
Flulaval: Protects against four influenza strains (two type A and two type B) most likely to impact North America; For anyone six months and older
FluZone High-Dose: Has four times the antigens, compared to regular flu vaccine; Recommended everyone 65 years and older
Flu and/or Covid vaccine clinics are held weekly at the public health department at Greene County Medical Center, Level B: Tuesday, Sept 27: 1 – 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Register online at https://hipaa.jotform.com/2035583360 58156 or call 515-386-3228 for an appointment.
Dates pending for upcoming community- and school-based clinics, including our popular drive-through family clinic. Stay tuned!
Free Test Iowa home kits are available at Greene County public health. Call 515-386-3228 to arrange for outdoor pick-up only.
