Influenza and other seasonal illnesses are fast approaching, making early fall the perfect time to sign up for a vaccination, Crawfordsville Board of Health administrator Becky Reynolds said.
The Montgomery County Health Department started its annual round of flu clinics Tuesday, beginning with the Crawfordsville Police Department.
“We have one more scheduled for this week and then every day next week,” Reynolds said. “We still don’t have our state supply of flu stock but we were able to get 75 doses from a facility that ordered too many, and we’re looking for people to take them.”
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are used to make the vaccine.
Another effort from the health department is to utilize the services of Aspire Healthcare after creating more space for a testing site for sexually transmitted diseases.
The department already offers testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, but with Aspire testing can expand to Syphilis, HIV and Hepatitis-C.
“Several have called or come in and asked about that testing, and we (used to) just have to refer them to Aspire, which is out of Lafayette,” Reynolds said. “So I’m excited about trying to get that started and get that done here.”
Space formerly occupied by Aspire had to be redesignated for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing efforts when the pandemic first struck this spring.
“It’s not that Aspire won’t come here; we don’t have anywhere to put them,” MCHD Administrator Amber Reed said.
And COVID-19 testing is still recommended for anyone experiencing symptoms. Some without a family doctor have been calling the health department for advice, which is able to submit orders to clinics for a test.
“If they don’t have a doctor we’re going to refer them to the Optum (Healthcare) site,” Reed said. “Depending on the circumstances, Health Officer Dr. Scott Douglas has written some orders before so we can get some people tested. Everybody in the office who answers the phone is versed in how to do whatever in terms of getting them tested, and most get directed to Reynolds.”
“Almost every day we’ve talked about patients who don’t have a doctor,” Douglas added. “Reynolds calls me and we order a test. These aren’t patients of the free clinic, they don’t know where to go.”
For more information about immunizations, STD or COVID-19 testing, contact the health department at 765-364-6440 or visit www.montgomerycounty.in.gov.
