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A growing body of evidence shows that getting your annual flu shot, the vaccine meant to protect you against the seasonal influenza virus and serious complications related to influenza infection, can lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2018 found that the inflammation that occurs during a case of the flu can trigger a heart attack. More recent evidence suggests that the widespread inflammation can rupture the buildup of cholesterol in the vessel walls, which can causes the form...
The Richland County Health Department is encouraging families to check their vaccination records during the month of May. Outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases are cropping up across the U.S. To be clear, there are no measles cases in Montana. However, now is a great time for families to ensure that they are up-to-date on recommended vaccines, including measles. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that can lead to severe health complications, like pneumonia, encephalitis and death. Infection is characterized by...
An 8-hour Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) ServSafe course will be held May 17 at the Dawson County Courthouse, Glendive. The course is taught by former Registered Sanitarian Kevin Pena. The cost of the course is $160, which includes a textbook and answer sheet to complete the CFPM exam on that same day. Participants must register and pay no later than April 26. Registration caps at 35 people. Lunch will be on your own, but some snacks and beverages will be provided. To register for this course, contact Kevin directly at...
The Richland County Health Department is now offering the updated COVID-19 vaccine by appointment at regular vaccine clinics. The updated vaccine covers the COVID-19 variant that has caused most infections in 2023. The vaccine protects against COVID-19 only, and does not contain flu vaccine or any other vaccine. The Health Department carries Moderna vaccine for people aged six months and older. The vaccine is largely covered by insurance, though it is the client’s responsibility to contact their insurance to determine coverage. Both Medicare a...
The Richland County Health Department’s annual Mass Flu Shot Clinic continues as a drive-thru format, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Richland County Fire Hall, Sidney. The Drive-Thru Clinic will serve adults only, and offers both regular and high-dose flu shots. No other shots will be given during the clinic. No appointment is needed. Flu shots cannot be given to those who have animals in their vehicles. Children may be in the vehicle, but may not receive flu shots. Follow traffic signs to enter the fire hall from...
As we age, our immune system wanes, reducing our ability to fight infection and increasing our likelihood of being hospitalized for the respiratory flu. High dose flu vaccine helps folks 65 and older fight the flu, but what does “high dose” mean, and how do I know if I should get it? The high dose flu vaccine contains a higher dose of the component that stimulates the immune system, called the antigen, than the standard or “regular” flu vaccine. According to the Mayo Clinic, high dose flu vaccines help prevent flu-related hospitalizations and c...
There are so many myths about the flu and the flu shot all over the internet, so in preparation for the Drive Thru Mass Flu Shot Clinic at the Richland County Fire Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, we’ve busted a few myths wide open. Many people claim they avoid the flu shot because it makes them sick. However, flu shot vaccine does not contain any live virus, so it actually can’t make you sick with the flu. The vaccine contains inactivated virus, which means that once it’s in your body, your immune system can learn to respond to components of the v...
The Richland County Health Department’s annual Mass Flu Shot Clinic continues as a drive-thru format, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Richland County Fire Hall, Sidney. The Drive-Thru Clinic will serve adults only, and offers both regular and high-dose flu shots. No other shots will be given during the clinic. No appointment is needed. Flu shots cannot be given to those who have animals in their vehicles. Children may be in the vehicle, but may not receive flu shots. Follow traffic signs to enter the fire hall from...
The Richland County Health Department is now offering bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine by appointment at regular vaccine clinics. The bivalent booster vaccine covers the original strain of COVID-19, as well as the more recent Omicron variant. To be eligible for the new booster, you must have completed the primary, two-dose series of Moderna, Novavax or Pfizer, or one dose of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and be at least two months from your last dose of vaccine. Moderna is available for those 18 and older, and Pfizer is available for those 12...
The Richland County Health Department’s annual Mass Flu Shot Clinic continues as a drive-thru format, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Richland County Fire Hall in Sidney. The Drive-Thru Clinic will serve adults only, and offers both regular and high-dose flu shots. No other shots will be given during the clinic. No appointment is needed. Flu shots cannot be given to those who have animals in their vehicles. Children may be in the vehicle, but may not receive flu shots. Follow traffic signs to enter the Fire Hall fro...
There are so many myths about the flu and the flu shot all over the internet, so in preparation for the Drive Thru Mass Flu Shot Clinic at the Richland County Fire Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, we’ve busted a few myths wide open. Many people claim they avoid the flu shot because it makes them sick. However, flu shot vaccine does not contain any live virus, so it actually can’t make you sick with the flu. The vaccine contains inactivated virus, which means that once it’s in your body, your immune system can learn to respond to components of the v...
The Richland County Health Department has held a mass flu shot clinic at the start of each flu season for the last 15 years, all of which have been made possible by hundreds of community volunteers. Making the 2021 Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic run smoothly took the work of 45 total volunteers and staff, which included 7 volunteer nurses, 17 support volunteers, 18 Health Department staff, and 3 AmeriCorps members, and logistical support from Disaster and Emergency Services and Richland County Public Works. A total of 400 doses of flu vaccine were...
The Richland County Health Department’s annual Mass Flu Shot Clinic continues as a drive-thru format, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Richland County Fire Hall in Sidney. The Drive-Thru Clinic will serve adults only, and offers both regular and high-dose flu shots. No other shots will be given during the clinic. No appointment is needed. Flu shots cannot be given to those who have animals in their vehicles. Children may be in the vehicle, but may not receive flu shots. Follow traffic signs to enter the Fire Hall fro...
