Skiff to offer in-office flu shot clinics

With winter here and flu season in full swing, Skiff Home Care/Jasper County Public Health are offering in-office flu clinics for small business owners in the Newton area.

Along with the Newton Area Chamber of Commerce, Skiff is promoting the flu shots to help keep work places and employees healthier during the cold and flu season.

“If we can make it easy for a small business owners to make it possible for their employees and possibly even their employees families to have access to a flu shot, we can show that it will be an advantage to the business owner,” said Tammy Stapp, Jasper County Public Health director.

Stapp got the idea while attending a conference where the town’s chamber worked with the public health system. She said her goal is to have three or four businesses take advantage of the opportunity this year. The benefits of getting the flu shot for the employer include healthier employees who could potentially take less sick days.

The program will run until the end of the flu season or vaccines run out. As of the end of October, there were approximately 340 flu shots left to be distributed.

“My goal was to not have any flu injections to send back because that would mean we haven’t distributed as much as we had to the community,” Stapp said.

To set up an appointment for office flu shots, contact Rhonda Nelson or Tammy Stapp at Skiff Home Care/ Jasper County Public Health at 641-792-5086. For employers, an approximate amount people getting the shot is needed. The cost of the vaccine is $25 per person.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) said that all three flu viruses that are covered by the flu vaccine are circulating Iowa this year. An additional drifted strain of A(H3N2) is accounting for about half of the illnesses in the country this year and is not covered in the vaccine, but so far it has not been confirmed in Iowa.

“In years when A(H3N2) viruses dominate, we tend to have more severe flu seasons with more hospitalizations and death,” said IDPH Medical Director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “Our message to Iowans is clear, the best way to prevent the flu is the influenza vaccine. The best way to lessen complications of the flu is antiviral medication. The best way to prevent the spread of flu is to stay home when ill.”

Stapp said another very important way to prevent the flu is hand washing. It is suggested to wash your hands frequently using soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com