County Employees Honored For Improved Vaccine Rate
Posted
Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com
An increase in the number of vaccines provided by the Kosciusko County Health Department has resulted in an award for efforts made in 2016.
The county was one of seven in the state to be honored with the Kristen Forbes Teen Immunization Award for high vaccination rates for three immunizations targeted for children 11 and older.
The tetanus and meningitis are required by the state while HPV is strongly recommended by the Centers for Disease Control but not mandatory, said Jeanne DeWilde, the chief public health nurse for the county health department.
The department saw a spike in the number of HPV vaccines provided last year.
In 2015, the county provided 480 HPV vaccines. In 2016, the number rose to 601, according to information provided by the health department.
HPV is viewed by some as controversial because they believe the vaccine is tied to or promotes sexual activity.
The award was named after Forbes, a Noblesville resident who contracted HPV at the age of 16 and died of cervical cancer at 23.
Nationwide, about 17,600 women and 9,300 men were affected annually by cancers caused by HPV, the county said.
Exactly what led to the “huge influx” in HPV shots is still unclear.
DeWilde suspects the boost in the number of HPV vaccines came after the manufacturer of the drug began running television commercials in the region.
At the same time, DeWilde said she was under the impression that not all area health departments saw an increase like the one in Kosciusko County.
On more than one occasion last year, the department had to replenish its supplies of the HPV vaccine to meet the demand.
Anyone who is on Medicaid, uninsured or whose insurance does not cover vaccines can receive the shots from the county.
The vaccines also are widely available through physicians or some pharmacies.
The shots are available on certain days at the county health office at 1515 Provident Drive in the K21 Health Pavilion near Kosciusko Community Hospital.
Vaccines are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:15 to 4 p.m. On the first Monday of the month, shots are available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
People who use Medicaid can receive the shots for free. For those who lack insurance or are underinsured, the price per shot is $8, DeWilde said.
