Health

For those not yet vaccinated, Allamakee County Public Health does have a good supply of vaccine and is highly encouraging everyone to receive it. Vaccine clinics are readily available every Friday afternoon for both prime and boost doses for Moderna. Currently, Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine is also available. These clinics are held at the main entrance to Veterans Memorial Hospital. Call 563-568-5660 to schedule an appointment.

The risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. The COVID-19 vaccine, which is readily available locally, creates an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.

Another generous donation to the new Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic was recently received by Norplex-Micarta of Postville. Pictured at right, left to right, are employees of Norplex-Micarta including Wilbeth Thomas, Erin Schultz, Scott Hagen (Director of Operations), Doreen Doerring and Teresa Loftsgard.

Appointments are now being scheduled by calling the new clinic phone number of 563-568-5530. Donations are still being accepted by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. All gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic has been open since May 3. The total raised to date for the clinic renovation project is very near $500,000, with a goal of a total of $600,000. Donations are still being accepted by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation and are tax deductible.

by the Iowa Department of Public Health and Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care

The summer cookout season is officially underway in Iowa. Along with it comes the danger of under-cooked meat or meat that has been improperly prepared and the illnesses it can bring. Each year, many get sick either directly of indirectly from food items that haven’t been properly prepared. One of the major dangers when meat is improperly prepared is E. coli 0157. Iowa State Epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Quinlisk said there is one simple rule that can cut down on the number of E. coli 0157 illnesses. “Cook all ground meat patties and poultry until the center is gray or brown. All juices running from the meat should be clear, with no trace of pink or cloudiness.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital hosted its biennial Safety Day Camp Thursday, June 10, drawing a record crowd of 151 children ages seven to 14. The children were divided into 10 different groups and spent 20 minutes at each of the 10 safety stations throughout the day.

The campers each assembled their own first aid kits at the camp, receiving instruction on how to manage a bleed, perform CPR, as well as caring for other types of injuries. In addition, each camper was sent home with a goodie bag following the event, filled with additional safety and first aid supplies for the home, such as safety goggles, ace wraps, tourniquets, ear plugs, sun block and insect repellent.  Most all of these items were provided by grant dollars awarded to the Iowa State University (ISU) Allamakee County Extension Office from Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH).

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, July 8 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church located in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once a month in Waukon, to allow for more donors to give. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Blood centers across the United States see a decrease in blood donations during the busy summer months.  During the summer, people become more active, have busier schedules, spend more time outdoors and take vacations. While donations decline, hospitals see an increase in the need for blood. More driving can mean more automobile accidents. A person who has suffered severe injuries from an automobile accident can need up to 50 units of blood.

Veterans Memorial Hospital hosted its biennial Safety Day Camp Thursday, June 10 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. This day camp drew a record crowd of 151 children ages seven to 14 from area communities for a day-long session on how to take responsibility for their own safety, respect parents’ safety rules and share safety tips with their family and friends.

The children were divided into 10 different groups and spent 20 minutes at each of the 10 safety stations. These 10 stations and their instructor(s) included:

Donations continue to be received for the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic in Waukon. Recently, a donation of $5,000 was received from Fidelity Bank. Pictured above, left to right, at the Fidelity Bank location in Postville are staff members Linzie Sebastian, Heather Bissell, Jared Funk and Ashley Kisling.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic has been open at its West Main Street location in Waukon since May 3 with over 600 patients cared for since that time. The total amount of money raised to date for the clinic renovation project is very near $500,000, with a total goal of $600,000 to be raised.

Donations are still being accepted by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation and are tax deductible. Anyone with any questions about the campaign or the VMH Foundation is invited to call the hospital at 563-568-3411. Submitted photo.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital continually supports the services offered by Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. The Auxiliary recently donated this blanket warmer pictured in the background of the photo above to the Maternity Services Department of the hospital. Pictured above, left to right, at the donation presentation are Jayne McCormick, RN, Nurse and Maternity Services Manager at VMH, accepting the check from Auxiliary President Bev Larson-Needham, Auxiliary Treasurer Donnalee Osland and Auxiliary Secretary Ann Roed. The Auxiliary is a volunteer fundraising branch of Veterans Memorial Hospital and currently meets once every other month at Veterans Memorial Hospital. For more information on how to join the Auxiliary, call VMH at 563-568-3411. Submitted photo.
 

COVID-19 can have serious, life threatening complications and there is no way to know how it will affect anyone. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), clinical trials for all vaccines must first show they are safe and effective before any vaccine can be authorized or approved for use, including COVID-19 vaccines.

Getting COVID-19 may offer some protection, known as natural immunity.  Current evidence, as shared by the CDC, suggests that re-infection with the virus is uncommon in the months after initial infection, but may increase with time.  The risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. The COVID-19 vaccine, which is readily available locally, creates an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation annual Three Person Best-Shot Golf Tournament will be held Monday, June 21 at the Waukon Golf and Country Club. Teams of three will begin the day with a shot gun start at 9:30 a.m. and play 18 holes of golf.  Breakfast rolls, lunch and dinner and prizes for everyone will all be provided for the donation of $75.

The 28th annual tournament will be sponsored by the following businesses who have committed to being hole sponsors:  Access Systems, Brickl Brothers, Casper Plumbing and Heating, CPSI, Dalco, Eide Bailey, Finholt Construction, Freedom Bank, Gundersen Waukon Clinic and Vision Center, Henkel Construction - Accord Architecture, Kerndt Brothers Bank, LTI Water, LC Signs, LaMair-Mulock-Condon Company, Luana Savings Bank, Marine Credit Union, New Albin Savings Bank, Nightingale Pharmacy, People’s State Bank, RW Pladsen, Inc., Systems Equipment, Torkelson Motors of Waukon, Waukon Dental, and Waukon State Bank.