The Pierce County Board of Health met this recently, and chief among the takeaways was the report that the 1,600 flu vaccine shots given this year didn’t match quite so well as hoped to this season’s most common flu bug variant, reported to be the B/Victoria flu strain. Also touched on a the meeting were concerns that a bill now making its way through the Wisconsin State Legislature should specifically include healthcare workers among those allowed to administer drugs to reverse an ophioid overdose. Currently they may do so as a “Good Samaritan,” but not as a licensed professional. Finally, it was reported that a bill raising the purchase of vaping products to 21 in Wisconsin was “not enforceable” due to legal technicalities—but first, the flu news.

After a short recess to discuss home care advisory issues, the Pierce County Board of Health reconvened , and chief among the items still left to cover was an update on flu virus activity this season. The strain of B/Victoria, contributed to 450 hospitalizations and 11 deaths as of the meeting date in the current flu season. The B/Victoria flu strain has a high morbidity rate (catching the virus and getting really sick), as well as a high hospitalization rate for vulnerable populations.

Ruth Wood led the discussion into the proposed laws which address “specific types of professionals being allowed to administer opioid overdose recovery drugs,” specified later in the as including Narcan, a drug used currently by law enforcement to reverse overdoses. It was reported that a request to add healthcare workers had been made by certain parties. Although covered as private citizens from civil liability under the “Good Samaritan” law as contained in Wis. 895.48 (1) among those acting “in good faith,” an exemption listed below this clause under 895.48 (1g) takes this immunity away, specifically “when employees trained in health care or health care professionals render emergency care for compensation” or within the otherwise ordinary scope of their duties. It was expressed at the meeting that Wood “will forward expressed concerns” to a lobbyist proposing the changes, and that AZ Snyder would discuss the issue with the Regional Director for the DPH, the acronym standing for Department of Health.

Following upon this, board member Jon Aubart noted that a bill just passed in the U.S. Congress and signed by President Trump to raise the age to purchase vaping products to age 21 “is not enforceable in Wisconsin,” and that the bill specifically covered the purchase, but not the possession of vaping products.

In somewhat more encouraging news, Pierce County Public Health Director AZ Snyder gave public comment introducing new staff member Laurie Casby, who will be the Birth to Three Service Coordinator. Casby was said to have a Master’s degree in Education from Concordia in St. Paul, and has worked as a Head Start teacher for the Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties. Casby was also said to have experience “with developmental evaluations, trauma-responsive car and home visiting.”

In other Board of Health business, Becky Kleager and Sharon Schulze moved to accept a $350 grant from Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services for an on site flu clinic, and Snyder presented the 2020/2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, for which it was suggested that the county’s churches be used as a resource to help with communication and transport. Snyder also presented the revised 2020 strategic plan for the Pierce County Department of Health, with a reportedly increased emphasis on partnering with municipalities.

Board members Bill Schroeder and Peter Carr moved to accept the grant of 120 doses of Narcan (also called Naxolon) from the WI DPH’s Narcan Direct program, with one dose of Narcan being provided to each member of local police and fire departments (among other personnel) after proper training. It was reported that Michelle Williams had resigned from her role as Lead Environmental Health Specialist “to pursue a position with St. Croix County. As of the January 8 meeting, Pierce County was also reported to be looking to recruit a nurse practitioner for shared services with four other counties.