Fagner recommends having enough food for at least three days and enough water for several days as well in case the electricity goes out or your pipes freeze. She said the amount of water should be sufficient to be used for sanitation purposes and for cooking. For food, she said it’s important to not only have nutritious items, but to stash some comfort food as well to prevent getting stir-crazy.
Fagner explained the grant will be used to support the coroner’s efforts, to purchase items like bodybags, toe tags, mobile printers to be used in the field, GPS units and other items.
Commissioner Larry Brady made a motion to approve her request. Terry Young seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
You may get a seasonal flu shot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1 and Thursday, Oct. 3. On Wednesday, Oct. 2, you may get a flu shot from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Flu vaccines will be $20 for adults and $20 for children.
Officials at the health department remind you that a claim with an insurance company will not be made. You may check with the health department to see if your child qualifies for publicly funded vaccines through the State.
Call the Pulaski County Health Department for more information at (574) 946-6080.
With a warm week ahead of us and a number of fair events planned, health departments are stepping up efforts to provide hydration and areas to cool off during local fairs. The Pulaski County Health Department will provide misting tents during the Northern Indiana Power from the Past show planned for this week, giving people a chance to cool off and relax out of the sweltering summer heat.
Terri Hansen, office manager at the Pulaski County Health Department, said the misting tents provide visitors with cool water and shade for those who feel overheated and need to cool down.
Most people who get infected with West Nile virus do not show any symptoms, though some people develop a mild illness called West Nile Fever. This mild illness gets better on its own; no treatment is necessary. However, a small number of people – that is, less than 1 in 100 – who get infected with West Nile virus develop severe symptoms such as headache, high fever, stiff neck, mental confusion, muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, coma, and paralysis.
A few members of the District 2 Task Force were in the Winamac Town Park Wednesday morning to do some testing of HVAC equipment. Sherry Fagner from the Pulaski County Health Department explains that they were trying to remedy the air system.
“We are testing some new HVAC systems and some duct work with the systems we currently have. We try to be prepared when something happens and this is part of our plans to get them to where we want them in the field. Can we go right now? Absolutely. But, we want to make sure the systems we have are the best they can be,” explained Fagner.
The shingles vaccine offered by the Pulaski County Health Department is flying off the shelves, and Health Department Manager Terri Hansen requested an appropriation from the county council in the amount of $6000 to continue purchasing the popular vaccine as well as that for hepatitis B. Hansen told the council that they gave their last shingles shot this week, after giving an average of about 10 shots per month to county residents.
“We have been giving a lot of shingles vaccines to people over the age of 50. Most of the local doctors here have been recommending that to their patients, and we have been, I’d say, getting rid of at least 10 shingles vaccines a month – and they’re quite costly. They’re $175 each, and we’re not making money on them, but it is a great community service so we’re amazed at how many people are continuing to call and they’re always on a waiting list for this vaccine,” said Hansen.
Fagner said the health department has to justify the purchase in order to obtain the grant, and said they justified the purchase by stating that it could be employed in a possible distribution site for medical countermeasures. That is, if the department ever offered a drive-through or a walk-through, the cooling centers would be useful.
Walk-in flu shot clinics have been scheduled by the Pulaski County Health Department.
The clinic hours are Oct. 2–4 from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., and Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. to noon and 1–7 p.m. ET at the Pulaski County Health Department.
Flu vaccines will be $20 for adults and $20 for children. Insurance companies will not be billed. Parents can inquire if your child qualifies for publicly funded vaccines through the state. Call the Pulaski County Health Department at (574) 946-6080.
The West Nile virus has been detected in Pulaski County.
Four out of ten mosquito pools located near the Winamac Waste Water Treatment Plant have tested positive for the virus.
Pulaski County Health Department Health Nurse Andrea Keller urges residents to prevent mosquito problems around their home or neighborhood by disposing of any water-filled containers around the property and removing leaves and debris from gutters. Plastic wading pools and wheel barrows should be turned over when not in use. Don’t allow water to become stagnant in birdbaths and stock ornamental ponds with fish.
Walk-in flu shot clinics have been scheduled by the Pulaski County Health Department.
The clinic hours are Oct. 2 and 4 from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., and Oct 3 from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 7 p.m. ET at the Pulaski County Health Department.
Flu vaccines will be $20 for adults and $20 for children. Insurance companies will not be billed. Parents can inquire if your child qualifies for publicly funded vaccines through the state. Call the Pulaski County Health Department at (574) 946-6080.
Terri Hansen of the Pulaski County Health Department and Animal Control Officer Debra Tiede approached the county commissioners this week with an urgent message to county residents. Hansen says the number of calls concerning bats that have managed to get inside peoples’ homes has increased this year, with three bats submitted for rabies testing within the last five weeks.
She says it’s not yet time to panic, but it is time for people to become educated about the risk of being bitten by an infected bat. Hansen encourages people to close up their chimneys and fireplaces when they are not in use to prevent bats from entering the home.
A Francesville man was captured after police found him hiding underneath his house.
On Tuesday, February 21st, Pulaski County officers were notified of the whereabouts of Randall Grigsby who was known to have a warrant out for his arrest. The anonymous caller reportedly said he was out of control and that he was on something.
Officers went to Grisby’s house and one resident said she thought Grigsby had left the residence just moments ago. Officers searched the residence and didn’t find him. Officers searched a vehicle on the premises and found drug paraphernalia between the driver’s door and the seat. The item was seized and put into evidence. However, Grigsby was not hiding in the vehicle.
The Pulaski County Health Department will be doing insurance eligibility checks prior to vaccinations beginning next week.
When you go to the Pulaski County Health Department, officials will be asking for the name of your insurance company and Health Plan ID number when appointments are made. An insurance card and Social Security Number will be required at appointment time.
For those who are eligible, the Health Department will continue to bill Medicaid. The following insurance plans are currently eligible: Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Dunn and Associates, Humana, Medicare B, Medicare Railroad, Patoka Valley Health Care Co-op, Southeastern Indiana Health Organization, United Healthcare, and UMWA.
The Pulaski County Health Department is working with VaxCare to administer a program that will allow the Department to continue vaccinating insured patients.
The Indiana State Department of Health announced last year that the Immunization Program would no longer support insured patients. This practice will be effective March 1st of this year for some health departments.
Billing changes are on their way to the Pulaski County Health Department. Terri Hansen of the Health Department said that they have signed up for VaxCare, a company who will be not only providing them with vaccines and other supplies, but will handle their insurance billing as well.
