Recent News | Macon County Health Dept.

April 12, 2022 By Mike Chambers

Endemic Response Phase to COVID-19

April 12, 2022

The State of Missouri recently announced we are transitioning from a pandemic response to an endemic phase of COVID-19. This change to endemic does not mean the end of COVID-19; it means that the disease is here to stay, and, that we have the resources to manage the disease in our daily lives. These resources are meant to keep Missourians safe and healthy.

The change to an endemic phase, however, means changes to the state’s surveillance from monitoring daily cases to monitoring the disease severity and its impact in our community. When we are notified by the testing sites, the Macon County Health Department will continue to contact those who test positive to support them during their time of illness and provide them the resources they need to be healthy. We will also continue to provide awareness, guidance and vaccines to contain the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Due to the change in surveillance data from the state and reporting changes to DHSS, the Macon County Health Department will no longer report weekly data as we have been for the past two years. DHSS’ new change in reporting will no longer provide detailed data on a county level. In order to keep our community aware, we plan to provide awareness and guidance if there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in Macon County.

COVID-19 continues to have a significant health effect on certain residents in our community. Testing for COVID-19, 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 to others. We continue to recommend everyone stay home when they are sick, apart from household members, according to the CDC guidelines.

Vaccination against COVID-19 helps protect individuals against severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19. With the change to the endemic, we accept that COVID-19 will continue to circulate, but with vaccination, it can reduce the burden of illness to keep your family healthy.

April 7, 2022 By Mike Chambers

CPR Class – April 19th

Did you know most cardiac arrests occur at home (70%)? Followed by public settings (18.8%) and nursing homes (11.2%). If performed immediately, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival for those who have a cardiac arrest outside the home. (source: American Heart Association)

The Macon County Health Department will be offering an American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/First Aid/AED certification course on Tuesday, April 19^th at 9 am.

Heartsaver CPR AED is geared for anyone with limited or no medical training who wants training in CPR, First Aid, and AED training. There is a hands-on portion so you can learn and practice your CPR skills in order to gain your certification. This class includes adult, child, and infant CPR to make sure you know the skills to help save the life of anyone who might have a cardiac arrest around you.

We do request advanced registration since there is a maximum of 8 seats available – call to reserve your spot at 660-395-4711

March 17, 2022 By Mike Chambers

Similac Recall Update- Larger Cans

Due to the Similac formula recall, WIC participants are able to redeem their formula benefits for alternative brands.

WIC participants are also now allowed to get approved larger cans (27.4-33.2 oz). These larger cans will take 2 cans off of your WIC benefits so you will get the same amount of formula whether you get small or large cans.

You can use the WIC shopper app to scan the barcode to make sure the formula will work with your WIC benefits on your card. You do not need to come into the WIC office to update your card to get different brands or sizes.

Please be patient with the retailers as they are trying to restock formula as quickly as they can. It is not safe to feed homemade formulas or toddler formulas to infants, it does not have what your baby needs.

If you have any questions or need assistance, you can call our WIC office at 660-395-4711.

February 28, 2022 By Mike Chambers

Similac Formula Recall – Update

Missouri WIC received a temporary waiver that allows you to redeem your Similac formula benefits for other brands of formula if Similac formula is not available at an authorized WIC retailer.

What does this mean? If you have formula benefits on your eWIC card, you can redeem those benefits for alternative brands of formula – WITHOUT having to come into the Health Department to update your eWIC card! This temporary waiver will carry over into March benefits as well!

You may begin to purchase these alternative brands of infant formula as early as February 25, 2022, depending on each individual retailer’s availability. You may only get the formula equivalent to the Similac formula on your eWIC benefits.

If you want to change your issued formula type, you can come into the Health Department to update your card.

If you have any questions or problems, call our office at 660-395-4711. Please be patient with the stores as they make these changes and continue to make changes to help make the formula available to you.

February 18, 2022 By Mike Chambers

Similac Formula Recall

Update 2/22/22

Missouri WIC received a waiver that allows retailers to exchange the recalled Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare formula products. WIC authorized retailers must treat all customers (including WIC participants) the same with regard to the recall exchange process and possible substitutes, which may include, but are not limited to:

• The same product,

• A substitute product in another brand,

• A store credit, or

• A cash refund.

What does this mean? It means participants could replace their previously purchased recalled formula, even if the Similac brand is unavailable at the store!

Retailers are not required to verify whether a product was purchased with WIC benefits as part of the exchange process. The recall exchange process could vary with each WIC retailer. Talk to your retailer to learn how to complete the exchange.

Note: If the exchanged cans cost more, the store may charge you the difference, depending on the store policy.

If unable to complete an exchange at the retailer, call the Similac hotline at 1-800-986-8540.

Questions? Give us a call during business hours at 660-395-4711

We are aware of the situation concerning the formula recall. This recall is for some similac, alimentum, or elecare formulas if they fall within the recall. We are awaiting information from the WIC state office to further assist those affected by this recall.

You can check lot numbers https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/home.html

We will update information once we receive further information about if those formulas were purchased using WIC benefits.

Recall of SOME powdered Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare formulas. This recall does NOT include Similac Isomil, Similac Neosure, and all concentrate or ready-to-feed formulas.

The powdered formula products INCLUDED in this recall have the expiration date of 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later and are:

• 12.6 oz Similac Total Comfort

• 12.5 oz Similac for Spit Up

• All EleCare Infant and Junior

• All Similac Alimentum

The powdered formula products that MIGHT be included in this recall are:

• 12.5 oz Similac Sensitive

• 12.4 oz Similac Advance.

WIC participants can also bring their recalled formula from the current month’s benefits to the WIC office. WIC will then add the number of cans returned to your WIC card. Our office will re-open Tuesday at 7:45 AM.

Participants can purchase equivalent formulas of other brands using SNAP benefits or other funds:

Formula Equivalents

-Similac Advance: Enfamil Infant, Tippy Toes Infant, Parent’s Choice

-Similac Sensitive: Enfamil Gentlease, Enfamil Reguline, Tippy Toes Sensitive, Parent’s Choice

-Similac Total Comfort: Enfamil Gentlease, Enfamil Reguline, Complete Comfort, Tippy Toes Gentle

-Similac for Spit-Up: Enfamil A.R.

To know if your 12.5 oz Similac Sensitive or 12.4 oz Similac Advance cans are included in this recall, look at the bottom of the can. Formulas included in this recall will have the following:

• The first two digits of the lot number are 22 through 37, and

• The lot number on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2, and

• The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.

To check if your lot number is included in the recall, go to https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/product-lookup.html.

If your product is affected by the recall, do not use it and follow the steps below:

1. If you have the receipt from the purchase, talk to the retailer to see if they have an exact product match to do an exchange.

2. If not, call your WIC local agency for assistance.

Locate your WIC local agency phone number on the WICShopper app or look for a blue pin on the WIC locations map at https://mohealth.maps.arcgis.com/…/webapp…/index.html….

For more information about the recall, go to https://www.fda.gov/…/fda-investigation-cronobacter-and…

Note: Never dilute infant formula or feed homemade infant formula to infants.

For assistance in locating other organizations that can help you purchase formula, please call 1-800-TEL-LINK (1-800-835-5465).

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