Mass vaccination clinic planned for Zorn Arena

A federally supported mass vaccination clinic will open Thursday, April 8, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Zorn Arena, for COVID-19 vaccinations. In coordination with state and local partners, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 5, will coordinate staff and support services to run the center.

Wisconsin has committed to providing at least 3,500 weekly vaccine doses from the state’s allocation for the site, and up to 7,000 first doses weekly, based on supply. This is the second mass vaccination clinic site to open in the state, and will have the capacity to vaccinate 1,200 people per day.

“I appreciate the hard work of all of our partners coming together to get this second, high volume vaccination site, up and running,” said Gov. Tony Evers.

Zorn Arena has provided weekly antigen testing and vaccination clinics, and will transition vaccination operations to the federal government. UW-Eau Claire’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences faculty, staff and students provided support for the weekly clinics, and will continue to support the Eau Claire City-County Health Department with the mass vaccination clinic. “Getting a vaccine is a critical step toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lieske Giese, Eau Claire Health Department director. “As vaccine supply continues to increase, we hope people will make an appointment and get vaccinated, as soon as they are eligible.” Zorn Arena offers access for residents in the city and for visitors to Eau Claire, via U.S. Highways 12 and 53, and Interstate 94. Parking will be available on campus.