Greene County Public Health has recently implemented a new system and continues to encourage adults to take advantage of a new vaccine program.

Director Shelby Cooklin says their department has started using a new system called VaxCare that monitors their stock of different vaccines and will automatically generate a new order for shipment when needed. She points out that VaxCare allows them to administer more vaccines to both children and adults because they now have the ability to bill more private insurance companies then any other time before. She advises everyone who receives a vaccine from Greene County Public Health that VaxCare will be the company denoted on your billing statement.

Cooklin reminds anyone who is 19 and older and are underinsured or uninsured and wants a vaccination that public health provides, can receive them through the newly established Vaccines for Adults program. She advocates for any adult who has not gotten their flu shot to do so as she talks about the wild ride that flu season has been this winter.

“We had a little bit of a small spike during that late December/New Years holiday time (and then it) usually declines, which it did. So that indicated usually that flu season is on its way out. This year however, there’s been a second peak, which could extend flu season into the end of March or even the beginning of April.”

Call Greene County Public Health at 515-386-3228 to learn more about either program and to schedule a vaccine appointment.