For the Tomahawk Leader

TOMAHAWK – The Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) on Wednesday, Feb. 16 announced that it had added two March dates to its slate of free COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

Vaccine clinics will be held at LCHD, 607 N. Sales St., Merrill, on Tuesday, Feb. 22, Tuesday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 8, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Clinics will also be held on Saturday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 26 at T.B. Scott Free Library, 106 1st St., Merrill, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.

LCHD is partnering with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare to provide the clinics to the public. AMI will offer Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. First, second, booster and pediatric doses will be available.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Pre-register by visiting www.vaccinate.wi.gov/en-US or by calling LCHD’s COVID-19 Line at 715-539-1375. Walk-ins will be accepted. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the clinics, and facemasks are required.

LCHD said people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that individuals five years and older with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days after their second dose,” LCHD stated. “Children ages 5-17 may only receive an additional dose of Pfizer.”

LCHD noted that COVID-19 vaccines are “working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, but the latest data show that booster doses significantly increase protection against the Omicron variant.”

“The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and boosted if eligible – particularly for groups that are more at risk for severe COVID-19, such as older people and those with underlying medical conditions,” LCHD said.

To find other vaccination sites, visit www.vaccines.gov.

Photo courtesy of LCHD.