Siinto S. Wessman Arena has been selected as a community vaccination site. The site is not expected to impact any student activities or athletics.
Photo by Charlie Swanson
Siinto S. Wessman Arena, home of the Yellowjackets men’s and women’s hockey teams, has been selected by public health officials as a new COVID-19 community vaccine site.
The vaccine clinic, operated by Douglas County Public Health, will be run by a team from a company called AMI Expeditionary Healthcare. AMI will provide staff and materials. The team will be shared with a site in Barron County and will split time between the two locations.
County health leaders have noted that outside of Superior, there are currently no other vaccine clinics in Douglas County and very few in neighboring counties like Barron. Tentative plans also include the potential for mobile clinics to bring vaccines throughout the area.
Currently in Superior, vaccines are being administered through Essentia Health, Mariner Medical Clinic, Walgreens, CVS and the health department.
The site will follow state guidelines to vaccinate populations based on eligibility. A wide variety of Wisconsinites are eligible for the vaccine, including individuals aged 16 and older with certain medical conditions, healthcare workers, long-term care residents and staff and residents aged 65 and older. A complete eligibility list can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Health Service’s website. The state estimates that all Wisconsinites aged 16 and older will be able to get a vaccine by May 1.
The vaccine clinic at Wessman Arena will not impact any student activities or sporting events. As previously announced, spring commencement will be held in a virtual format this semester.
Community clinics are located throughout Wisconsin in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, UW System, AMI, and local health departments, vaccinators and governments. Additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine clinic and how to make an appointment will soon be available on the Douglas County Public Health website.
In a message to the campus community on March 29, Chancellor Renée Wachter addressed spring break travel and noted that the CDC is still discouraging non-essential travel. While the available COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, they do not prevent an individual from contracting or spreading the disease. Exposure to variant viruses raises t he risk of spread to our campus community.
The free COVID-19 testing site in the Marcovich Wellness Center will remain open for anyone 5 years of age and older. This site is ran by UW-Superior in partnership with the U.S. department of Health and Human Services and the UW System. Registration can be completed at www.doineedacovid19test.com.
Siinto S. Wessman Arena will remain closed for public use until May 31, 2021. The arena asks that those inquiring about summer access wait until April 15 before reaching out. You can call the arena office at 715-394-8631. The vaccine clinic is scheduled to open in mid-April.
More information can be found on the Douglas County Public Health office website. The county has established a vaccine hotline that can be reached at 715-395-7336. Officials ask that individuals only call once and that they leave their name with a spelling, birthdate, and a phone number. Officials note that the hotline receives hundreds of calls daily and that every effort is made to clear the line each day.
The Promethean will update this story with information for the vaccine clinic once it becomes available.
