Edwards County Health Office

03/26/2026

Our office has proudly been part of the VFC (Vaccines For Children) program for several years now. The purpose of this program is to ensure all children, regardless of insurance or financial status, are able to receive the vaccines they need!

From birth-18 years old (up until their 19th birthday), we carry all the vaccines your child needs! Whether they have health insurance that doesn't cover vaccines, no health insurance, or are enrolled in Medicaid, we've got you covered thanks to the VFC program!

Call us or stop in any time to discuss your child's vaccine needs 💙

03/12/2026

For those who don't know, Wabash County Health Department-Public Health Services comes over once a month to do scheduled WIC appointments in our office. This has been really helpful for Edwards County families to receive support and resources through the WIC program. At these visits, our nurses are also able to update vaccinations as needed!

02/24/2026

Our sympathy goes out to all those who lost jobs with the closure of champion. This is one strong community and everyone that needs taken care of will be.

Here is a list of food pantries if anyone is in need.

Additionally:
Zion Church in West Salem, garage behind church. 7am to 730 am Friday morning

Lets make sure ALL our neighbors are well taken care of in this challenging time.

💛 Community Support During a Difficult Time 💛

With the recent closure, many families in our community were left without jobs and without notice. We know this has created unexpected stress and hardship for so many.

Please know that you are not alone. There are local resources available to help.

Below is a list of food pantries in Wabash and Edwards Counties that are ready to serve individuals and families in need. If you or someone you know could use assistance, please reach out to one of these locations.

This is what community is for: showing up for one another. 🤝

If you’re in a position to help, consider donating to a local pantry or sharing this post so it reaches those who may need it most.

We are stronger together. ❤️

02/24/2026

Let this be your reminder to get your colon cancer screenings! It is recommended to be screened at age 45 for average risk. There are at-home options now as well. Ask your provider what is best for you!

02/19/2026

01/28/2026

**UPDATED RESPIRATORY ILLNESS DASHBOARD FOR 1/11-1/17/26

-Respiratory Illness Activity Level: LOW with COVID-19, Flu, and RSV activity MODERATE.
-Hospital admissions for flu and COVID-19 trended down while RSV admissions trended up from the previous week.
-ICU Admissions: 36 for COVID-19, 58 for Flu, 29 for RSV.

😷 Flu activity is declining nationally, HOWEVER, school-age children are seeing a rebound in activity. Kids are often the first to register new flu trends, so we will be watching this closely. We'll know more in the coming weeks whether we will be seeing another wave or if we're on the up and up!

Data is preliminary and may change as additional reports are received.

01/27/2026

With the road conditions and the concern for the safety of clients and staff the Health Office will be closed Tuesday January 27th. If you have an appointment you will be getting a call to reschedule.
Stay safe and warm and check on your neighbors!

01/25/2026

With the weather and road conditions, the Health Office will be closed Monday January 26.

Please stay warm and safe out there!

01/12/2026

**UPDATED RESPIRATORY ILLNESS DASHBOARD FOR 12/28/25-1/3/26

-Overall respiratory illness level in Illinois now categorized as "Moderate". However, flu, COVID-19, and RSV levels are all still trending UP and flu activity is still HIGH.
-ICU admissions: 176 for flu, 47 for COVID-19, and 37 for RSV.
-Children, who are always the most affected by influenza-like illness, are seeing big improvements. This could be due to being out of school over winter break. Last year, we saw an unusual double peak so we'll see what the next few weeks hold.
-Continue precautions: practice good handwashing, stay up to date on vaccines, mask in crowded areas, maintain physical distance when needed, and stay home if you are sick!

Data is preliminary and may change as additional reports are received.

01/07/2026

😷Influenza-like illness rates (cough, fever, sore throat) are very high and rising exponentially. It's the highest this metric has been in 6 years.

Why is this flu season so intense?

1. One flu strain—called influenza A (H3N2)—mutated over the summer as it circulated in the Southern Hemisphere. While this is normal, the changes it made this year are more substantial than normal. The timing of the mutation was also just plain bad luck. It occurred after this year's flu vaccine formula was finalized in February. That means this year’s vaccines likely recognize part, but not all, of the updated virus.

2. Vaccination rates, especially among children, continue to decline substantially. Last year was the deadliest non-pandemic flu season for U.S. children on record. It also happened to have one of the lowest flu vaccination rates. This season, the vaccination rate is even lower.

**Vaccination still matters. Even a mismatched flu vaccine still provides some protection against severe illness. This is because the vaccines still train the immune system to recognize viral components that haven’t changed. Also, there is more than one flu strain circulating (not just H3N2). Preliminary data from the U.K. show that flu vaccination reduces hospitalization by 70–75% in kids and 30–40% in older adults.