Disease Prevention & Control

Do I need an appointment?

No. All three North Shore Health Department community flu clinics are walk-in. No appointment is needed.

Who can get a flu vaccine?

Anyone 6 months of age and older is welcome to receive a flu vaccine at our clinics.

What flu vaccines will be available? North Shore Health Department plans to offer:

• Regular dose flu vaccine for adults

• High-dose flu vaccine for adults ages 65+

• Flu vaccine for children (6 months-18 years)

• FluMist® nasal spray for eligible children and teens (ages 2-18 years)

What is the difference between high-dose flu and regular flu?

The high-dose flu shot is recommended for adults 65 and older. It has four times more antigen, which is the part that helps your body build protection against the flu. This extra boost helps older adults stay better protected. The regular flu shot is for anyone 6 months to 64 years old and helps your body fight off the flu if you’re exposed. It may not stop every case, but it can make illness milder and help prevent serious sickness or hospital stays. 

What insurance plans are accepted for the flu vaccines?

North Shore Health Department accepts many insurance plans. Please see the list below or call us if you have questions about your specific coverage.

• UHC

• UMR

• Anthem/Elevance

• WPS

• Medicaid

• Medicare

• Network Health

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Wisconsin

• Dean Health Plan

• Humana

• Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin

• UnitedHealth One

• ** This list is from the flu clinic planning notes. @Jaimie Voss if anything has changed or needs to be updated, please let us know. Thanks!

Are any flu vaccines free?

• Free flu vaccines are available for children who are uninsured or enrolled in Medicaid.

• If there is an adult (19 or older)  without health insurance needing a flu vaccine, please call us directly before attending the community clinic. We'll be happy to discuss your options and help plan your visit. (let me know how we like this wording. I was thinking we could ask VFA-eligible adults to call ahead so we can make sure to bring the right amount of VFA flu vaccine to the community clinic or, if needed, schedule them for a flu vaccine appointment at the office).

What other vaccines can I get at the clinic?

Pick 'n Save/Metro Market Pharmacy will be onsite offering COVID-19 vaccines and other recommended vaccines, including RSV, shingles, Tdap, pneumococcal, and others, depending on age and eligibility. They accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance plans. 

Who will be giving the Flu vaccines?

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) nursing students, under the supervision of their licensed nurse clinical instructor, will administer the flu vaccines. NSHD public health nurses will also be onsite and will assist with vaccinations as needed. COVID-19 and other vaccines will be administered by Pick 'n Save/Metro Market Pharmacy staff.

Can I get my COVID-19 and Flu vaccines at the same time?

Yes. According to the CDC, it is safe to receive your flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine during the same visit. There is no recommended waiting period between the two vaccines. If you choose to receive both vaccines, they may be given in the same arm (at least an inch apart) or different arms. 

How should I prepare for my vaccine?

Drink plenty of water, eat a light meal or snack, and wear clothing that allows easy access to your upper arm like a short sleeve shirt.

What if I or my child is nervous or anxious about getting a vaccine?

That's okay—we understand. Let a staff member know when you arrive. Our nurses are experienced in working with children and adults who are anxious about vaccines and will take the time to help you feel as comfortable as possible.

What if I or a loved one needs special accommodations?

Please let a staff member know when you check in. We are happy to work with you to make your vaccination experience as comfortable and accessible as possible.

We no longer carry COVID tests, but they can be purchased at most pharmacies.

If you are feeling symptoms of COVID, we recommend to stay home, wash hands frequently, avoid large gatherings, and wear a mask in public until you are symptom-free.

We carry various vaccines in our clinic. Please call us to see what we currently have in stock (414) 371-2980

The North Shore Health Department is a Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Adults (VFA) provider, which means that our routine vaccines are reserved for the following populations:

Children through 18 years of age (under 19) who meet one of the following:

(1) American Indian/Alaska Native

(2) Medicaid-enrolled/eligible

(3) Uninsured

Adults who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover vaccines (underinsured).

Additionally, seasonal flu vaccines are available to the public every fall at one of our community flu clinics.

Yes. Appointments are required to support appropriate staffing and provide individualized time and support for each visit.

How do I request a vaccine appointment?

To request a vaccine appointment or check eligibility, you may either call our office and ask to speak to a nurse (414) 371-2980 or go to the vaccine clinic page (on top right of screen) and fill out the appointment request form.

We do not provide any vaccines required to travel outside of the United States, but Waukesha County Health Department has a travel vaccine clinic! Anyone can utilize this clinic, no eligibility required, nor do you have to be a Waukesha county resident. Appointments are required; visit their website (below) for more information on scheduling and more information.

Click here view Waukesha County Health Department’s travel clinic page!

Call Waukesha County Health Department (262) 896-8430 for vaccine availability, to schedule an appointment, and other travel vaccine information.

We do not provide any infectious disease testing at our clinic.

If you are looking for other low cost clinics in your area, we would refer you to what’s called a “Federally Qualified Health Center” (FQHC) or an GQHC look-alike. Please call us if you need a help scheduling an appointment (414) 371-2980

Click here for more information on free or low-cost health clinics.

We no longer test for TB at our clinic. Below are some local clinics in the North Shore area that do offer TB testing. If you have other questions or need help navigating TB testing options, please call our office at (414) 371-2980

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website is a great resource for information on tuberculosis (TB) testing. Please see below for our local recommendations on where you can schedule a TB skin test today:

Aurora Occupational Health - Brown Deer

• Located at 7878 N 76th St. Milwaukee, WI 53223

• To schedule an appointment, call Aurora at (833) 986-2170

• Walk-ins welcome, appointments preferred

• Fee for tuberculin skin test (TST) is $30

• Fee for quantiFERON (QFT) blood test is $33 for the venipuncture, $65 for the lab test ($98 total)

Concentra Urgent Care - Brown Deer

• Located at 5500 W Brown Deer Rd. Ste. 400 Milwaukee, WI 53223

• For questions, call 414 355-4300

• No appointment necessary, service is not available on Thursdays

• Fee for tuberculin skin test (TST) is $72

• Note: Please bring a photo ID

CVS Minute Clinic - Fox Point

• Located at 8661 N Port Washington Rd. Fox Point, WI 53217

• Must schedule appointment online

• Walk-ins welcome, appointments preferred

• Fee for TB test placement (first visit) is $35

• Fee for TB test reading (follow-up visit) is $39 if negative, $99-139 if positive

If you don’t have health insurance and need help finding coverage, the Milwaukee Health Department’s Community Healthcare Access Program (CHAP) can help.

Click here to visit their website to learn more and connect with their team.