WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Marathon County Health Department is keeping an eye on the situation surrounding a new variant of COVID-19.
Public Information Officer Aaron Ruff says they are in contact with the CDC and other groups about the Omicron variant, but admits they don’t know much more than what’s already been reported.
“We are sort of following the news just like everyone else,” says Ruff.
Ruff says it is a matter of time before Omicron is found in the region. “We are anticipating that will change as time goes on. People travel and diseases get transmitted, meaning there will be a point in time where we will see it here.
“We are learning about it just as fast as you are,” he added.
Ruff adds that the best way to protect yourself against the disease remains vaccination. He says even though it’s not perfect, getting your shots will keep you from getting seriously ill from the disease. “At this point in the pandemic what we’ve learned is vaccines work. They will prevent severe illness and hospitalization, and it really is in the best interest of our community to have high vaccination rates,” said Ruff.
The community COVID-19 vaccine clinic remains open at Northcentral Technical College and is offering booster shots as well as initial doses of all three vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson. The clinic will be offering expanded hours in the coming weeks. Shots will be available for the next three weeks from Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 AM to 7 PM and on Saturdays from 11-3. The clinic is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
The clinic will be closed on December 23rd and 24th for Christmas and on December 30th and 31st for New Year’s Eve.
Appointments are not needed but can be made through www.vaccinate.wi.gov or by calling 1-844-684-1064.
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