Iron County opens flu vaccine clinics

HURLEY, Wis. - Workers with the Iron County Public Health Department provided influenza vaccines to community members at a drive-thru clinic at the Iron County Highway Department in Hurley on Wednesday.

Public information officer Zona Wick said that the health department provides influenza vaccines to the community annually in the fall. The health department starts reaching out to the community as soon as the influenza vaccine becomes available, she said.

The health department works with the highway department for events like this because its garage is big enough for cars to drive through. This allows health department staff to vaccinate people while the roof of the garage protects them from inclement weather. Wick said that this is perfect for days like Wednesday, which was cloudy and rainy.

Wick said that the drive-thru clinic is popular. She said it is also convenient for seniors because they don't have to get out of their cars and climb the stairs of a medical facility to be vaccinated.

The health department also opened drive-thru clinics on Oct. 7 and 12. Wick said health department staff also went to Southgate Village in Hurley on Tuesday, which is an apartment complex for mostly seniors.

Another drive-thru clinic will be open at the new highway department office in Mercer from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 27. Flu vaccines are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance or cash payments of $35. Participants should bring all insurance cards with them at the time of service, said the health department website.