Clinical Services News and Alerts

Free Coronavirus Testing October 2nd and 3rd

We will be offering free COVID-19 testing at the Ranson Civic Center parking lot on the following dates and times:

Friday, October 2, 2020 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 3, 2020 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

These are diagnostic tests and will only show if you have an active infection. Results will be available in 3-4 days via the Q-Labs online patient portal. We will accept drive-through or walk-through patients. Please bring your drivers license, photo ID, or other proof of address. Patients under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Please feel free to download this flyer to share with your friends and neighbors.

Virtual Narcan Training

We are happy to announce that we will now provide virtual Narcan training via Zoom. The trainings will be on the first Thursday of each month from 4:00-5:00 PM. After completing the online training, participants will schedule a time to pick up their certificate and a rescue kit with two doses of naloxone.

Naloxone (Narcan, Evzio) is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of opioids. It can very quickly restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped as a result of overdosing with heroin or prescription pain medications. If you or a loved one use opioids – prescribed or not – having this medication available in an emergency and knowing how to use it saves lives.

Click here to register for the training.

Free COVID-19 Testing July 17-18

Jefferson County Health Department staff will be at the Ranson Civic Center parking lot on Friday and Saturday, July 17th and 18th from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM to offer free testing for COVID-19.
 
We will accept drive-through or walk-through patients. Please bring your drivers license, photo ID, or other proof of address. Patients under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
 
Samples will be taken from the nose via a mid-turbinate or anterior nares swab, which is quicker and more comfortable for the patient than the longer nasopharyngeal swabs. Specimens will be shipped to Q-Labs for processing, and test results are usually available in 3-4 days via their online patient portal. Patients who do not have internet access or who do not want to use the patient portal can choose to get a phone call instead.
 
These are diagnostic tests and will only show if you have an active infection, not if you have previously been infected and recovered.
 
Click below to download the flyer:

Back-to-School Immunizations 2020

The Jefferson County Health Department will be providing back-to-school required and recommended immunizations on Monday, August 3, 2020 through Friday, August 7, 2020 by appointment only.  The State of West Virginia requires all students entering Kindergarten, 7th and 12th grades be up to date on required vaccinations for entry into public schools.

If you wish to have your child vaccinated, please call us for an appointment as soon as possible. You will then need to complete the appropriate form located below and return it along with a copy of your child’s most recent and complete immunization records by Tuesday, July 21, 2020.  Your paperwork can be submitted via mail, email or fax. Jefferson County Health Department Nursing staff will review the immunization records to determine what the child needs, and may contact the parent/guardian prior to the appointment if needed. If the forms are not received by the due date, the Health Department will not be able to vaccinate your child.

Fax: 304-728-3319
Email: JeffersonLHD@wv.gov
Mail: Jefferson County Health Department
Attention Clinical Office
1948 Wiltshire Road, Suite 1
Kearneysville, WV 25430

The following insurances are accepted:  Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, PEIA, Aetna Better Health, The Health Plan, Unicare, Medicaid and WV Chip.  If your child is uninsured, they may qualify for the Vaccines for Children program.  Please contact the Jefferson County Health Department for more information.

Vaccine Information Sheets can be located at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/current-vis.html.

Immunization Form - Kindergarten

Immunization Form - 7th Grade

Immunization Form - 12th Grade

Free COVID-19 Testing May 29&30

This Friday and Saturday, May 29 & 30, we will be offering free COVID-19 testing from 9:00AM – 4:00PM. Whether you’ve been feeling unwell, are required to have a test for work, or you just want to be tested for your own awareness, all are welcome! No appointment or insurance needed, just bring your driver’s license or other proof of address. Since the weather forecast doesn’t look too friendly, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has generously allowed us to use their parking garage as the testing location — we will be able to operate rain or shine!

