This morning on Talk of the Town from the Two Rivers Public Health Department, Clinical Services Supervisor Von Lutz joined to discuss their upcoming childhood vaccine clinics, the status of the Monkey Pox virus outbreak and Covid-19 case updates.
TRPHD will be participating in the Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program. The program helps provide vaccines to children’s whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them . The program has been around for many years and was implemented in 2019 for TRPHD. However, due to shutdown during the pandemic in the past two years, Lutz says holding the clinics haven’t been possible until this year.
The clinics will held at the TRPHD office on a rotating schedule that included Monday and Thursdays. The next Clinic to follow will be Thursday May 26, from 9am-5pm. Clinics will also be held Thursday June 2 at El Tropico in Lexington and Wednesday June 15 at the City Auditorium in Holdrege.
Lutz explains TRPHD has also been looking at the recent Monkey Pox Outbreak, and why it’s been in the forefront as of late. Monkey pox is a rare infectious disease caused by the orthopox virus. The virus is typical in rats, squirrels, and small rodents. But in human can cause flat pus-filled bumps on the body, fever, and body aches. There has only been one case in the US in Massachusetts from an infected man who was in contact with 13 suspected cases in Canada. Although the virus is not very infectious, practicing good health practices is still encouraged.
As for the Covid-19 virus, cases are on the rise but hospital numbers are still looking good. All counties are currently still in the LOW risk area according to CDC levels. Lutz mentions that masks are also still encouraged, and Covid-19 vaccines are also available for those eligible at the vaccine clinics hosted by TRPHD.
