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Health department warns of a severe influenza season, low vaccination rates; operational updates reviewed
Summary
Director and staff reported high influenza activity, low flu vaccination coverage (~30%) and rising pediatric deaths nationally; the department also reviewed WIC caseloads, environmental‑health licensing and a new vaccine‑refrigerator monitoring system.
Winnebago County health officials told the Board of Health committee that influenza activity is high and vaccination coverage in the county remains low, and staff described operational measures and program metrics to address current public‑health demands.
An analyst (speaker 7) summarized surveillance numbers, saying influenza activity remains elevated and that pediatric deaths nationally have risen; the analyst noted RSV activity is low and SARS‑CoV‑2 activity is moderate and increasing. "Influenza activity remains high," the analyst said, and staff later noted that pediatric deaths in recent reporting had increased from nine earlier in the season to 17 nationally.
Doug, the department director, emphasized vaccination: "Only approximately 30 percent of the entire population has received a flu vaccine in Wisconsin so far this year," he said, and encouraged residents to get vaccinated because coverage remains the best protection against severe illness.
Operational and program updates: staff reported a new monitoring system for vaccine refrigerators to protect inventory and provide early warning of temperature loss; WIC served 3,621 unduplicated individuals in 2025, and staff described outreach and no‑show metrics used to manage appointments. Environmental health noted lodging‑code updates and radon‑kit sales at a farmers market (53 kits sold at a reduced price during January outreach).
Ending: staff said year‑end financial reports are still being finalized and that the department will return to the committee with final reserve figures and any adjustments to the 2025 revised budget.