The Richland County Health Department expects to run out of free home COVID-19 test kits by early September. The department received 2300 home test kits in January and has distributed them to the community in the last several months. The remaining home COVID-19 tests have an extended expiration date of Sept. 30. The tests are located in the lobby of the Community Services Building, 1201 W. Holly, Sidney. They are free to the public, and available until gone. The Health Department will update our Facebook page when all tests have been...
The Richland County Health Department is now offering COVID vaccine for ages 6 months and older by appointment at regular vaccinations clinics. The pediatric Moderna vaccine is a two-dose series, with four weeks between the two doses. Regular vaccination clinic hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. by appointment, as well as the second Wednesday of each month until 6 p.m., and the third Thursday from 1-4 p.m. All times are MDT. For questions or to make an appointment for a COVID vaccine or other vaccination, call the...
An 8-hour Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) ServSafe course will be held Aug. 12 at the Dawson County Courthouse, Glendive. The course is taught by former Registered Sanitarian Kevin Pena. The cost of the course is $150, which includes a textbook and answer sheet to complete the CFPM exam on that same day. Participants must register no later than July 15. Payment will be due no later than July 15, and payment is required in order to guarantee your seat. Registration caps at 35 people. Lunch will be on your own, but some snacks and...
An 8-hour Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) ServSafe course will be held Aug. 12 at the Dawson County Courthouse, Glendive. The course is taught by former Registered Sanitarian Kevin Pena. The cost of the course is $150, which includes a textbook and answer sheet to complete the CFPM exam on that same day. Participants must register no later than July 15. Payment will be due no later than July 15, and payment is required in order to guarantee your seat. Registration caps at 35 people. Lunch will be on your own, but some snacks and...
Beginning Monday, May 2, COVID vaccines will be available by appointment during regularly scheduled vaccine clinic hours at the Richland County Health Department. Regular clinic hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MST. Routine child and adult vaccines are available at regular clinic hours. COVID vaccine offerings include the 2-dose Pfizer series for those 12 and older, and Moderna series for 18 and older, as well as first and second boosters. Pediatric Pfizer is available for those 5 and older. A limited stock of...
There will be no regular COVID vaccine clinic at the Richland County Health Department on Tuesday, April 12. Clinics will resume Tuesday, April 19, from 12:30-3 p.m. The Health Department will be evaluating the COVID vaccine clinic schedule through a survey posted to the Department Facebook page. The survey will be available from April 11 through April 22. This will provide feedback from community members regarding whether COVID clinics should remain separate or be integrated into regular vaccine clinic days. To take the survey, visit the...
The Richland County Health Department is providing the following COVID-19 case information (click here). This information reflects case counts between March 17th and March 30th, 2022. There has been one additional COVID-related death during this time period. A woman in her 60's has died of complications from COVID-19. The Health Department will provide updates as time allows....
The Richland County Health Department will distribute at-home COVID-19 test kits on Feb. 11 from 12-3 p.m. MST at the Richland County Events Center parking lot. The distribution is a drive-through format in the parking lot of the Events Center. Please enter through the West Holly entrance, follow traffic signs to receive your test kit and exit through the 5th St. SW gates. Test kits are free; are limited to one kit per household, and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis on Feb. 11. Each kit contains two CareStart Rapid COVID-19...
The Richland County Health Department continues to hold COVID-19 vaccine clinics on Tuesday each week from 12:30 to 3:00. Moderna, Pfizer, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) are available at each clinic for those 12 years and older. Please bring your health insurance card if you have health insurance. The Health Department expects high client volumes at upcoming clinics and as such, you may wait 30 minutes or longer to receive your vaccine. For questions or accommodations outside of the regular clinic hours, contact the Health Department at...
The Richland County Health Department is pleased with the turnout at the 2nd Annual Drive Thru Flu Clinic. Held on Thursday, Sept. 30, the drive-through clinic vaccinated exactly 400 community members. The clinic was a collaborative effort between the health department, Volunteers in Action, Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, and Communities in Action AmeriCorps members. To make the clinic run smoothly required the work of 45 total volunteers and staff, which included 7 volunteer nurses, 17...
The flu shot is recommended every year, including this year. One may ask, “why do I need a flu shot if we didn’t even have any flu cases last year?” That is a legitimate question. Why didn’t we have any flu cases? Is there even any flu anymore? Did COVID-19 take over the flu? Let’s consider the nature of influenza (or seasonal flu) and the COVID-19 viruses. Both cause respiratory symptoms; both can be deadly; and most importantly to this discussion, both can be avoided in the same ways. This includes staying home when you are sick; wearing a...
There are so many myths about the flu and the flu shot all over the Internet, so in preparation for the Drive Thru Mass Flu Shot Clinic at Richland County Fire Hall, Sept. 30, we’ve busted a few myths wide open. The first, and biggest, myth is that the flu went away. Unfortunately, that isn’t true. While it is true that there were no cases of influenza reported in the 2020-2021 flu season, scientists and public health professionals believe that our actions to protect against the spread of COVID-19 also protected us from the flu. Both dis...
