Both Cook County Public Health and Sawtooth Mountain Clinic are committed to sharing evidence-based information about vaccines, and to ensuring that all community members who want to be vaccinated can access vaccines locally. One of the ways that we work together to make this happen is by offering seasonal vaccination events throughout Cook County in the fall. You can view the full schedule of outreach vaccination events at sawtoothmountainclinic.org or call the clinic at 218-387-2330. Flu vaccines are also available at Grand Portage Health Services by calling 218-475-2235.

Vaccination remains among the most extraordinary scientific and medical achievements of the past century. Vaccines partner with our bodies' immune systems, teaching them to recognize and respond to illnesses they may not have seen before. This allows our bodies’ immune systems to respond more quickly and effectively if they do encounter these illnesses in the world. 

Because both COVID-19 and the flu change rapidly, people need to update their defenses more frequently for these diseases than they do for some other diseases. This is why we encourage people to prepare for cold and flu season with annual flu and COVID vaccines. When you get a seasonal vaccine, you help your body stay healthier. This helps our whole community stay healthier by reducing the amount of severe disease spreading in the winter months.

Who can get vaccinated?

COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available locally for everyone over 6 months of age.  

Everyone over the age of 6 months should get a flu vaccine, with some children needing two doses (depending on their vaccination history). 

Everyone over the age of 6 months can get a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination remains especially important for those groups who are at the highest risk of a severe outcome from COVID infection.  These include:

• Children 6 months to 23 months

• Those 65 and older

• At risk for severe illness due to underlying health conditions

• Those who have never received a COVID vaccine in the past

• People who are pregnant or lactating

Vaccines remain widely covered by medical insurance as an important part of preventative care.  However, if you have a question about insurance coverage, please check with your individual insurance company. If you have a health-related question about vaccines, you can always reach out to your medical provider to discuss it.