Skamania County Health Department

WE'RE MOVING!

2010-03-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

On April 26th, 2010 our office will be moving to the new Rock Creek Center, located at 710 SW Rock Creek Dr. Stevenson, WA.
(2 blocks west of our current location)

Phone numbers will remain the same:
Behavioral Health (509) 427-3850
Public Health (509) 427-3881

The office will be closed Monday, April 26th, with limited services on Tuesday, April 27th.

We will reopen for business in our new location
Wednesday, April 28th.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

2010-02-09T08:08:00.000-08:00

Skamania County Community Health is looking for a part time Nurse to work in the Public Health Department to provide services in Family Planning, immunizations and child care consultations. Must have a current Washington State RN license; prefer BSN or AA with 5 years experience. It is the policy of Skamania County not to discriminate against any person with regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status or physical disability.

Position will be open until filled.
Please visit the county website for full job description- www.skamaniacounty.org and submit application to
Skamania County Community Health, PO Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648
For more information contact Linda McCaulley, Nurse Manager at
(509) 427-3881.

Children’s Dental Health Day set for Feb. 6

2010-01-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

Free dental care offered to uninsured children on Feb. 6

Vancouver, WA—Children’s Dental Health Day is on Saturday, Feb. 6 and eligible families are urged to sign up. The clinic runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Clark College Dental Hygiene Clinic, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way.

Children ages 2 to 19 without dental insurance are eligible for X-rays, sealants, fluoride treatment, fillings and extractions. Cleanings are not included. Children will be seen by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call (360) 397-8020, 397-8010 or 397-8000 ext. 7371.

“This event offers dental care to children who are missing out on these important services because their families lack insurance or can’t afford dental care,” said Melody Scheer, oral health program coordinator.

Volunteers will help families sign their children up for Medicaid and provide parents with oral health information, including answers to questions such as: When should you start brushing? What kind of toothpaste is best? When should you go to the dentist?

The annual event is in its fourth year and typically serves about 300 children. Last year, 230 volunteers, including dentists and other oral health professionals, served 301 patients, providing more than $70,000 worth of dental services.

Services are donated by Clark College, Clark County Dental Society, Clark County Public Health, Free Clinic of Southwest Washington and Greater Southwest Washington Dental Hygiene Association. Funding is provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities and Washington Oral Health Foundation.

CDC H1N1 Vaccine Recall

2009-12-16T10:34:00.000-08:00

Skamania County Health Department did not receive any of the vaccine included in this recall.

CDC has issued a statement regarding the recall of specific lots of H1N1 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 35 months because testing has indicated the vaccine doses lost some strength. This does not pose a safety concern; children who have received vaccine from these lots do not need to be revaccinated.

If you have any questions or concerns please call the Health Dept at (509) 427-3881 or visit http://www.flu.gov/.

H1N1 Vaccine Now Open to All General Population

2009-12-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

H1N1 vaccine is now open to all general population but Washington State Health Departments will continue to give priority to the following high-risk groups:

· 6 months - 24 years old
· Pregnant women
· Health care workers
· Caregivers of less than 6-month-old infants
· 25-64 year olds with "chronic conditions" (asthma, diabetes, heart issues, compromised immune system)

Feel free to call with questions, 427-3881

Clinic hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30-5:30 (closed for county holidays)

H1N1 vaccination is no charge.

H1N1 Vaccine continues to be available

2009-11-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

Date: November 20th, 2009
The Skamania County Health Department continues to have H1N1 vaccine available during regular business hours, Monday through Thurday, to the following priority groups:
* 6 months - 24 years old
* Pregnant women
* Health care workers
* Care givers of less than 6-month-old infants
* 25-64 year olds with "chronic conditions" (asthma, diabetes,heart issues, compromised immune system)

Feel free to call with questions, 427-3881

There is no charge for the H1N1 vaccination.

Kirby Richards, LICSW Skamania County Community Health Director

H1N1 Vaccine arrives today 11/18/2009

2009-11-18T14:32:00.000-08:00

We are back in business! The Health Department just got a shipment of vaccine. Please feel free to come and get the H1N1 vaccination within the following priority groups:
* 6 months - 24 years old
* Pregnant women
* Health care workers
* Care givers of less than 6-month-old infants
* 25-64 year olds with "chronic conditions" (asthma, diabetes,heart issues, compromised immune system)

The Health Department will also be open on Friday, 11/20 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm to provide only H1N1 vaccines. No other services will be available on Friday.

