Aug. 12--ELK RIVER -- Sherburne County Public Health Department will vaccinate eligible adults who are uninsured or underinsured.
The vaccines for the program announced Wednesday are being provided to local public health agencies for a limited time through The American Recovery Reinvestment Act, an economic stimulus package enacted by Congress in 2009.
"There are stimulus funds that come through the Minnesota Department of Health that allow us to provide vaccines for those adults who are un- or underinsured and there's a variety of vaccines. It could be hepatitis B, hepatitis A, varicella (chicken pox), measles-mumps-rubella," said Kristen Sanders, a public health nurse with Sherburne County Public Health Department.
"Underinsured individuals" have health insurance that does not cover the cost of the vaccine, but most Minnesotans who have health insurance have coverage for vaccinations. Sanders recommends checking with your insurance company if you are not sure whether you are covered.
"When you enter college, for example, they require certain vaccinations -- the most common one would be meningococcal (for meningitis)," Sanders said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specifically recommends college freshmen living in a dormitory receive one of two meningococcal vaccines available in the United States.
"The uninsured or underinsured who would be entering college seems to be kind of a growing group that does not have health insurance. Typically, once you have finished high school, you kind of fall off your parents' insurance plans," Sanders said.
Sherburne County Public Health Department is suggesting a donation of $5 per shot to cover the cost of administering the vaccine.
"Nobody will be turned away if they cannot come up with the suggested donation," Sanders said.
Stearns County Public Health Department also is providing vaccinations for adults who are uninsured or underinsured, but those interested have to contact that department.
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