The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Bureau of Immunization, is now requiring Meningococcal (Meningitis) vaccine for students enrolling into 7th grade. This is in addition to the Tdap vaccine that is already required. IDPH is also requiring a 2nd Meningococcal for students enrolling into 12th grade. Vaccines are the best way you can protect your child from a number of serious diseases.

•  Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended for preteens at age 11 or 12 for protection against bacteria that cause meningococcal disease, a very serious illness which can lead to death in as little as 48 hours. A second shot is recommended for teens at age 16 to continue providing protection.
• One dose of Tdap vaccine is recommended for preteens at age 11 or 12 to continue providing protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).

You can also visit, www.the-lucky-ones.com to learn more about the threat of meningococcal disease and the importance of vaccination.

Vaccines for Children (VFC)

The Vaccines For Children (VFC) program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. CDC buys vaccines at a discount and distributes them to grantees—i.e., state health departments and certain local and territorial public health agencies—which in turn distribute them at no charge to those private physicians' offices and public health clinics registered as VFC providers. Children who are eligible* for VFC vaccines are entitled to receive those vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). 

A child is eligible for the VFC Program if he or she is younger than 19 years of age and is one of the following:

• Medicaid-eligible
• Uninsured
• Underinsured
• American Indian or Alaska Native

Children whose health insurance covers the cost of vaccinations are not eligible for VFC vaccines, even when a claim for the cost of the vaccine and its administration would be denied for payment by the insurance carrier because the plan's deductible had not been met.

For further information about VFC you can go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html

For vaccine recommendations and requirements you can visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/default.htm

Vaccines for Adults

All adults need:

• Influenza (flu) vaccine every year. (ONLY SEASONAL) Our office has these shots available every year. Cost is determined on a yearly basis. Shots can be billed to Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield or paid for privately.
• Tdap vaccine: Every adult should get the Tdap vaccine once if they did not receive it as an adolescent to protect against pertussis (whooping cough), In addition, women should get the Tdap vaccine each time they are pregnant, preferably at 27 through 36 weeks. This shot is available at our office for $65 or we can bill certain insurance companies.
• For more information on other vaccines you may need as an adult you may visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html.

Healthy adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months.

You should get Shingrix even if in the past you

• had shingles
• received Zostavax
• are not sure if you had chickenpox

There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.
      If you had shingles in the past, you can get Shingrix to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time that you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.  

Effective 1/1/2023 MEDICARE PART D will COVER the Shingrix vaccine! 

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TOGETHER LETS PREVENT CANCER

''Someone You Love'' is a short film on Cervical Cancer, watch the trailer here and share with friends to create awareness about Cervical Cancer.

Someone You Love

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV)

Gardasil-9 prevents many cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, including:

• cervical cancer in females,
• vaginal and vulvar cancers in females, and
• anal cancer in females and males.

In addition to these cancers, Gardasil-9 also prevents genital warts in both females and males. In the U.S., about 12,000 women get cervical cancer every year, and about 4,000 women die from it. Gardasil-9 can prevent most of these cancers.

HPV infection usually comes from sexual contact, and most people will become infected at some point in their life. About 14 million Americans get infected every year. Many infections will go away and not cause serious problems. But thousands of women and men get cancer and diseases from HPV.