Feel free to call with questions, 427-3881

There is no charge for the H1N1 vaccination.

Kirby Richards, LICSW Skamania County Community Health Director

News release - October 30

2009-10-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

Date: October 30, 2009

Contact: Dave Cox, 360-772-6352

Skamania Vaccine Information

Skamania County Community Health is working in partnership with other Southwest Washington health jurisdictions to respond to H1N1 influenza in our communities. We have been working with our schools and childcare centers to administer vaccine to school age and pre-school children. Pregnant women, healthcare and EMS workers have been vaccinated as well. Because we have received a very limited amount of vaccine to date, we are currently providing vaccine to the following groups only:
· Pregnant women
· Healthcare workers with direct patient contact
· Children ages 6 months to 19 years
· Parents and caregivers of children younger than 6 months old.

By vaccinating these groups first, public health protects those at greatest risk while reducing the spread of H1N1 into the community. As supplies increase, those next in line to receive the vaccine are people ages 25 through 64 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. At the same time, we will also make vaccine available for everyone ages 6 months through age 24.
People who are 65 and older are at a lower risk of getting H1N1 flu than the other groups. We anticipate that in the next few months an adequate supply of the vaccine will be available for every person in our county.

If you or your child has the flu, it is very likely that it is H1N1 influenza. Second doses of H1N1 vaccine are required for children ages nine and under after 28 days from their initial dose.

To avoid spreading the flu, please stay at home until any fever is gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines. Most people do not need a lab test to confirm H1N1 influenza. Testing is necessary only when people are sick enough to be hospitalized.

Unless your case of flu was officially confirmed by a laboratory test as H1N1 2009, there is no way to be sure you are protected and you should get both the H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine. If you did have confirmed H1N1, you are still vulnerable to seasonal flu and you should get the seasonal flu vaccine.

For more information visit www.flunewsswashington.org, www.skamaniacounty.org or call Skamania County Community Health at 509- 427-3881 or Region IV Public Health at 1-877-510-2772.

What to do if you are sick!!

2009-10-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

Press Release October 21, 2009

2009-10-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

NEWS RELEASE

October 21, 2009

Contact: Dave Cox, PIO: 360-772-6352

Priority distribution of H1N1 vaccine continues

Public health officials in Southwest Washington are working to distribute the H1N1 flu vaccine to clinics and hospitals as rapidly as the supply is made available for distribution.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had estimated that there would be a distribution of 40 million doses nationwide by October 30. They are now estimating this figure to be 29 million because of manufacturing issues.

Washington State Region 4, comprising Clark, Skamania, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties and the Cowlitz Tribe, has a total population of more than 530,000 people but has only received about 14,500 doses of H1N1 vaccine to date. This is enough vaccine for less than 3 percent of the population. Given the small initial shipments, health officials have determined that the best way to protect the public is to target vaccination efforts toward the most vulnerable populations.

Today, Region IV placed an order for 4,900 doses, the maximum amount allocated by the state for the region. Also today, Public Health delivered 550 doses of injectable H1N1 vaccine to pediatricians in the region to give to high-risk children. Tomorrow an additional 1500 doses of injectable H1N1 vaccine and 600 doses of H1N1 nasal mist will be provided to medical practices for high-risk children and health care providers.

Early vaccinations will be prioritized for pregnant women because they are at high risk of complications from H1N1; healthcare workers because they can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients and also because increased absenteeism among healthcare professionals could reduce healthcare system
capacity; children ages 6 months to 19 years in congregate settings, which
increases the likelihood of disease spread; and parents and caregivers of children younger than 6 months, so they don’t pass the virus to their infants.

Due to the current shortage, H1N1 vaccine will be distributed only to these groups. It is anticipated that over time an adequate supply of the vaccine will be available for every person in the four-county area. For more information, visit www.flunewsswwashington.org or call 1-877-510-2772.