January 19, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Macon County, MO) – There has been a change in the response to COVID-19 from the days of the early pandemic as we transitioned to an endemic in February 2022.  An endemic means that COVID-19 is here to stay but that we have some means to combat it.  The Macon County Health Department has continued to track lab confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 that are reported and check-in on these individuals as they navigate their illness.

There have been 881 reported cases of COVID-19 in Macon County from February 2, 2022 – January 3, 2023.  Reported cases are lab confirmed positive cases and do not include at-home tests.  There have been ebbs and flows of COVID-19 positive cases throughout the year, along with other illnesses such as flu and RSV.

In July, we began tracking confirmed positive cases who were vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who had reinfections.  We began giving the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine booster in September 2022 and since then there have been 5 reported cases of COVID-19 with the bivalent booster, starting the week of November 16^th.

The Macon County Health Department continues to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to help reduce severe infection, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19.  Over the course of 2022, we gave 1,432 Pfizer vaccinations, 2,411 Moderna vaccinations, 180 J&J vaccinations, and 2 Novavax vaccinations.  We have vaccinations available every Thursday for ages 6 months and up.  The CDC considers being up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccinations as having the recommended initial doses and boosters for your age and eligibility.  The bivalent booster is available 2 months after your last dose (initial or booster) and helps protect against the original strain of COVID-19 and the omicron varient.  As your trusted vaccination provider, our knowledgable nurses are available to answer questions, check eligibility, and to help you make the best decisions for you and your family on your COVID-19 vaccination status.

Unfortunately since the pandemic began, there has been 67 reported deaths in Macon County due to COVID-19: 22 deaths in 2020, 26 deaths in 2021, and 19 deaths in 2022.  There has been 1 death in Macon County due to a COVID-19 vaccine complication that has been reported to the Health Department.

Macon County began getting confirmed reports of the flu in September 2022 for the 2022-2023 flu season.  Since flu season began, there have been 7 reported cases of the flu hospitalized and one death due to the flu in Macon County.

The Macon County Health Department continues to provide annual flu vaccinations to help with protection.  Flu vaccinations can help reduce transmission of the illness, reduce severe disease, hospitalization and death due to the flu.  Everyone ages 6 months and up are eligible for a flu vaccination.

COVID-19 and flu continue to have a significant health effect on certain residents in our community; it is our role to promote health and health education among all of our community. Testing for COVID-19 and flu, at home or at a facility, continues to be important so individuals are aware they are positive, they can take the necessary precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19 and the flu to others.  The Macon County Health Department offers free COVID-19, RSV and flu testing for individuals who are symptomatic by appointment only; testing will take place in the patient’s vehicle and they will be called with results.

We continue to recommend everyone stay home when they are sick, wash their hands frequently, and use ventilation when appropriate indoors.  If you are interested in your COVID-19 vaccination, bivalent booster, or flu vaccination, we have those available as your trusted vaccination source.  Call for any appointment or more information at 660-395-4711 or visit our website for more information at www.maconmohealth.org.

We are offering both flu vaccines & covid-19 bivalent boosters at our upcoming drive-thru clinics and in our office.  Check the schedule to see when we will be near you.

Our first clinic will be at the Macon County Fairgrounds on October 5^th from 9 am – 4:30 pm.

The flu vaccine and the covid-19 bivalent booster each provide protection against different viruses, which is why they are both important. We are here to offer both in a safe and convenient way to you, and will always respect your choice by only providing the vaccine you consent for.

As your local vaccine experts, our nurses are here to answer questions, clarify information, and provide you with the correct information about vaccinations.  Call to talk with one of our knowledgeable nurses at 660-395-4711.

September 14, 2022

The bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster has been approved for use and is available at the Macon County Health Department.  We currently carry both Pfizer and Moderna bivalent booster vaccines.

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 12 and up should receive an updated COVID-19 bivalent booster to restore protection against these more contagious strains.

The bivalent booster offers more protection by helping build immunity to the original strain of COVID and two subvarients of the omicron strain (BA.4 & BA.5).

Boosters play an important role in continuing to build an immune response against COVID.  Immunity can naturally wane, so a booster continues to tell the body that there is a need to continue to build immunity.  Vaccinations and boosters can help keep you healthy by decreasing severe infection, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19.

These bivalent boosters are available to anyone who had the first two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, or single dose of Johnson & Johnson as their primary series.  People who received Novavax as the primary series are not eligible at this time.

You are eligible for the bivalent booster two months after completing your primary series or two months after your last booster.

The Macon County Health Department will be offering both Pfizer and Moderna bivalent booster in the office by appointment each week, call for an appointment at 660-395-4711.  We will also be offering the bivalent booster at our drive-thru flu clinics throughout Macon County in October.  For a list of dates, visit our website at www.maconmohealth.org/flu

July 28, 2022

(Macon County, MO) – In the last four weeks, June 29- July 26, 2022, the Macon County Health Department has been notified of 106 new cases of COVID-19. This only counts confirmed laboratory tests and not at-home, self-reported tests.

Common symptoms that are reported are “allergy-like” symptoms or what may be perceived as a simple summer cold.  They can be symptoms like sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and maybe a fever.

Testing when you are feeling sick, or after an exposure, can help you know whether you have COVID-19.  There are free at-home testing kits available through https://www.covid.gov/tests or by calling 1-800-232-0233.

If you are feeling sick or have tested positive for COVID-19, stay home.  Out of an abundance of caution, it would be helpful to test for COVID-19 before being around others or going to an event, even an outdoor event. Wear a mask if you have been exposed in accordance with CDC guidelines or to be cautious to reduce the spread.

Staying up-to-date on vaccinations and boosters can help reduce symptomatic, severe infection, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19.  The following are vaccines are currently available at the Macon County Health Department on Thursdays:

• Moderna vaccine: 6 months old – 5 years old
• Moderna vaccine: 6 years old – 11 years old
• Pfizer vaccine: 12 years old and above
• Moderna vaccine: 12 years old and above
• Johnson & Johnson vaccine: 18 years old and above

The CDC is hosting a free webinar for parents, caregivers, and community members, tomorrow July 29^th at 12:30 CST, regarding the COVID-19 vaccination for children.

Regular childhood vaccines continue to be important for protecting health.  Make sure your child is up-to-date on their childhood vaccination and get their required and recommended back-to-school vaccines as the school year is quickly approaching.  Our nurses can help answer questions and can help get your child back up-to-date to help them stay healthy.

COVID-19 continues to be a serious health concern for residents in our county.  People continue to fight the effects of COVID-19 in their homes and from being hospitalized due to this illness.  The Macon County Health Department continues to support and encourage healthy choices to improve health outcomes for all residents in our county.

For an appointment or to speak with one of our knowledgeable nurses, call 660-395-4711 or request an appointment.