December 13, 2024 |
Photo – Bigfoot file photo
Carbon County Public Health officials encourage residents to get vaccinated for respiratory diseases. Additionally, the frequency of sexually transmitted diseases in the area are on the rise.
During the December 3rd Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Public Health Nurse Manager Amanda Brown said the state has begun to provide her organization with weekly updates on respiratory disease rates. Although the rates of seasonal illnesses are still low, Brown said the data will allow her to better track the spread of these diseases as winter progresses.
Nurse Manager Brown encouraged residents to get vaccinated for COVID, flu, and RSV, a common respiratory virus that can cause mild, cold-like symptoms. Brown said Carbon County Public Health offers a variety of free vaccines for uninsured residents.
Brown said residents can visit the Rawlins office at any time to receive a vaccination except on rare occasions when a nurse is unavailable. However, due to Medicare billing issues, getting the shingles vaccine may require an additional wait time.
Brown said people 50 years or older who have had chicken pox in the past should get the shingles vaccine. Caused by the same virus as chicken pox, symptoms of shingles a painful, itchy rash and fluid-filled blisters. The nurse manager explained that she uses a newer version of the shingles vaccine that does not use a live virus and has fewer side effects. While not entirely free of adverse reactions, Brown said the possible side effects are preferable to getting shingles.
Brown said she has pamphlets explaining the potential side effects of the shingles vaccine.
Beginning next month, Carbon County Public Health will hold vaccine clinics around the county. Brown stated that her office receives a specific number of free vaccines from the state, and she would like them all to be used before they expire.
Next, Public Health Nursing Manager Brown spoke about sexually transmitted disease rates. Brown said the number of diagnosed cases of chlamydia in the county increased last month. The nursing manager said her staff have been working hard to combat the infection.
Brown said the chlamydia outbreak coincides with increased rates of other sexually transmitted diseases around the county, including syphilis. The nurse manager said more people are testing positive for syphilis, including those considered less likely to be exposed to the bacterial infection. Brown explained that syphilis is especially dangerous for pregnant women because the infection can be transmitted to her unborn child.
For more information about testing and vaccinations, visit the Carbon County Public Health offices at 215 West Buffalo Street, Suite 136, in Rawlins, or call 328-2607.
