St. Joseph Health Department Resumes Immunizations

Connie Werner, Clinics Administrator of the St.

Joseph Health Department talks to us about how they are beginning to administer vaccines to children in prep for back to school .

St.

Joseph health department.

>> good evening.

>> i didn't even think about the kids are going back to school and they are scheduled for immunizations, how are doctors getting this done?

>> it's going to take an entire effort.

It's up to each facility to determine how they will handle their practices.

We are hoping they take the needs of the community.

It's a very tight rope to walk that we need to provide necessary services while still doing it in a time where we need to add protections and precautions that we never had to use before.

So for our part, we have decided to limit services open up our clinic and that would be for immunizations and tv tests because those things need to be doing.

We're trying to figure out the best way to offer the services and add in the precautions and safety nets to protect both of community and our staff.

>> is there any concern that some of these pediatric offices are not going to be opening to the general public for immunizations and you may get a flood of people wanting to see you?

>> i have no control over pediatric offices and we will only be able to see so many people.

That's one thing to note.

Due to needing to put in precautions for social distancing, we're not going to be able to squeeze in as many people as we had squeezed into our clinics.

We are going to have kind of a mobile reservation unit where you bring in your information.

Drop it off.

Leave a description of your car and wait in your vehicle until it's your term.

You will be noticed to wait in your car.

We are requesting a two child limit per person because we have to limit how many people are around due to safety.

Because of those restrictions, we aren't going to be able to see the volume we had.

It's going to take both the community members, it's going to take app medical staff and the health department and everyone working at this time to provide the services.

We will do the best we can but we will not be able to be the end all, catch all for everybody in the community.

>> i know as a proponent for immunizations, there has to be a concern you will turn people away.

If it comes down to that and you're flooded with people, what is the solution?

Is the community and you as professionals brain storming now about what could happen if certain clinics do not open back up?

>> i don't have any say over that.

We only have control over our health department.

It's really up to the community as a whole to pull together.

You're going to have to come early.

You're also going to have to be patient.

We never had to do this in this manner before.

We are having to do a brand-new system during a time of a pandemic.

We ask for patience to realize there's only a limited amount of the day.

You might need to contact your medical provider or whatever resources you can find to get the shots in, it's something that needs to be done and we will do our part to be a resource for that community.

>> typically the ones required for schools are preschool, kindergarten, eighth and 12th grade.

It's not necessarily tied to the grade but the age of a child.

You might have a four-year old that hasn't made it to kindergarten.

That's fine.

It's tied to age but as a general rule, preschool kindergarten, eighth and 12th grade have that requirement >> real quick.

Tell us about what a child and parent can expect when they walk in as far as being screened for covid.

Will they have a covid test?

A mask and gloves on.

Will their temperature be taken >> >> depending on the requirements of the community that might change.

For now, you will be screened verbally, if you have symptoms of any illness.

Please don't go to any place in the community.

If you are sick, stay home.

That will be our first and primary way to stay home.

It takes the community in order to make this work.

It's not on the medical staff to do provisions to protect you.

It has to be the community to do their part.

When you come to us, we will verbally screen and see if you had symptoms. then if you say yes, we don't want you there.

We want you to come back.

So as of now, there's no requirements for mask or temperatures or anything like that.

We are limiting it on, that's why we're having to send people to wait outside.

We want to put in as much protection limiting social protection.

Our building is very old and we're doing our best to try to fit this to the best of our ability.

>> okay.

Thank you connie werner from the st.

Joseph health department.

The clinic >> you're welcome.

Thank you.

>> we're going to take a quick