The Monroe County Health Department highly recommends county residents get vaccinated against the flu this fall.
Annual flu vaccines are always important, but reducing illness and hospitalization from flu continues to be critical this year to protect our frontline healthcare workers and hospital systems who continue to care for people with Covid-19, according to the health department.
Each year, a new flu vaccine is made to protect against three or four strains of the flu that are likely to cause disease in the upcoming flu season. Influenza vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. Influenza vaccine does not cause flu, according to the health department.
CDC recommends everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated every flu season. Children 6 months through 8 years of age may need two doses during a single flu season. Everyone else needs only one dose each flu season. It takes about two weeks for the flu vaccine to protect you against the virus.
Monroe County Health Department will hold drive-through vaccination sites, with safety precautions in place for Covid-19.
The health department is offering the quadrivalent vaccine for those younger than 65 as well as high-dose vaccine for those 65 and older.
The clinic dates and times are as follows:
• 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 — Community drive- through, Tomah Fairgrounds, County Highway CM. Follow signs.
• 6:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4 — Cashton Fire Department
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7 — Tomah VA, 2nd Street. Follow signs.
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8 — Tomah VA, 2nd Street. Follow signs.
• 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11 — Cashton Meal Site
• 5–6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11 — Warrens Fire Station
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12 — Kendall Meal Site
• 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12 — Wilton Meal Site
• 12:30 to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12 — Norwalk Meal Site
• 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13 — Tomah Senior Center/Nutrition Site
• 11 to 11:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15 — Sparta Meal Site – Barney Center
• 1–5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15 — Community drive-through, Sparta Memorial Park, Pine Street entrance. Follow signs.
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26 — Community drive-through, Sparta Memorial Park, Pine Street entrance. Follow signs.
• 2–6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28 — Community drive-through, Tomah Fairgrounds, County Highway CM. Follow signs.
• 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 — Community drive-through, Organic Valley, 509 Organic Drive, Cashton.
If you are unable to attend any of these flu vaccination sites, call the Monroe County Health Department to make an appointment. The health department recommends the public wear face coverings when attending flu clinics.
MCHD will bill Medicare, Medical Assistance, Senior Preferred and third-party insurance companies. The charge for the flu vaccine is $30; and the high dose vaccine, $65. Contact the Monroe County Health Department at 269-8666 for more information, to preregister, or to schedule a flu shot.
