Influenza (Flu) Vaccinations

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age six months and older receive a flu vaccine each year! You should get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begins spreading in your community, since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu.

Influenza and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses caused by viruses that can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The signs and symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 are very similar. Seasonal flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, fatigue, congestion, or loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms of COVID-19 include gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Flu vaccinations are now available at the clinics in Madelia, Truman and Lake Crystal, with no appointment necessary. You may want to call for an appointment to avoid waiting though. Flu shots can also be given during a regular clinic visit.

CLINICS in Madelia, Lake Crystal, and Truman:

Patients can receive flu shots from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at all of our clinic locations. The clinic in Madelia is also open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays. No appointment is needed, but call ahead to avoid wait times. Vaccinations can also be given during regular clinic appointments.

LAKE CRYSTAL PHARMACY – 210 S. Main St.
Patients can receive flu shots from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointment is needed. The pharmacy will also do on-site shots for businesses. Call the pharmacy for more information.

Getting a flu shot prevents you from passing the virus to people in high-risk populations like babies, pregnant women, elderly people, and people who have chronic diseases. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone six months of age and older get vaccinated every flu season. Preventing flu is always important, but in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important to do everything possible to reduce illnesses and preserve scarce health care resources.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

ALL Minnesotans age 5 and older can now get the COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as you can, wherever you can, even if it isn’t at Madelia Health. Concerns about the vaccine’s effectiveness and side effects have been minimal. The risks of COVID-19 and its variants far outweigh any risk from the vaccine.

The new COVID-19 Bivalent boosters have been approved. The Pfizer bivalent booster vaccine is recommended for people age 12 and older, and is available at all of our Clinic locations and the Lake Crystal Pharmacy. You may receive this booster two months after you receive a COVID-19 primary vaccination series or after another COVID-19 booster vaccination.

Vaccines and the new Booster are now plentiful and available for children and adults at all Madelia Health locations.  The Lake Crystal Pharmacy is vaccinating patients five years of age and older. The Clinics in Madelia, Lake Crystal and Truman vaccinates anyone over the age of 12. Walk-in vaccinations are welcome, but call for an appointment to avoid waiting:

Madelia Clinic: 507.642.5200
Lake Crystal Clinic: 507.726.2136
Lake Crystal Pharmacy: 507.726.1110
Truman Clinic: 507.776.8783

We encourage patients to watch our Facebook page and our website for the latest information and announcements regarding vaccine distribution.

Madelia Health Vaccine

COVID-19 Viral Testing

Please call the Clinic ahead of time and make an appointment at (507) 642-5200. The Clinic is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, or 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes before testing.

Drive up testing is done weekdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Call the Clinic to request drive up testing at (507) 642-5200. Results will take 2 to 3 days. Patients will receive a phone call and results in the mail.

Urgent Care/Emergency Room testing can be done on the weekends if ordered by a medical provider.

COVID-19 Antibody Testing

Madelia Health is offering Coronavirus Antibody Testing for $100 via direct access (patient pays before testing). The blood test is to see if you have had COVID-19 previously, NOT to see if you currently have an infection.

Those who use an antibody test need to understand its limitations. Here is what you need to know prior to testing:

  • Testing should be done at least three weeks after all COVID-19 symptoms have resolved. It can take up to three weeks for antibodies to show up after infection, longer if you are immunosuppressed.
  • Antibody tests may be positive if you have been vaccinated for COVID-19.
  • False negatives are possible if collected too early or in an immunosuppressed patient.
  • False positives could mean that you have had another coronavirus infection, but not necessarily COVID-19.
  • Research is still ongoing as to whether a positive test means that you have immunity to COVID-19.
  • It may be necessary for some patients to have two tests to generate reliable results.

To be tested, please call the Clinic for an appointment with our lab at 507.642.5200. Test results will be mailed to the patient and can take several days to process.

MDH Information on COVID-19

COVID-19 Visitor Restrictions

Masks are still required in all Madelia Health buildings, in accordance with the CDC guidelines for hospitals and health care facilities. Caregivers, patients and visitors to the hospital and clinic are required to wear a mask upon entering. If you do not have a mask, we can provide you with one. Masks are worn to protect patients and caregivers from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Visitor restrictions have been in effect at the hospital for several months. It It is important to remember that an increased surge of COVID-19 patients in our community or hospital may cause additional visitation restrictions to be reinstated by our providers. Madelia Health caregivers will communicate restrictions as applicable.

All visitors must follow the rules of the facility:

  • If you have symptoms of COVID-19 please wait to visit.
  • Visitors must wear a mask at all times while in the facility.
  • The visitor should go to the designated patient’s room and remain in the room for the entire visit.

The front door of Madelia Health (east side of building) will continue to be locked when the Clinic is closed. After Clinic hours, use the Emergency entrance on the west side of the building. Please press the silver button for assistance. (Clinic hours are: Mondays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Thank you for your support during this challenging time.