Vernon County Health Department targets vaccine hesitancy with new grant as measles cases emerge nearby

Sept 7, 2026

By TIM HUNDT

VIROQUA Wis. – In a bid to combat dropping immunization rates and address a recent public health threat close to home, the Vernon County Board of Supervisors has approved a federal grant to fund a targeted vaccine education campaign. The decision comes as the county’s public health officials spearhead active outreach efforts in response to a measles outbreak in neighboring Southwest Wisconsin counties.

Public Health Director Amy Kleiber presented a 2026 budget amendment to accept a $2,400 mini-grant through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Kleiber explained that the funding represents left over federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars specifically allocated to address vaccine hesitancy and improve local uptake.

“We hope to have three billboards that encourage people to talk to their leaders and have those conversations about vaccines,” said Kleiber. “Then we will follow up with flyers in the clinic so you see it when you’re driving and then you see it in clinic.”

Kleiber noted that while the department typically cannot utilize standard public health funding for marketing, the state Department of Health Services specifically approved their proposal for a local billboard and clinic signage campaign, even increasing the final award from the initial $2,000 request to $2,400. The funding comes at a critical time for the county, where immunization rates have historically lagged behind the rest of the state.

“Vernon County consistently is lower,” said Kleiber. “Vernon County historically has been a vaccine hesitant community for many different reasons, but we do have one of the lowest vaccine rates across the board, but particularly for those under 24 months of age.”

These low rates reflect a persistent, multi-year trend that health officials have tracked closely. During Board of Health sessions earlier in the year, Kleiber reported that local immunization rates for diseases like influenza and COVID-19 were staggeringly low, and noted a general rise in vaccine skepticism.

“We’re seeing more vaccine hesitancy,” said Kleiber. “Is the bottom line there.”

During those same winter sessions, Kleiber addressed respiratory illness trends, explaining that although matches between circulating virus strains and vaccines vary, getting immunized still provides critical protection.

“There is still benefit to getting that vaccine,” said Kleiber. “It likely would lessen the severity of the illness.”

The general decline in local immunizations was brought to the forefront during the August county board meeting, where supervisors discussed a measles outbreak that has emerged in nearby counties. Iowa, Lafayette, and Grant counties have all confirmed positive cases, prompting local health officials to coordinate a rapid response.

“They are at at total 41 (at that time), 40 of which were unvaccinated,” said Kleiber. “And the vaccine for measles is 93 percent effective after one vaccine. After two, it is 97 percent effective.”

In response to the local outbreak, supervisor Wayde Lawler requested that Kleiber detail the ground-level actions the health department has taken to protect residents, especially those in more isolated or vaccine-hesitant communities.

“You’ve been on the ground taking significant action around it,” said Lawler. “Could you just cite that for the board to understand?”

Kleiber explained that health department staff responded immediately after state health officials called an emergency meeting to raise awareness in the southern region. She noted that public health workers have undertaken direct, face-to-face community visits to offer resources and immunizations.

“We actually have done door to door,” said Kleiber. “We have visited areas throughout the county and provided education and in-home vaccines if they wish to take it.”

The discussion turned to the county’s significant plain community, which includes a large Amish population that historically has lower rates of standard immunization. Supervisor John Pedretti questioned how the department engages with these residents and what their overall vaccination rate is.

“How vaccinated is our Amish population,” said Pedretti. “I know our numbers are down a little bit from the state.”

Kleiber acknowledged that plain community members do not consistently participate in vaccine programs, but emphasized that the health department maintains a respectful, trust-based relationship with local Amish families through weekly home visits and direct collaboration with church bishops.

“Primarily, a lot of them are like, okay, we will do it to protect that child, but they don’t consistently take it,” said Kleiber. “And all we can do is provide the education and remind them that we’re here to help protect your family.”

The vaccine campaign is part of a broader push by public health leaders to address long-term funding instability. The county board approved a resolution urging the state to establish sustainable, flexible funding for local health departments, noting that Wisconsin currently ranks 49th nationally in dedicated state public health dollars per person.

Kleiber advocated for the resolution as a unified regional effort to protect families, explaining that health officials across Southwest Wisconsin are seeking similar actions from their respective county boards.

“All of the southern region county health officers are taking the same resolution to their boards, so we go with unity,” said Kleiber. “I will just say that if the resolution passes, I will pass that on to our Wisconsin Association of Local Boards, and they will take this to the state level.”

Board of Health Committee Chair David Eggen, who submitted the resolution, formally urged the board to support the measures to protect county residents. The resolution stated that public health initiatives consistently deliver big returns on investment, saving up to $14 in medical and societal costs for every single dollar spent.

“A strong and adequately funded public health system is essential to protect the health, safety, and economic stability of Wisconsin residents and communities,” said Eggen. “County board action is requested to ensure consistent service delivery across all jurisdictions.”

Local health officials hope the unified resolutions and targeted education campaigns will help reverse the downward trend in local immunizations. The health department continues to encourage residents to seek vaccine information directly from their trusted medical providers.

“What we hope to do with this money is to do a billboard campaign throughout Vernon County with a logo that encourages people to talk with their provider,” said Kleiber. “Basically those one on one conversations, they know you best.”