Daviess County Health Department

02/20/2026

📣 Daviess County Community- Let’s Talk About the Flu! 🦠
Flu season is here and we want to help keep our Daviess County families healthy! 💙

🤧 What is the flu?
The flu (influenza) is a virus that spreads easily from person to person. It can make you feel very sick, especially young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.

🦠 How does it spread?
The flu spreads through:
• Coughing and sneezing
• Talking close to others
• Touching surfaces with the virus on them, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
* You can spread the flu even before you know you are sick.

🤒 Common symptoms:
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Feeling very tired
Flu symptoms usually come on fast. Most people feel worse than they would with a common cold.

🏠 What should you do if you think you have the flu?

✔ Stay home to protect others
✔ Rest and drink plenty of fluids
✔ Wash your hands often
✔ Cover your coughs and sneezes
✔ Call your healthcare provider if you are at high risk or feel very sick

🚨 Go to the ER right away if you have:
• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Severe weakness
• A fever that goes away and then comes back worse

💉 The best protection?
Get your yearly flu vaccine! It helps protect you, your family, and our entire community.

If you have questions about flu symptoms or vaccines, contact the Daviess County Health Department. We’re here to help! 💙

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Key Facts About Influenza (Flu). https://www.cdc.gov/flu

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). Seasonal Influenza Information. https://health.mo.gov/flu

02/13/2026

February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Help your child establish healthy routines that include both brushing and flossing. You can use the link below to print off monthly brushing calendars for them to complete.

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/resources/activity-sheets/brushing-calendar?fbclid=IwY2xjawP8IqhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwQ1U3dlhHaFhiSTNQNU1qc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHoKRVlfrvewE5pCiOSlJ_YYBnpsavqTI8VaH8PgLgwPjnPu__-0r2GEhN6XA_aem_hG2hPUrLHzfnht6Etp6O4A

02/11/2026

Our office will be closed tomorow, Thursday February 12th from 10:30AM to 1PM as our staff attends the service of one of our longtime Board of Health members, Shelly Sims.

We are deeply saddened by her passing. She devoted many years of service to public health and to the well-being of our community. Throughout her career, she served as a public health nurse, public health administrator, environmentalist, and school nurse. In every role, she brought compassion, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to protecting and improving the health of others.

For many years, she faithfully served on the Daviess County Board of Health, offering thoughtful guidance and steady leadership. Even after her years of professional service, she continued giving back to the community by volunteering at our annual health fair, where she took blood pressures and provided health education to residents. Her willingness to serve never wavered.

We are grateful for her service, her mentorship, and the example she set for all of us. She will be greatly missed.

Thank you for your understanding as we honor her life and legacy.

02/10/2026

📢 Community Update: Immunization Services Partnership

We’re excited to share that we have partnered with VaxCare to support our immunization services!

👉 VaxCare works with health departments and clinics across the country to help manage vaccine inventory and insurance billing. This partnership allows us to continue offering immunizations to our community while reducing billing challenges related to insurance coverage and payments- helping keep services running smoothly and efficiently.

💬 Important to know:
If you receive a text message or letter from a company called VaxCare, please don’t be alarmed. This communication is legitimate and related to immunizations you or a family member may have received through our health department. It is not fraud.

⁉️ We understand that unexpected messages about healthcare or billing can be confusing, and we want you to feel comfortable and informed. If you ever have questions or concerns, we’re here to help.

📞 Questions?
Please feel free to contact us directly at 660-663-2414. Our staff will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for trusting us with your health and for allowing us to continue serving our community! 💙

02/05/2026

❤️ February is American Heart Month! ❤️
Friday, February 6 is Wear Red Day!

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women — but the good news is that many risk factors are preventable! 💪🫀 Wearing red is a simple way to raise awareness and start important conversations about heart health in our community.

The Daviess County Health Department encourages everyone to protect their heart by:
🥗 Eating a heart-healthy diet
🚶‍♀️ Staying physically active
🚭 Avoiding to***co use
🩺 Knowing your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar)
💊 Managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes

❤️ Small changes can make a BIG difference!
📸 Wear red on Friday, share the message, and help spread awareness all month long!

Trusted Resources:
🫀 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Heart Disease & American Heart Month
https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease

02/02/2026

🎓✨ Scholarship Opportunity for Daviess County Seniors! ✨🎓

The Daviess County Health Department is excited to announce a scholarship for high school seniors pursuing a future in healthcare 🩺💙

If you’re a Daviess County resident, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and plan to attend a college, university, or trade program full-time in a health-related field, we encourage you to apply!

📅 Application deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026

📌 Applications and details: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:8ab66e75-5db8-419b-a5b3-526f97891285

📩 Questions? Call 660-663-2414

Let’s support the next generation of healthcare heroes! 🙌

01/29/2026

📌 Our office will be closed TOMORROW, Friday January 30th for mandatory staff training.

👉 Training helps us stay prepared, improve communication, and work together as a stronger team- so we can better serve our community.
If you have a public health emergency, you can reach the administrator at 660-663-9772.
💙 Thank you for your understanding!

01/05/2026

🌱 Why routine childhood vaccines matter — even when families have choices

Recent changes to vaccine recommendations mean some childhood vaccines are no longer “routine” for everyone. While families still have access, there’s an important risk worth understanding:

🛡️ When vaccines stop being the default, fewer children get protected.

This matters because:
• Some kids can’t be vaccinated (infants, kids with cancer or immune conditions)
• Vaccines protect communities, not just individuals
• Lower vaccination rates can allow preventable diseases to return quietly — then spread fast

We’ve seen this before with illnesses like measles, flu, and whooping cough.

👶 The children most affected are often:
• The youngest
• Those with chronic illness
• Families with limited access to healthcare or time for long medical visits

Clear, routine guidance helps keep protection simple, equitable, and automatic — especially for busy families doing their best.

💬 Vaccines are still available. Conversations with healthcare providers still matter and our health department is here to help.

Protecting children works best when we work together. 💙

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🎉 Here’s to a year of better health, stronger communities, and taking care of one another!

12/31/2025

🎉 2025 Year in Review: Protecting Our Community Together 💙

As we wrap up another year, we’re proud of the impact we’ve made—together.

✅ Over 1,168 immunizations administered to protect children, families, and seniors
✅ Over 700 lab draws
🏥 So many essential public health services provided, including:
• Blood pressure checks
• CPR/First Aid classes
• Disease prevention & education
• Community outreach and support
• Hundreds of birth and death certificates issued
• Countless inspections
• And many more impactful services...

Thank you to our dedicated staff, partners, and community members for trusting us with your health. Here’s to a healthier year ahead! 🥂✨

12/25/2025

🎄Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Daviess County Health Department. 🎄

12/24/2025