Free COVID-19 Testing

Our staff will be at Asbury United Methodist Church tomorrow and Saturday along with the WV National Guard to do drive-through COVID-19 testing from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. More information at coronavirus.wv.gov

Narcan Training Cancelled – April

Because we are committed to preventing the spread of the COVID-19, we have decided to cancel the Narcan Training Event originally scheduled for 4:00 PM April 2, 2020. As this situation develops we will evaluate when and how future trainings can be done safely.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding. Stay safe and healthy!

STD Testing at JCHD

Cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea are on the rise in the United States, including West Virginia. These sexually transmitted infections are increasingly common and often have no symptoms. Left untreated, they can cause permanent damage to reproductive organs, including infertility. STD tests are usually not included during routine bloodwork and annual physicals unless you ask your primary care physician to be tested.

The good news: getting tested at the health department is affordable and non-invasive. We offer urine testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and blood testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C.

 

How can I get tested at the health department?

Call us at 304-728-8416 to set up an appointment. There is a $10 fee for STD testing.

 

What happens at the appointment?

You’ll fill out a form with your name, date of birth, and other demographic information. A nurse will bring you to a private room to discuss your symptoms and medical history. You’ll then use a private bathroom to give a urine sample. A blood sample may also be needed depending on the type of test. The nurse will package the sample(s) to send to the state lab. We will call you as soon as we get the results.

 

What if I my test results are positive?

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are curable with antibiotics. If you test positive for any of these you will be scheduled for free treatment as soon as possible. A nurse will give you medication and counsel you on treatment, avoiding sex while you may still be contagious, and when you’ll need to be re-tested. We can notify past or current partners for you and schedule them for testing and treatment.

HIV and Hepatitis B and C are more complicated. If you test positive for any one of these we will refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in managing these conditions.

 

How can I prevent STD’s?

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are spread through sexual contact. The only 100% way to avoid them is to abstain from sex. If you are sexually active, using a barrier method correctly every time will significantly reduce your risk. Free condoms are available at the health department for anyone who asks for them.

 

Follow these links for more information from the Center for Disease Control:

https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/screeningreccs.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/index.html

Free Monthly Narcan Training

We are happy to announce that we will now provide Narcan training at the health department on the first Thursday of each month from 4:00-5:00 PM. This training is free and open to the public. Participants will receive a certificate of training, and get a rescue kit with two doses of naloxone.

Naloxone (Narcan, Evzio) is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of opioids. It can very quickly restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped as a result of overdosing with heroin or prescription pain medications. If you or a loved one use opioids – prescribed or not – having this medication available in an emergency and knowing how to use it saves lives.

Click here to register for the training.

TB Testing Schedule Change

We are happy to announce that beginning in February we will be increasing the number of days we offer screening and testing for tuberculosis to Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9:00-11:00 in the morning and from 1:00-3:00 in the afternoon. We will accept walk-ins for screening letters and skin tests (sometimes called a TST or PPD). Patients who need a blood test (T-spot) will still need to schedule appointments so we can ensure the sample reaches the lab in a timely manner.

 

What’s the difference between these types of screenings and tests?

To get a Screening Letter, you will fill out a form with questions about your health and travel history. A nurse will review your form, and if you do not have any symptoms or certain risk factors you will get a signed letter from the health department saying that you can be considered free of active tuberculosis. If you do have symptoms or if you are at high risk due to travel or medical history you may need to get either a skin or blood test.
A Skin Test is done by injecting a small amount of fluid under the skin of your inner forearm. This creates a bubble which should disappear within 48-72 hours. You will have to come back to the health department 3 days after your test to have a nurse look at your arm and check for a reaction.
Blood Tests are usually done for people who have been vaccinated for TB or who have had a reaction to a previous skin test. A nurse will take a sample of your blood and sending it to a lab for testing, and you will get the results in about a week.

 

Click here for more information from the Center for Disease Control, including the difference between latent and active TB and how TB is treated.

View News & Alerts by Category

Receive Alerts by Email

Loading

Public Health Newswire Latest News

Share This