DC public health will do vaccine pop-up clinics in Boyceville, Colfax, Ridgeland — if asked

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE — With only 36 percent of Dunn County vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, several Dunn County Board supervisors are wondering if the county health department would do outreach clinics in rural communities — and the answer is “yes.”

Nearly 50 percent of Wisconsin residents have begun the vaccine series, but in Dunn County, only 36.2 percent are fully vaccinated, said Paul Miller, county manager, at the Dunn County Board’s June 16 meeting.

What about outreach vaccine clinics at churches, schools, taverns or other places? asked Mike Kneer, county board supervisor from Menomonie.

Kneer said he knows there are a number of residents in rural Dunn County “who would never go to Stout” to get the vaccine.

The Dunn County Health Department is working on pop-up clinics. Last Thursday at Thursday’s Table, the health department set up a clinic, and two people took advantage of it although the health department had planned on vaccinating 50 people, said KT Gallagher, director of the Dunn County Health Department and county’s health officer.

The health department also is planning on a pop-up clinic at Our Saviors church and is working with WestCAP, she said.

Providing pop-up clinics in Menomonie is one thing, but what about Ridgeland, Boyceville or Colfax? Kneer asked.

The health department is not working on pop-up clinics in rural communities although the department does have Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with schools in Dunn County, Gallagher said.

The health department will not go where the health department has not been invited, she said.

“You should be inviting yourselves in,” Kneer said.

If a place could be found in Boyceville to give vaccines, would it be helpful to have a sign-up? asked Vaughn Hedlund, county board supervisor from Boyceville.

The health department is willing to work with community partners if there is going to be walk-in business, but the department does not want to waste vaccine, Gallagher said.

“If there is a community partner in Boyceville who will open their doors to us, we’ll go,” she said.

In response to a question about how much vaccine the health department has had to throw away, Gallagher said that seven doses are in a vial of Pfizer vaccine, and there are five doses in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine vial.

The health department has had to throw away some partially used vials, she said.

What about coordinating vaccine clinics with blood drives? asked Gary Stene, county board supervisor from Colfax.

The health department has not coordinated any clinics in conjunction with blood drives, Gallagher said.

Red Cross blood drives are done at the Viking Bowl in Colfax, and the Viking Bowl seems like it would be an ideal spot for a vaccine clinic, Stene said.

“If Viking Bowl wants us, we will go,” Gallagher said.

Outbreaks

As of the date of the county board meeting, Dunn County had 10 active cases of COVID-19 with one person hospitalized.

Since the percentage of infection is low and various businesses and activities have opened up, is the health department seeing outbreaks of the virus from activities like graduation parties? asked Sheila Stori, county board supervisor from Menomonie.

Should people still be wearing masks? Stori asked.

Dunn County has not seen pockets of increased infections, Gallagher said, noting that there seems to be a seasonality to COVID-19 and people are gathering more outdoors now.

If people have underlying health issues or are worried about family members with underlying health issues, and they feel more comfortable wearing a mask, then wear a mask, Gallagher said.

Otherwise, if people are fully vaccinated, they can follow the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and not wear masks, she said.

Delta

Has the Delta variant from India been detected in Dunn County? asked Donald Kuether, county board supervisor from Menomonie.

The Delta variant first emerged in India, is highly contagious and appears to be more infectious than other variants and more resistant to the vaccines.

Although the Dunn County Health Department has sent several samples off for genomic sequencing, the Delta variant has not been found in Dunn County, Gallagher said.

There have been 26 cases of the Delta variant in Wisconsin dating back to April, she said.

Influenza

The hard work of physical distancing, not having gatherings, wearing masks and frequently washing hands has paid off in other ways, Gallagher noted.

In a normal year, Dunn County will have 200 hospitalizations because of influenza, she said.

Last year, there were 24 hospitalizations for influenza in the county, Gallagher reported.

American Rescue

Dunn County will be receiving $8.8 million in American Rescue Plan funds, Miller said.

The county has already received $4.4 million and will receive the remainder next year, he said.

Under the American Rescue Plan, cities and towns will receive a total of $65 billion.

The money should not be used to create a program or a service that requires ongoing support. Instead it should be used for a one-time project, Miller said.

The county’s financial advisors are advising that the county not rush into spending the money, especially since the guidelines on how it can be spent are not yet clear, he said, noting that the money does not have to be spent until 2024.

Some of the guidelines state the money can be used for sewer and water projects or for broadband. The county does not have a county sewer and water system, but Dunn County is “keenly” interested in broadband, Miller said.

Keith Strey, Dunn County’s chief financial officer, said he had worked with the county treasurer to put the money into the Wisconsin investment pool and that the interest the money is earning is going into a dedicated fund.