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Annual report: vaccination access falls; dental, harm‑reduction and foot clinic expand services
Summary
Marquette County’s 2025 annual report shows declines in childhood vaccination coverage, an expanded dental‑hygienist school program that served 466 children, growth in a fee-for-service foot clinic, and expanded harm‑reduction distribution; the board voted to send the report to the county board.
Marquette County Public Health presented its 2025 annual report at the Board of Health’s May 5 meeting, highlighting falling childhood vaccination coverage, expanded clinical outreach and a growing harm‑reduction program.
"Public health in Marquette County is the only provider of childhood vaccines," Health Director Jamie Sofa told the board while explaining why access is a priority. Jamie said two‑year‑old full‑coverage rates had been roughly 65–70% pre‑COVID, rose to about 70% in 2024, and then declined again in the most recent year; she attributed declines to changes in policy, funding and public confusion. To expand access, the department is developing a partnership with Central Wisconsin Pharmacy to allow billing of private insurance so clinics can serve children who are not on BadgerCare or uninsured.
The report also highlighted clinical programs: the foot clinic ran 85 clinics with 639 appointments in 2025 (a fee‑for‑service program that covers its costs), and a dental‑hygienist partnership that bills BadgerCare and uses Seal a Smile/Foundation grant funds reached 466 children (up from 127). Jamie said the dental program provides sealants and fluoride varnish in elementary schools to fill gaps where local dental providers do not accept BadgerCare.
Public health expanded harm‑reduction services requested in the community health improvement plan: naloxone nasal spray distribution, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, needle‑exchange services and distributed about 82 gun cable locks through community partners in 2025. Jamie said harm‑reduction boxes and distribution partners are stationed in libraries, village halls and recovery centers across the county.
On preliminary financials reported from the March 11 year‑end close, Jamie told the board the department brought in additional grant revenue and planned to return about $40,000 to the county general fund. Following the presentation, the board voted to forward the annual report to the full county board for a fuller presentation and formal acceptance.
