By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Anyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine free of administration fees needs to arrange for one through the county health department before the end of the month.

As of Aug. 1, the county will begin to charge an administration fee for COVID-19 vaccinations.

County health nurse Diedre Serene asked county commissioners Tuesday to permit the department to start charging.

The vaccine itself is free, but health agencies that dispense the shots are allowed to charge the patient or the patient’s insurance to give the shot.

When vaccines were introduced, county commissioners didn’t want to charge. Although an administration fee would have brought in revenue, commissioners eschewed the extra time needed to file paperwork with insurance companies.

At that time, demand for vaccinations ran 400 to 500 people a week. Now the health department gives 15 to 25 COVID vaccinations a week.

As of Tuesday noon, the health department reported only one active case of COVID.