Wisconsin Department of Health Services Digital Updates

DHS Weekly COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Newsletter

Wisconsin Department of Health Services sent this bulletin at 02/12/2021 02:38 PM CST

COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Update

Weekly Update: February 12, 2021

Wisconsin’s vaccination program reached a major milestone this week—nearly one in three individuals age 65 or over have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In just under two months since the first vaccine arrived in Wisconsin, over 860,389 vaccinations have been given with 197,362 Wisconsinites being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We continue to see a limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine, and Wisconsin continues to prioritize groups eligible to get the vaccine. Please be patient as it will take time for vaccinators to get shots into the arms of our state’s most vulnerable populations.

On February 8, Governor Evers announced the first COVID-19 vaccination community-based clinic located in Rock County will be opening on February 16. Community-based clinics work in tandem with current vaccinators in selected counties by providing additional vaccinations based on current availability. These type of clinics help supplement current efforts to get vaccines in arms now while building up the infrastructure needed to manage a future increase in the amount of vaccine available in Wisconsin and distribute the vaccine on a larger scale in local communities.
On February 9, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and its lab partners announced the detection of a second confirmed case of the COVID-19 variant in Wisconsin. This new variant has been shown to spread more easily which is why it’s more important than ever to continue practicing good public health practices, such as wearing a mask, staying home, keeping six feet away from others, and washing your hands.
On February 11, DHS announced the launch of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program where 178 Walgreens locations in Wisconsin will receive vaccine from the federal government to accelerate local vaccination efforts in underserved communities. This additional vaccine is separate from Wisconsin’s allocation.
On February 11, DHS released a new COVID-19 vaccine data dashboard. The dashboard is available on the COVID-19 vaccine data page and shows vaccination rates by county, along with the demographics of those who have received the vaccine by county and statewide.
DHS will allocate $6 million to support local community-based organizations in helping to raise awareness and access for COVID-19 vaccine among socially vulnerable communities. A Request for Award is expected to be released February 15.

Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR)

The Wisconsin Immunization Registry, also called WIR, is an internet database that tracks vaccine records for Wisconsin children and adults. WIR and similar systems are important tools to make sure that children and adults get vaccines on time and reduce the time and money it takes to find old vaccine records.

Anyone can look up their own or their child’s vaccine record in WIR. Many people in Wisconsin receive vaccines from more than one doctor, or health care provider. The public access (also called consumer access) portal allows you to find your vaccine record quickly and efficiently no matter where you are.

Vaccines like the COVID-19 vaccine are reported to WIR. When you get your COVID-19 vaccine, you will also get a vaccination card with information on when and where you received your vaccine, as well as other helpful information related to the vaccine. Keep your card in a safe place, but if you lose it, you can also access WIR for an electronic version. When taking pictures or posting selfies about getting your COVID-19 vaccine, do not post photos of your vaccination card online so your health information is protected.

Learn more about WIR and how to access you or your child’s immunization records.

Outdoors COVID-19 Toolkit: Get Outside. Be Safe. Be Well.

DHS is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to encourage safe and responsible outdoor recreation. Land managers, communities, and businesses that offer outdoor recreation can use resources available in the outdoors COVID-19 toolkit to help create a consistent statewide message inviting Wisconsinites to get outside, stay safe, and be well.

Today's Vaccine Distribution Summary

Check out the latest data about Wisconsin's progress in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccinating Wisconsinites. We update the allocation, ordered, and in transit data every Tuesday and update the administered data daily at 2 p.m.

Allocated: 1,152,025 doses
Ordered: 901,500 doses
In transit: 130,800 doses
Administered: 901,333 doses

Note: “Allocated” is the total number of all COVID-19 vaccine doses made available to Wisconsin by the federal government but may not be available to order because they include doses allocated for the federal Pharmacy Partnership Program.

COVID-19 by the Numbers

Check out our COVID-19 data pages after 2 p.m. to get the latest details about the impact of COVID-19 in Wisconsin.

Wisconsinites who can get the COVID-19 vaccine

Where we are now

Wisconsin is currently vaccinating the following eligible populations:

Frontline health care workers
Nursing home and assisted living residents and staff
Police, fire department, and correctional staff
Adults aged 65 and over

If you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the following resources are available on the DHS website:

Information on how to get vaccinated
Steps on getting the COVID-19 vaccine (available in English and Spanish)
Next steps: After you receive the vaccine (also available as a handout in multiple languages)
Frequently asked questions

Where we are going

DHS announced future groups tentatively eligible beginning March 1. Groups are being prioritized due to an increased risk of exposure or vulnerability to COVID-19 and are consistent with the recommendations from the State Disaster Medical Assistance Committee (SDMAC). The groups in priority order include:

Education and child care
Individuals enrolled in Medicaid long-term care programs
Some public-facing essential workers
Non-frontline essential health care personnel
Staff and residents in congregate living settings

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility.

COVID-19 Resources

Other Languages, Graphics, and Print Materials

DHS materials are available in multiple languages as electronic files you can view online or download and print. You can use these materials at home or for your business. Visit the DHS website to view what resources are available to you.

Testing

If you are feeling ill or if you may have been exposed to someone that has tested positive for COVID-19, visit our testing page to learn the different ways you can get tested.

Call your provider if you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19
Visit a community testing site
Request an at-home collection kit

Resilient Wisconsin

COVID-19 has temporarily changed the way we work and live, go to school, and spend time together. Learning how to deal with difficulties in healthy ways and bounce back from hardship is key. Practical tools and support sources are available from Resilient Wisconsin to help you strengthen your resilience during times of stress, so you can take care of yourself and those around you during COVID-19 and beyond.

Media Briefings

COVID-19 briefing from Tuesday, Feb. 9, with with Governor Tony Evers, Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk, Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard, and Ryan Nilsestuen, Chief Legal Counsel Office of the Governor
Vaccine briefing from Thursday, Feb. 11, with DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk and Dr. Stephanie Schauer