The Polk County Public Health is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Health to hold some Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics this week and next week at various locations in Crookston, East Grand Forks, and Fertile.
The clinics will provide the Pfizer primary vaccine and the new bivalent booster vaccine to individuals ages 12 years and older who haven’t had their primary doses yet or are looking for the new boosters for the latest primary or Omicron variants. “The Pfizer vaccine, whether you’d be interested in the primary doses if you haven’t gotten them yet and decided that now is the right time for you,” Polk County Public Health Director Sarah Reese explained. “Or if you wanted to get the bivalent booster, those will be available at five different options over the next couple of weeks.” The first clinic will take place on Monday, September 26, at the Crookston Public Library from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. The second will be on Tuesday, September 27, at the East Grand Forks Polk County Public Health Office in the East Grand Forks Human Service Center from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. For those that are unable to come to the clinics during the week, the Crookston Public Library will hold another clinic on Saturday, October 1, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the East Grand Forks Polk Public Health Office will have another clinic on the same day from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The final clinic will be held in the Fertile Community Center on Wednesday, October 5, from 3:30 to 7:45 p.m. Pre-registration is recommended before coming to the clinics, either on the Public Health department’s website or by calling them at 218-281-3385. However, walk-ins are also welcome, and the clinic registration process will be done before you get the vaccinations.
Along with the Pfizer and bivalent vaccines, the clinics will also have the Moderna vaccine available for those who wish to take the vaccine. For those who do not know about the bivalent vaccine, this is a new vaccine that was released to the public earlier this month and boosts immunity against the Coronavirus strain. “The new bivalent boosters contain an updated formula that boosts immunity against the original Coronavirus strain but also protects against the newer Omicron variants that people have been talking about,” Sarah Reese explained. “Actually, the Omicron variants are really what is accounting for most of our current cases, so that is why there is a move to the bivalent vaccine so that it had more protection for what we’re seeing right now with the COVID virus.” The Public Health Department is partnered with the Minnesota Department of Health for more clinics until December in case the need for the vaccinations arises again for COVID or any other disease. Other than these clinics, Polk County Public Health has other clinics that they give multiple times throughout the month where people can get the COVID and influenza vaccine. “We are working with the Minnesota Department of Health to offer the Pfizer vaccine at these community COVID vaccine clinics. Our Public Health Office has clinics as well, but local pharmacies and clinics have access to the vaccine as well,” Sarah Reese explained. Everyone’s situation is a little different, the recommendations for individuals who might be younger children or individuals who might be immune or compromised have some different recommendations, so if you have questions, you can contact Polk County Public Health or talk to your local pharmacist or your medical provider or their nurses. They can assist you so you can find the place that’s easiest for you to get whatever your need is. There is a variety of people that are able and willing to assist you.” The full schedule of when these and upcoming clinics can be found by going to the Polk County Public Health’s website at https://www.co.polk.mn.us/512/COVID-19-Vaccine-Clinics.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Minnesota Department of Health, and Polk County Public Health recommend that everyone stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, primary and booster doses. If you have any questions, contact your medical provider, pharmacist, or the Public Health Office to have your questions answered and help you make an informed decision about what you should do. To register for any of the upcoming clinics in Crookston, East Grand Forks, and Fertile, you can go to www.co.polk.mn.us/536/Community-COVID-19-Vaccine-Clinics and click on the event you wish to register for.
