A Note of Recognition

Nothing is so vital to the educational community than the health and safety of our children in our school buildings. We are very fortunate to have a dedicated pair of school nurses that provide care and go above and beyond each and every day to ensure that the health needs of our students are met. We would like to recognize the efforts of our school nurses, Mrs. Erin Halverson (CGD High School Nurse) and Mrs. Megan Lingenfelter (Middle and Elementary School Nurse). Without their genuine daily care for your children and ensuring their health and safety in our buildings, we could not do the work we do at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows. Their talents and expertise accentuate the work done by all of the educators in our proud school district.

This page has been designed to highlight and educate everyone on the work our school nurses do within our schools and communities.  As we receive more information, it will be posted here. So please check back on a regular basis.

New Recommendations for Childhood Vaccines

In the summer of 2006, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a second dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine be given to children four to six years old to further improve protection against the disease. The ACIP further recommends that all children, adolescents and adults who previously received only one dose of varicella should receive a second dose.

In the summer of 2005, new vaccines were licensed that offered protection against pertussis (whopping cough) for persons aged 10 – 64 years of age. Prior to that there was no vaccine available for persons 7 years and older, and they were left susceptible to this highly contagious respiratory tract infection. The vaccine, referred to as Tdap also protects against tetanus and diphtheria, and the recommended dose is a single injection, usually given between ages 11-12. All persons aged 10-64 should receive a single dose of Tdap, and can be given within 2 years of a previous vaccination with a vaccine containing tetanus.

It is still recommended that adolescents get a single dose of vaccine to protect against meningococcal disease.

Also available is the new HPV vaccine for females, ages 9-26 years of age that protects against human papillomaviruses that causes 70% of cervical cancers.

Children that have no insurance coverage for vaccines may be eligible for immunizations through the Iowa Vaccines for Children Program, and need to contact their medical providers or Wright County Public Health @ 515-532-3461 for more information.

Cathy Elkin,

Wright County Public Health Nurse

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