Upper Missouri District Health Encourages Families to Prepare for Back-To-School

schools to ensure vaccine records are up-to-date, and is hoping to do some “inschool” clinics again to help get students up-to-date before the October 1st deadline. “Vaccination rates declined, even here in ND, during COVID, since people just weren’t going out as much. While it has picked up again, there is still an overall decline in standard childhood vaccination rates, which has resulted in some outbreaks of diseases like measles and polio in various cities across the US. We know it can often be hard for parents and guardians to take off work during clinic hours, so we’re working on providing some more convenient opportunities to get students up-to-date.”

Anyone who has received vaccinations in North Dakota is able to call public health, who can look up their vaccination record in the state database and determine whether or not the individual is in need of updates. “People who have had vaccinations outside of North Dakota should request their records from the state or facility they received previous vaccines in. When they bring in their records, we input them into our database and can then evaluate which vaccinations, if any, they are due to receive,” says Artman. “If anyone has trouble getting their records, or isn’t sure where to start, they can call our office and we can offer direction, or they can fill out an authorization to release records that we can fax to the appropriate entity to obtain them.”

In addition to the vaccine series that children receive over the course of their first two years of life, standard childhood vaccinations include updates prior to a child entering kindergarten, 7th and 11th grade. While it isn’t a required school vaccination, UMDHU recommends that parents strongly consider vaccinating their children with the HPV vaccine. “Research data shows that children produce the most antibodies to HPV when the vaccine is given between ages 9 and 14. It can be given after that, between ages 15-26, but requires 3 doses instead of 2 to ensure the body produces the antibodies necessary to prevent an HPV related cancer,” shares Juliet. “We also recommend vaccination for Meningitis B when students are preparing to go to college in addition to the required Meningitis A vaccine.” Meningitis, a bacterial infection that affects the brain and spinal cord, is spread by airborne respiratory droplets and can result in serious illness, sepsis and even death. “College students are a higher-risk population for it,” notes Artman,” because of their close proximity to each other.”

Currently, Juliet and her administrative assistant Lisa Bertossi are planning to be at the Ray Family Medical Clinic August 17th and at Tioga Medical Center August 18th to provide vaccinations. They also host vaccine clinics the 2nd and 3rd Thursdays and the 3rd Monday of each month at their office in Crosby. “Appointments are filling up for our fall clinics, so we encourage the public to call as soon as possible to get on the schedule,” she notes. Callers should also inquire about insurance coverage when they call to schedule. “We are able to bill several insurances,” shares Artman, “but some insurances require the person to pay up front and then they will reimburse them accordingly. We also participate in the Vaccines for Children program, so if someone doesn’t have insurance, or if their insurance doesn’t cover vaccines, we are able to provide those vaccines for a free or reduced rate.”

If anyone is unsure whether a vaccination is right for them, Juliet welcomes them to call and discuss concerns they might have. “We can review the vaccine pros and side effects, and I’m happy to provide them with the most-recent research and data so they can make the best informed decision for themselves or their child.”

In addition to vaccination, UMDHU provides additional health services for the general public, such as family planning, including various birth control options, STD Testing, free (donation-based) foot-care for adults over 60, car seat check-ups and the WIC program. They also operate a program called “Cribs for Kids,” where pregnant women or those with a newborn under six months of age can obtain a free crib or pack-n-play. “We want every infant to have a safe place to sleep,” notes Juliet.

UMDHU also offers low-cost online pregnancy and birth courses, and a new mental health site, CredibleMind, that brings together both online and local resources to help those struggling with their mental health. “It can be difficult to find resources in our area of the state,” says Artman. “This website was designed to put all those resources in one spot, so someone can find the help they need.”

Anyone with questions or needing to schedule an appointment can contact the Divide County office at 701-965-6813. More information and resources can be found on the District’s website at umdhu.org, and mental health resources can be found on the CredibleMind website, umdhu.crediblemind.com.