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Paramedics will start making house calls this week to administer flu shots in between emergency calls, said Matt Zavadsky, Tri-State Ambulance director.
“We know there are some folks who can’t get to a flu clinic, so we’ll bring the flu shots to them,” Zavadsky said. “It’s one of our missions with the community health aspect, and this is the logical first step.”
The house calls are free, but people without insurance must pay $20 for the vaccine. Paramedics will make house calls in its service area, which includes La Crosse, Vernon, Trempealeau and parts of Monroe and Crawford counties in Wisconsin and Houston and Winona counties in Minnesota.
People can schedule a flu shot at their home by calling (608) 784-1568 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. “We’ll bill their insurance company and scheduled a time frame when a paramedic can stop by after a 911 call,” Zavadsky said.
Paramedics also will take vital signs and blood pressure and stay for 10 to 15 minutes after the shot to make sure there is no adverse reaction, he said. Zavadsky said Tri-State also plans to partner with fire departments and churches to give the flu vaccine.
He said paramedics will give flu shots from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at Tri-State’s Holmen station, 3930 Circle Drive, during an open house to show off a new ambulance.
