News and Press Releases
Health Department News
Historic County Courthouse Illuminated in Green to Promote National Injury Prevention Day
Polk County is participating in this year’s National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD). On Friday, November 17, Polk County Courthouse will be illuminated in green light to raise awareness about gun injuries and other preventable child injuries in the community.
Health Department News
Polk County Health Department Partners with Des Moines Public Library on Gun Safety
Polk County Health Department (PCHD) is excited to announce its partnership with Des Moines Public Library on promoting gun safety in our community. Gun trigger locks are available and FREE to pick up at all Des Moines Public Library locations.
Health Department News
Polk County Health Department and Partners Come Together to Address Gun Violence
PCHD unveils Gun Safety Campaign, 'Talk it Up, Lock it Up'.
Health Department News
Polk County Medical Coor. Center Urges Community to Use Emergency Departments Appropriately
Polk County emergency departments (ED) remain busy. As we head into summer months and summer traumas, we urge the community to use our health care resources appropriately, so those with life-threatening conditions can be seen right away.
Health Department News
Polk County Health Care Systems Are Seeing High Community Transmission of COVID-19
Polk County clinics, hospitals, urgent cares, and emergency departments are seeing high community transmission of COVID-19 cases.
Health Department News
Health Department Urges Everyone to Get a Flu Shot: Australia sees their worst flu season, Iowa could see the same
Each year, flu season is unpredictable and severe. The past several years we have seen mild flu seasons. Other flu seasons, such as when the H1N1 and H2N3 strains appeared, we saw healthy individuals, those with underlying health conditions, the young and old become sick, hospitalized and even die. This year, we could possibly be in for a rough flu season.
Health Department News
Vaccine Schedule for September 12 - 16, 2022
Vaccine Schedule for September 12 - 16, 2022
Health Department News
Vaccine Schedule for September 5 - 9, 2022
Vaccine Schedule for September 5 - 9, 2022
Health Department News
Vaccine Schedule for August 29 – September 2, 2022
Vaccine Schedule for August 29 – September 2, 2022
Health Department News
Polk County Health Department Sees Increase of COVID-19 Omicron BA.5 Subvariant Cases
Polk County is seeing an increase of COVID-19 Omicron BA.5 Subvariant cases. The BA.5 subvariant is highly contagious and quickly becoming the predominant strain in Iowa and the United States. COVID-19 hospitalizations are also on the rise.
Health Department News
Polk County Health Department Confirms First Case of Monkeypox
The Polk County Health Department has confirmed the first case of monkeypox in Polk County.
Health Department News
Polk County Medical Coordination Center Media Release: Polk County Hospitals STILL Operating at Limited Capacity
Polk County hospitals are STILL currently operating at limited capacity. Emergency departments are seeing incredibly long waits for individuals to receive care and then be placed in an appropriate inpatient bed if needed. Hospital and healthcare staff ask Polk County residents to use emergency departments appropriately.
Health Department News
Polk County Medical Coordination Center Media Release: Polk County Hospitals Operating at Limited Capacity
Polk County hospitals are currently operating at limited capacity. The demand for patient beds is greater than the number of beds available, coupled with a reduced number of staff to care for patients. In addition to COVID-19 cases rising, hospitals across the county and the state are dealing with summer traumas, caring for individuals who are very sick and staffing shortages.
Health Department News
New Visitor Guidelines for All Polk County Hospitals
As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have decreased in Polk County, Broadlawns Medical Center, MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and UnityPoint Health – Des Moines have made the following changes to their visitor policies.
Health Department News
Polk County Health Department celebrates National Public Health Week
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the face of healthcare and public health. The Polk County Health Department staff and PRN staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. This National Public Health Week, the Health Department is celebrating their staff and community partners.
Health Department News
Polk County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Updates
Starting, Friday April 1, 2022, The Polk County Health Department Vaccine Clinic will no longer provide COVID-19 vaccines through the drive through. On Monday, April 4, 2022, individuals will be able to get their vaccine inside the Health Department.
Health Department News
Polk County Health Department Receives HUD Grant
The Polk County Health Department is pleased to announce they have received a $3,455,000.00 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This grant is dedicated to protecting children and families from the dangerous hazards of lead-based paint in the home.
Health Department News
Omicron variant detected in Polk County
There has been a case of the Omicron variant detected in Polk County.
Health Department News
Health Department will serve as COVID-19 test kit pick up and drop off site
Starting Wednesday, October 6, 2021, the Polk County Health Department will serve as a Test Iowa COVID-19 test kit pick up and drop off site.
Health Department News
Health Department will start Pfizer booster dose for adults 65 years and older and specific at-risk groups on Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Starting Tuesday, September 28, 2021, the Polk County Health Department will provide Pfizer booster doses for adults 65 years and older and individuals of specific at-risk groups.
Health Department News
Health Department will NOT start COVID-19 boosters on September 20, 2021
The Polk County Health Department will NOT start providing the community with COVID-19 boosters on Monday, September 20, 2021. The FDA and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have not approved the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Approval of booster doses is required by BOTH the FDA and ACIP prior to COVID-19 vaccine booster doses being administered.
Health Department News
Health Department recommends everyone six months and older to get their annual flu shot
Each year, flu season is unpredictable and severe. Some years, we have seen a mild flu season. Other flu seasons, such as when the H1N1 and H2N3 strains appeared, we saw healthy individuals, those with underlying health conditions, the young and old become sick, hospitalized and even die. The truth is we have no idea what this year’s flu season will look like. What we do know is that it is possible to get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
Health Department News
New Visitor Restriction Guidelines for All Polk County Hospitals
As we continue to work together to keep our patients, families and healthcare providers safe and healthy, the following new visitor restriction policies have been put in place by all metro hospitals (Broadlawns Medical Center, MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and UnityPoint Health – Des Moines).
Health Department News
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are surging: It is time for our community to step up and do the right thing
Polk County is back in a situation we hoped to never be in again. COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are on the rise.
Health Department News
Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised Individuals
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending an additional COVID-19 vaccine for individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Health Department News
Central Iowa experiences prolonged extreme heat event: Take precautions especially when outdoors
(Des Moines, IA) – With very hot weather expected this weekend the Polk County Health Department encourages residents to take extra precautions to stay safe. Temperatures and humidity will be rising for the next several days and heat indices may exceed 100 throughout the weekend and again into next week.
Health Department News
Polk County Medical Coordination Center Media Release: MercyOne Des Moines and UnityPoint Health – Des Moines seeing high patient volumes
Over the past week, MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and UnityPoint Health – Des Moines have seen an increase in patient volume. The Polk County Medical Coordination Center would like to remind the community about the importance of utilizing their primary care or urgent care locations instead of the emergency department.