NEKIMI, WI (WTAQ) – Public health departments from Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties are teaming up to provide better access for the COVID-19 vaccine in rural areas. Through a partnership with the Wisconsin National Guard, the county health departments have organized the tour to provide weekly clinics at a number of locations across the Fox Valley.
The tour kicked off at the Nekimi Town Hall on Tuesday morning.
“Tuesdays, we will be in Nekimi at the town hall in the mornings from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. And in the afternoons, we move up to Fox Crossing at the fire station on Cold Spring Road, and that’s from 2:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m.,” said Winnebago County Public Health Communications Specialist Courtney Van Auken. “It will be consistent locations until August 20th, so they have time to decide what’s closest to them. They’re all walk-in clinics, no appointment necessary, no ID needed, no insurance needed.”
The tour heads to a pair of locations in Outagamie County on Wednesdays, and two locations in Calumet County on Thursdays. More information about those locations and times can be found at WCVaccine.org.
Van Auken says the partnership between counties is an important piece in helping increase access to everyone who wants to get the vaccine.
“It’s a great partnership. We work really well together. The most important thing that all of the counties want to do is get our population vaccinated,” Van Auken told WTAQ News. “Our goal with going out to more rural communities is to get those people who aren’t comfortable traveling into the city, or aren’t available to get to different places like the pharmacy. There’s a lot of locations open right now, but not in our rural communities.”
The clinics will provide the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine. The one-dose option is available for anyone 18 and older, while the Pfizer is open to anyone 12 and older.
