As Iowa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen back to numbers that were seen pre-vaccine, Washington County Public Health is working to prevent any further burden on the healthcare system with walk-in COVID-19 and influenza vaccine clinics.

Public health has walk-in clinics scheduled for every Tuesday in December from 8:30 a.m.-noon as well as 1:30-4 p.m. on December 8th, 15th, and 22nd. Free COVID-19 vaccines are offered for those five years and older, and flu vaccines are $30 cash or check for those six months and older. Appointments are required for those receiving a free flu vaccine under the Vaccines for Children federal program. Public Health Nurse Sara Hammes understands that residents may feel overwhelmed by the number of vaccines to administer including those required for school, “We have a very overwhelmed healthcare system so the goal of our vaccinations is not to individually say, ‘I’m not going to get the flu.’ It is on a broader spectrum to decrease the severity and fatality of flu. So what that means is we do not want to see hospitalizations as a result of a preventable disease. Preventable in the sense of a vaccination that really helps decrease the severity and numbers of those with the disease which frees up hospital beds, which allows more staff available if you have a family member who truly needs to be in the hospital.”

As of November 13th there has been one flu death during the current season in Iowa, while the state has cumulatively had at least 7,268 deaths due to COVID-19. For more information on how to get vaccinated for influenza or COVID-19, find contact information at washph.com.