Cedar County, Iowa - Public Health

Cedar County Public Health is a multifaceted agency that provides intermittent skilled nursing care, home care

aide/homemaking services and public health services such as immunizations, disease surveillance, health education, rehabilitation, health promotion, and public health education.

Cedar County Public Health has been in existence since 1969 and works effectively with Environmental Services,

The Iowa Department of Public Health, the CDC as well as other county health departments. We frequently partner with the Department of Human Services, Iowa Public Health Information, the United Way, and other agencies.

Lead Testing

Cedar County Public Health provides lead screenings free of charge to children under 6 years of age. If a child has an elevated blood lead level, a representative from CCPH and a representative from CCE&Z perform an inspection of the child's home to look for the cause/causes of the elevated blood lead level.

Areas that are found to have lead based paint are required to be fixed and maintained to ensure children cannot access the paint in the future. After repairs have been made, a representative from CCPH & CCE&Z do a visual inspection and if that passes, dust wipe sampling to ensure the paint has been properly taken care of.

How to Protect Iowa Families Brochure

Do Iowa children need to have a blood lead test before they start kindergarten?
Yes, beginning in the fall of 2008, all Iowa children must have proof of a blood lead test before starting kindergarten, or as soon after that as the parents are notified that the child needs a test.

How often should your child be tested for lead poisoning?
If a child is high risk, it is important to get their blood lead level tested at 12 months, 18 months, 2,3,4, and 5. If a child is low risk, it is recommended they be tested at 1 year and 2 years. Many children have normal blood lead levels at 6-12 months of age. However, these same child may become lead-poisoned when they are older and more active.

Radon

Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks.

Because radon is a gas, it can migrate through rocks and soils, escaping into fractures and openings in rocks and into ground water. Radon moves more readily through permeable soils, such as sand and gravel, and through fractures in rocks. Radon moving through soil near the earth's surface usually escapes into the atmosphere. Radon gas may seep into our homes through construction joints, cracks in the foundation, or the water supply.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's action level (the level at which steps should be taken to reduce radon) is 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L).

About 1 out of every 15 houses in the U.S. has radon levels exceeding the recommended action level. Iowa is the number one state for Radon in the country.

Testing Cedar County Public Health has Radon test kits available for $10.00.

They are easy to use and accurate. Kits are available 7:30AM - 4:00PM Monday - Friday.

For parents, the best way to ensure your child's good health is to try to prevent illness before it starts. The best way to prevent a number of serious illnesses is to make sure your children receive appropriate immunizations. In most cases, these vaccines are given as shots and several shots are needed for full protection.

Every state requires proof of immunization before a child can start school. In some cases, Iowa immunization laws permit exemptions, for medical or religious reasons. Your Doctor, Physician's Assistant or Nurse Practitioner will talk with you about childhood immunizations or you can call us at 563-886-2226 if you have any questions. Appointments for immunizations can be made by calling Phone number: 563-886-2226. Vaccines for Children Program (VFC)
Through the VFC program, public purchased vaccine is available at no charge to enrolled public and private health care providers for eligible children.

Which children are eligible?
Children 18 years of age and under that meet at least one of the following criteria are eligible for VFC vaccine: Medicaid eligible - a child who is eligible for the Medicaid program (in some States, children who are <1 year of age are automatically entitled to Medicaid benefits, if their mother is enrolled).
Uninsured - a child who has no health insurance coverage. American Indian or Alaska Native - as defined by the Indian Health Services Act.
Underinsured - a child whose health insurance benefit plan does not include vaccinations or children whose health insurance covers only select vaccines or caps the vaccine cost at a certain limit.

Which children are NOT eligible?

Children whose health insurance covers the cost of vaccinations are not eligible for VFC program benefits, even when a claim for the cost of the vaccine and its administration would be denied, if submitted to the insurance carrier for payment, because the plan’s deductible had not been met. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known as Title XXI, enabled States to expand health insurance coverage for uninsured children. Title XXI children enrolled in a separate State children health insurance program (S-SHIP) are not VFC-eligible because they are neither Medicaid-eligible nor uninsured as required under Title XIX. However, Title XXI children enrolled in a Medicaid Expansion (M-SHIP) are Medicaid eligible and entitled to VFC program benefits.

My child is behind on their shots. Can they still get VFC vaccine?

Yes, absolutely. It doesn’t matter how far behind your child is in receiving their shots.
Call or visit us to discuss how your child can be brought back up to date.

My child is healthy.

Can I just wait until school age to get them vaccinated?

No. This is a bad idea. Many of the immunizations that children need today, are intended for very young children in their first months of life.

This is when children are most at risk for contracting vaccine-preventable diseases. Thus, waiting for when your child starts school to vaccinate them can be very dangerous to their health.

Cedar Public Health