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Norwood health staff announce MMR availability, West Nile detection and changes to school dental screenings
Summary
At the Town of Norwood Board of Health meeting June 23, health staff said MMR vaccine is now available through the town program for school-age children, reported an early West Nile–positive mosquito sample from Worcester County and said a local school dental screening partner has stopped weekly clinics.
At a June 23 Town of Norwood Board of Health meeting, the town’s public health staff said measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is again available through the town’s vaccine program for children up to age 18, reminded residents that COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people ages 6 months and older, and reported the first West Nile–positive mosquito sample of the season was detected in Worcester County.
The MMR supply is being offered through the town’s children’s vaccine program. "We now have MMR," the public health nurse said, adding that school nurses have been notified and that families should call the health department to arrange appointments. The health department listed a contact phone number as 1-762-1240 and an email of health@Norwoodna.gov for scheduling.
The public health nurse provided context for the COVID-19 guidance: "COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people ages 6 months and older," and noted that two vaccine products and two recommended schedules are in use in the United States.
Staff also reported an early detection of West Nile virus in a mosquito sample taken in Worcester County. The public health nurse said the single positive sample does not necessarily predict the severity of the season but urged residents to reduce standing water and take personal protective measures. "With all the rain, it's really to be expected," the nurse said, and recommended that residents remove small containers of standing water and use repellents according to pediatric guidance — generally avoiding concentrations above 30 percent DEET for young children and not using repellents on infants under 2 months without consulting a pediatrician.
On dental services, the health department said Fidelity Dental clinician Dr. Nayak Hundi, who ran school-based screenings and referred children for follow-up dental care, "is no longer available." Staff noted that many children now have dental coverage through MassHealth and that the department will consult school nurses this fall to decide whether to seek a new dental partner for screenings and follow-up care.
The health department also described outreach activities: staff participated in a June 3 student government day at Copeland Middle School to explain department work to students and said the mock meetings and sessions were well received.
The health department did not announce a firm restart date for a school dental clinic and said it will await input from school nurses before pursuing a replacement provider.
