Health

How many know that one pint of whole blood can save up to three lives? The next local LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, January 6, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon, allowing for more donors to give.

LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Anyone who lives to the age of 72 will have a 95% probability of needing blood or blood products at sometime in their life, so blood donors are greatly needed.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ben Kerndt by Joan Bieber, Mary Ann Hager, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Ardie Kuhse, Mike and Sue McMillan, Eric and Stephanie Palmer, Norbert and Nola Palmer, Gloria Sander and Linda Thompson.

Memorials were also received in memory of Bugsy Burroughs by Ernie and Donnalee Osland.

Memorials and donations are appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

Another generous donation was recently received for the new Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic. A gift of $5,000 was given by Peoples State Bank. Pictured above, left to right, at the main entrance to the Medical Clinic is Kristy Gaunitz, RN; Amanda Swenson, Scribe; Paige Cota, CMA; Laura Baxter, RN, Clinic Director; Shelle Fogt, LPN; Michael Coyle, CEO, all of the Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic; and Dan Headington, Senior Credit Analyst; Dennis Lyons, Agricultural Relationship Manager-Vice President,  and Clem Schulte, Chief Credit Officer, all of Peoples State Bank. Nearly $500,000 has been raised for the renovations to the clinic building and equipment purchased. The clinic has been open since May 3 and has served over 4,500 visits to date. All gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible. Anyone with any questions about the campaign or Foundation is invited to call the hospital at 563-568-3411. Submitted photo.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health will be offering another walk-in clinic for the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Friday, December 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room located on the southeast side of the hospital. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available. Park along the orange cones along the golf course for easy access to the vaccine location.

A booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccination is now available for anyone who wishes to receive it, age five and up. It must also be at least six months from their last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. These clinics are walk-in clinics. Those attending do not have to call ahead to make an appointment. Everyone should wear a mask and bring their vaccination card with them for updating.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Urgent Care is held every Monday-Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and also on holidays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Urgent Care will not be available Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. This holiday season, Urgent Care will be offered at the following times and days:

• December 24, Christmas Eve:  9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• December 25, Christmas Day: Closed - No Urgent Care
• December 31, New Years Eve: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• January 1, New Years Day: Closed - No Urgent Care.

Urgent Care is designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health continue to hold Wednesday and Friday vaccine clinics for COVID-19 booster immunizations. The COVID-19 booster dose is now available for anyone who wishes to receive it, ages five and up, as long as it has been at least six months since their last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Everyone will need to wear a mask and bring along any insurance cards.

Make an appointment for these Wednesday and Friday clinics by calling 563-568-5660. Vaccine is also available at the Waukon Gundersen Clinic, Hartig Drug, Nightingale Pharmacy and the Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic.

COVID-19 immunization clinics for all stages of the vaccine will continue to be held each Wednesday and Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Hospital.  For these Friday clinics, an appointment is necessary by calling 563-568-5660.

from the Iowa Department of Public Health and Veterans Memorial Hospital

Washing your hands and washing them well is a great way to help stop the spread of disease, especially the flu and, of course, COVID-19.   In addition to a flu shot and COVID-19 immunization, it is recommended good hand washing, along with eating a well-balanced diet and getting enough rest, will help stop the spread of the flu.  Flu shots and the COVID-19 vaccine are available locally and it’s not too late for anyone to get vaccinated.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health continues offering the flu shot each Wednesday and Friday at Veterans Memorial Hospital at the main entrance.  Make an appointment for this clinic by calling 563-568-5660.
COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may be administered at the same visit, on the same day. For example, COVID-19 vaccines can safely and effectively be administered the same time as the flu vaccine.

The cost for a flu shot is $35 and Medicare does cover the cost. Billing for vaccinations will be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their physician’s name and their Medicare number or private insurance card with them. If you do not have insurance that covers these you can also pay for these vaccines; however the COVID-19 vaccine is free. Appointments are required by calling 563-568-5660.

Friday, December 10, from 8:30 a.m. to Noon, a walk-in clinic for both COVID-19 and flu vaccines for all stages and all ages from five years and up will be held at the Main Entrance Meditation Room of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Everyone will need to wear a mask and bring any insurance cards they may have. They should also bring their vaccination card if they are coming for their second or booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 immunization clinics for all stages of the vaccine will continue to be held each Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. To receive a vaccination at these Friday clinics, an appointment is necessary by calling 563-568-5660.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Drew Gaunitz by Dennis and Sandy Deal, Lollie Hirth, Helen Johnson, John and Lorna Kerndt, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Mike and Sue McMillan, Maury Mooney, Dr. Dave and Joan Schwartz,  Brian and Denise Wullner, and Brad and Erin Berns.

Memorials were also received in memory of Steve Mitchell by Ron and Nancy Adam; in memory of Dean and Clarian Gunderson by Alan and Kathy Gunderson; in memory of Tim Lough by Les and Ada Marie Kerndt and in memory of Kenneth Lough by Chuck and Lois Votsmier.
In addition, memorials were received in memory of Rose Snitker by Mary Ann Hager and Pat  Pettingill.