Mon County Health Department reopens preventive services

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Mon County Health Department will resume preventive service appointments.

Director of Nursing, Jennifer Goldcamp said,”The health department staff is at a place where we can resume some of our normal services again.”

“We’ve pretty much had to shutdown a lot of our services that we normally offer, except for the bare bones,” Goldcamp said,”So, we’re looking forward to opening up our services.”

The services include free or low-cost birth control, and health checkups for those individuals seeking birth control. West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening, pap tests, breast exams and mammogram referrals for those who qualify.

“And we also accept commercial insurances for women’s health and gynecology,” Goldcamp said.

“The health department also offers free testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. “All of our services are confidential, and our staff is non-judgmental,” Goldcamp said.

The Monongalia County Health Department also offers a comprehensive schedule of vaccines as well. Children will need vaccines to attend schools as openings are announced.

Here are the vaccines that students need by age group:
• Ages 4-6: Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis), also known as DTaP. This
should be your child’s fifth dose; polio (IPV) – fourth dose; measles, mumps and rubella
(MMR), second dose; chickenpox (varicella), second dose; influenza (flu); every year
• Ages 7-18: Influenza (flu), every year
Monongalia County Health Department
453 Van Voorhis Road
Morgantown, WV 26505 1
• Ages 11-12: Meningococcal (MenACWY), one dose; HPV, two doses; Tetanus, diphtheria and
whooping cough (DTaP), one dose; influenza (flu), every year
• Ages 16-18: Meningococcal (MenACWY), one dose; Meningococcal B is also recommended.
You can find a list of those immunizations on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
website: cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/by-age/index.html.

Adult vaccines are available as well. Vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are needed every 10 years. Individuals 50 and over also should get the Shingrix vaccine to prevent shingles and a pneumonia vaccine. And everyone ages 6 months and above should get a seasonal influenza vaccine each fall.

Visitors to MCHD Clinical Services will notice a difference in the intake process to protect everyone’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“First, we’re asking all of our patients to come with a face mask,” Goldcamp said,”If they don’t have a face mask, we’ll have a face mask.”

Intake forms can be sent to patients via text message or email according to Goldcamp.

“We’ll interview them, get all their information and we’ll even collect payment if one is due,” Goldcamp said,”When we’re ready we’ll bring you in to see the provider or the nurse.”

To make an appointment at MCHD Clinical Services, call 304-598-5119.