Disease Prevention & Control
This program covers the following:
- Immunization Clinic
- Tuberculosis Control - Clinics and Disease Case Management
- Communicable Disease Reporting
Our main phone number is (907) 343-4799 for all services, our fax number is (907) 343-7992. All of our services can be accessed on the first floor at the Health Department building -- 825 L Street (corner of 9th Avenue and L Street).
CLOSURES:
Monday, February 20 Presidents' Day
IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM
Immunizations for vaccine preventable diseases are an important component of public health. We carry all childhood vaccines but have limited adults vaccines.
Please bring your child's immunization record for each visit. A parent or legal guardian must accompany a child.
Current Status:
We currently have influenza vaccine for children aged 6 months thru 18 years and for adults.
Clinic Hours: Clinic Hours will be changing February 13.
Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday from 1 pm to 5:30 pm
Friday from 8 am to 5 pm
Please register 1/2 hour before closure to ensure service.
Costs: (As of 4/7/2011)
- Charges for vaccines given to adults vary.
- For children, there may be a charge related to the administration of a vaccine. Please bring your child's Medicaid number.
- For Medicare with 3rd party insurance, bring both cards.
- "Our clinic is based on sliding-scale fees. If you do not have insurance and are unable to pay your entire balance at the end of your clinic visit due to extenuating circumstances, an Office Associate will work with you to make a down payment and establish a monthly payment plan. We do not deny services to clients because of an inability to pay."
Tuberculin skin tests (TST) are available through the Immunization Clinic during these days and hours only:
Tuesdays from 1 pm to 5 pm
Friday from 8 am to 5 pm
Please register 1/2 hour before closure to ensure service.
Some persons may need to have additional TST's placed. This is referred to as "Two-Step Testing". This two-step approach can reduce the likelihood that a boosted reaction to a subsequent TST will be misinterpreted as a recent infection.
"Two-Step Testing" will be done on persons
- who will need testing periodically due to their job and
- who have never been tested; or
- who have no documentation of prior testing; or
- who do not remember being tested; or
- tested negative over 12 months ago
"Two-Step Testing" procedure requires that the first test is placed and reviewed 7 days later. If the test is not positive (10mm or greater), then a new test will be placed on the opposite arm and client should return in 3 days for reading. There is no charge for the second test.
CDC 2011 Recommended Immunization Schedules:
TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL PROGRAM
Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is spread through the air. Both TB infection and disease can be treated with medications.
Contact your personal physician or the TB program if you have any of these signs or symptoms for 3 weeks or longer:
- Cough
- Weakness or feeling tired constantly
- Weight loss
- Fever or chills
- Sweating at night
- Spitting up blood
- Known contact with a person with active tuberculosis disease
Your physician may refer you to the TB Program for medication, chest x-ray, sputums and follow-up.
Please have your physican call us at 343-4799 to speak with a Public Health Nurse.
Clinic Hours by appointment for TB Assessment are:
- Monday 9 AM to 4:45 PM
- Tuesday 1 PM to 4:45 PM
- Thursday 9 AM to 4:45 PM
- Friday 9 AM to 4:15 PM
Costs: (As of 4/7/2011)
- TB skin test -- $34.00
- Office visit for TB clearance - ranges from $82 - $176.
- There is no office charge for children.
- Chest x-ray - ranges from $36 to $50
- Laboratory tests - depends on type needed
- Cash, check, and credit card accepted.
- 3rd Party insurance - bring in card
- "Our clinic is based on sliding-scale fees. If you do not have insurance and are unable to pay your entire balance at the end of your clinic visit due to extenuating circumstances, an Office Associate will work with you to make a down payment and establish a monthly payment plan. We do not deny services to clients because of an inability to pay."
How to get a Tuberculosis Clearance Card:
Persons with prior negative skin tests will receive a skin test.
Persons with prior positive skin tests must have documented skin test results and a verifiable chest x-ray report. It is the client's responsibility to bring documentation to the TB clinic. An appointment must be scheduled for assessment on anyone with a known positive skin test.
A Tuberculosis Clearance Card is valid for one year only.
TB Clearance related to Immigration Status
Services include a review of medical history, chest x-ray, TB skin test, and necessary laboratory work. Clinic hours and costs are listed above.
We do cooperate with the State Refugee Coordinator and Catholic Social Services' Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services (RAIS) program in helping immigrants and refugees obtain needed TB clearance. More information about Catholic Social Services' RAIS program can be found here.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORTING AND SCREENING
The Disease Prevention and Control Program public health nurses provide timely and appropriate response to real and potential communicable disease outbreaks such as foodborne illnesses and measles. This includes the collection of specimens, and interviews of people who have been exposed or who may be carriers. The Disease Prevention and Control Program staff works closely as a team with the State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and the Municipality's section of Environmental Sanitation on foodborne and disease outbreaks. More information about reportable diseases is available on the SOA Section of Epidemiology website.
The Department of Health & Human Services offers confidential HIV testing. Contact the Reproductive Health Clinic for more information, 343-4623.
Office hours:
- Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM
Cost:
There is no charge for disease investigations. However, routine screening using blood tests for infectious disease (ie for employment) will be chargeable.
Projected Closures 2012
Monday, March 26 Seward's Day