Why do I need prenatal care?

Prenatal care can help keep you and your baby healthy. Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care.

Doctors can spot health problems early when they see mothers regularly. This allows doctors to treat them early. Early treatment can cure many problems and prevent others. Doctors also can talk to pregnant women about things they can do to give their unborn babies a healthy start to life.

For more information or help finding a provider contact the Maternal Health Program at 1-800-472-8711 ext 241.

Does your child or teen need health insurance?

Are the insurance plans you are purchasing for your family getting unaffordable.  Do you know that health insurance is available for your children through the state sponsored programs Medicaid or hawk-i ?   Both plans are either free or low cost all inclusive health care plans.  A family of 4 can earn up to $70,650 and qualify with a maximum premium of $40 per month. 

If your child has no insurance at this time they can enroll and be covered the day of enrollment by completing a Presumptive Eligibility Application with a qualified entity. 

If you would like more information about the available health care plans please call the Marion County Public Health office at 641-828-2238 Extension 230. 


Childhood Immunizations
Children eligible to receive VFC provided vaccines include children enrolled in Medicaid, children who do not have health insurance and children who are American Indian or Alaskan Native. In addition, children who have health insurance that does not cover the cost of vaccines are considered to be "underinsured," and are eligible to be seen at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), rural health clinics (RHCs) and public health facilities.
Click here for the Childhood Immunization schedule
Click here for the Adolescent Immunization schedule

Why are Childhood Vaccines So Important?

·         Newborn babies are immune to many diseases because they have antibodies they got from their mothers. However, this immunity goes away during the first year of life. Also, young children do not have this "maternal immunity" against some diseases, such as whooping cough.

·         If an unvaccinated child is exposed to a disease germ, the child's body may not be strong enough to fight the disease. Before vaccines, many children died from diseases that vaccines now prevent, such as whooping cough, measles, and polio. Those same germs exist today, but because babies are now protected by vaccines, we do not see these diseases nearly as often.

·         Immunizing individual children also helps to protect the health of our community, especially those people who cannot be immunized. These include children who are too young to be vaccinated (for example, children less than a year old cannot receive the measles vaccine but can be infected by the measles virus), those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons (for example, children with leukemia), and those who cannot make an adequate response to vaccination.

Personal Preparedness:

For information on how to develop a Family Emergency Plan, an Emergency Kit, and other useful tips see the following websites:

http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan

http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/

http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family

http://www.idph.state.ia.us/ProtectIowaHealth/

• BOH Minutes and Agendas
• Iowa Department of Public Health
• Marion County Courthouse
• 2011 Marion County Community Health Needs Assessment and Health Improvement Plan