Residents can place an order for free at-home COVID-19 tests. As of late September 2024, residential households in the U.S. are eligible or another order of four free at-home tests from USPS.com
Here’s what you need to know about your order:
–Each order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, including extended shelf life and updated expirations dates.
-Orders will ship free.
To place your order, click here.
This September marks the 23rd year anniversary of 9/11. Since then, September has been designated as National Preparedness Month. This event was founded after 9/11 to increase preparedness in the U.S. RaeAnn Tucker, Director of Health Promotion, states, “The designation is a nationwide, month-long effort that encourages individuals, families, businesses, and communities to work together and take action to prepare and plan for emergencies.”
The goal for the month is to encourage all Americans to take active steps toward getting involved and becoming prepared. Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it takes a whole community. This year’s National Preparedness Month focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan.
This year’s theme is, “Start a Conversation.” Talking about bad things that could happen like a disaster or emergency isn’t always easy, but it’s important to start taking steps to get ready and stay safe. Starting a conversation today can help you and your family to take more actions to prepare. By taking simple steps, you can build your preparedness at your own pace.
National Preparedness Month is a good reminder that emergencies will happen, but taking action now can help us minimize the impact they will have on our lives. That’s why the Health Department and OEM staff are continually taking steps to become educated, trained, and better prepared, and we urge you to take time this month to do the same.
For more information on the Health Department’s Emergency Preparedness visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or visit www.ready.gov. or find them on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Department. Funding for this program was provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
It’s a small device that can save a life. The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare is offering free gun locks available through our offices and clinics in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon.
Every Day, 64 Americans die by firearm suicide — one every 22 minutes. Also of note, households that locked both firearms and ammunition were associated with a 78 percent lower risk of self-inflicted firearm injuries and an 85 percent lower risk of unintentional firearm injuries among children and teens, compared to those that locked neither.
These gun locks are available through the Veterans Crisis Line. This is a 24/7 Confidential Crisis Support Network. Simply: Dial 988 the Press 1; or Chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat; or Text 838255.
Residents can pick up free gun safety locks by stopping by the Henry and Stark County Health Department offices and First Choice Healthcare clinic locations in Kewanee, 110 N. Burr Blvd; and Colona, 103 1st St.; and Toulon, 120 E. Court St., Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Although its mortality rate has steadily fallen in the last decade, prostate cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the U.S. The First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon are offering a $10 Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test Special. The PSA Test is open to all men ages 50-64; or any men younger who have a first-degree family member (father/brother/son) who has been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.
Males under 50 years of age will need a physician’s order for the screening. No fasting is necessary for this screening. This screening can be a “stand alone” test or be added to any of our other popular lab tests.
The First Choice Healthcare Clinics will be offering this special at all clinic locations in Kewanee, 110 N. Burr Blvd. 309-852-5272; Colona, 103 1st St. 309-792-4011; and Toulon, 120 E. Court St., 309-852-3115. This special is open to all area residents, and appointments are necessary and will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Please note, this PSA special is available on a “cash only” basis.
To schedule an appointment or for more information on the tests, contact the First Choice Healthcare Clinic location nearest you.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare are offering seasonal flu shots for adults (18 yrs.+) and children (6 mos.+) are now available at all First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon.
Adult Flu shots will be available by appointment or on a “walk-in” basis Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm at all locations. Children’s flu shots are available by appointment at all locations. Residents are reminded to bring their Medicare or insurance card, cash or check at time of vaccination.
In addition, the health department and clinics in conjunction with the Henry County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will be conducting one drive-thru adult flu shot clinic in Kewanee on Thursday, Oct. 10 from 11 am-1 pm in the Henry and Stark County Health Department’s west parking lot, located at 110 N. Burr Blvd.
The health department will be administering the 4-component Quadrivalent Seasonal Flu shot through our First Choice Healthcare locations in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon. “We believe this vaccine is going to give our area residents the most comprehensive protection from the Influenza this year.”
For more information, call the First Choice Healthcare locations in Kewanee 309-852-5272; Colona 309-792-4011; and Toulon 309- 852-3115 or visit the website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or find them on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments, or follow on Twitter or Instagram.
