Clinical Services News and Alerts

For Cervical Health Awareness Month, we’d like to talk about human papillomavirus (HPV) and it’s connection to cervical cancer. More than 13,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and over 80% of these cases are caused by HPV, a vaccine-preventable disease spread from person to person through genital contact.

There is a vaccine available that protects against the most common cancer-causing strains of HPV. It also protects against other reproductive system cancers and genital warts. The vaccine is given in two doses at age 11-12, or three doses for teens and adults up to age 26.

Jefferson County Health Department participates in state and federal programs that provide free or low-cost cervical cancer screenings and HPV vaccinations to those who meet age, income, and health insurance guidelines. If you do not have health insurance or your insurance does not cover these services, please call us at 304-728-8416 to schedule an appointment.

Click here for more information from the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, and please feel free to share their flyer below:

Flu shots will be available by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting in October. Call 304-728-8416 to set up your appointment (please have your insurance information ready when you call). Uninsured children 18 years old or younger can receive free flu shots through the Vaccines for Children Program.

We are also in the process of planning several community events to offer free flu shots on a first-come first-served basis, so check back here for dates and times.

Just 4 weeks until school starts! Our appointment book is filling up quickly, so if your child needs any vaccines before the start of the school year call us today to schedule an appointment.*

How do I know if my child needs any shots?
You may have received a notification from their school, or you can check the state requirements. You can also fax or email us a copy of their shot record for our nurses to review.

I can’t find my child’s shot record. Can you look it up for me?
We have access to West Virginia Statewide Immunization Information System, but that doesn’t guarantee that your child’s healthcare provider uses that system, or that any records found there are complete. We ask parents to check with their child’s current and previous pediatricians as well as any schools they attended to find the most up-to-date copy of their shot record.

What if my child doesn’t have health insurance or our plan doesn’t cover immunizations?
Uninsured and underinsured children age 18 and under may qualify for low-cost services through the West Virginia Vaccines for Children Program.

*New patients will need to submit shot records and insurance information for review and verification before scheduling.

In light of the number of students who are still non-compliant with getting their required school shots, we will be opening up Monday mornings, for 7th and 12th grade required shot appointments. We will still require shot records and insurance information in advance (fax to 304-728-3319 or email to JeffersonLHD@wv.gov). Call 304-728-8416 to schedule an appointment, and be sure to mention that your child is a Jefferson County Schools student who needs required shots to continue attending school.

Flu shots are now available at the health department, including high dose for seniors 65 and older. To schedule an appointment call 304-728-8416 and select option 3. We are also in the process of planning several events to offer free flu shots, so check back here for dates and times.

We will not be able to bill health insurance for flu shots this year, but we can provide you with a receipt if you’d like to submit a claim yourself. Regular and pediatric doses cost $25 and high dose costs $55. We have a limited number of free flu shots for children and adults who are unable to pay, have no insurance, insurance that does not cover flu shots, or West Virginia Medicaid.