Back to School Vaccines Are Available Now at JCHD

It’s ‘Back-to-School’ time and there’s a lot to coordinate! Let JCHD help take something off your list: Back to School Vaccines. Routine childhood vaccinations are an important way to help ensure that your child is protected against serious diseases, like measles and whooping cough.

We offer vaccinations at our office locations Monday-Thursday 8am-5:30pm. Appointments are highly encouraged, and a parent or guardian must be present for patients under the age of 18. To schedule an appointment, call 636-797-3737.

JCHD is a proud Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provider which provides vaccines at no cost to all eligible children. Children ages 18 and younger who meet one of the following criteria are eligible:

  • American Indian or Alaska Native

  • Medicaid-eligible

  • Uninsured

  • Underinsured

Missouri statutes require that students in certain grade levels receive specific immunizations before attending public schools. You can find that list of required vaccines for the 2022-2023 school year here.  CDC also provides a list of recommended vaccinations by age which can be found here (birth-6 years old) and here (7-18 years old).

Jefferson County Health Department Reports Cat Tests Positive for Rabies

On June 8, 2022, Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) was notified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) state lab that the presence of rabies was found in a cat that was initially from Jefferson County. The cat was collected from another county in Missouri after exhibiting symptoms and investigation concluded they tested positive for a rabies variant associated with skunks. There are no other positive cases associated with this animal at this time.

 

This is the first animal in 2022 to test positive for rabies. Last year, Jefferson County had two bats test positive for rabies as well. In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Although relatively uncommon, rabies is always considered to be present or endemic within certain types of animals in Missouri.

 

Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start. There is no cure for rabies. Timely administration of rabies post-exposure vaccinations can protect those that may have been exposed to the virus. For more information on rabies, visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html.

Rabies Prevention

The health department does not regularly collect animals for rabies testing. Only animals that have had contact, or significant potential for contact, with humans may be submitted for testing. If an animal is found, use precaution to dispose of it in a way to avoid all exposure and apply the necessary protective equipment.