COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Update

Weekly Update: February 26, 2021

Wisconsin continues to be a national leader in terms of administering our supply of COVID-19 vaccine. Given our pace of vaccination and additional vaccine supply, starting March 1, new groups will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine providers are still prioritizing previously eligible groups, such as individuals age 65 and older, before vaccinating newly eligible groups. Based on the amount of vaccine doses available, it will take months for all newly eligible groups to get vaccinated; however, education staff are the first priority in the newly eligible populations.

The newly eligible groups include the following, in priority order:

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

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility.

News

• On February 23, Governor Evers and DHS announced the locations of four additional community-based vaccination clinics. The vaccination clinics will be located in La Crosse County, Racine County, Marathon County, with the last clinic split between Douglas and Barron County. Locations will open within the next two months.
• On February 23, Governor Evers ordered flags to half-staff to honor Wisconsinites and Americans lost to COVID-19.
• On February 25, DHS announced that new groups will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting March 1.
• On February 25, Governor Evers announced new Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
• On February 26, DHS released a new resource aimed at helping people connect with vaccine providers in their area. The Wisconsin COVID-19 vaccinator map is designed to improve transparency in the vaccine distribution process, by identifying where vaccine is being sent across the state.

Check out the new Wisconsin COVID-19 vaccinator map.

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: 1,625,875 doses
• Ordered: 1,267,105 doses
• In transit: 208,380 doses
• Administered: 1,340,694 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.

• Cases
• Deaths
• Disease Activity
• Race and Ethnic Disparities
• Vaccine

Continue to Stop the Spread

Getting vaccinated when your turn comes is an important tool but it is not the only way we stop the spread of COVID-19. Stay home, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask and practice physical distancing when you do have to go out, and get tested if you have symptoms. These are still important steps we each need to take.

COVID-19 Resources

New Vaccine Partner Resources

Our community partners across Wisconsin are critical to the success of the COVID-19 vaccination program. DHS launched a new webpage to equip our partners with the tools, resources, and information they need to protect their communities and promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence. 

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 Learning how to­ best manage stress is key to your overall health and well-being, but since everyone reacts differently to stressful situations, it can be hard to figure out what strategies work best for you. You can find some ideas for how to reduce stress during COVID-19, as well as links to apps for mindfulness and well-being, on the Resilient Wisconsin page.

Media Briefings

• COVID-19 briefing from Tuesday, Feb. 23, 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. 25, with DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk and Dr. Stephanie Schauer

Social Media

Follow DHS on social media for the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 response and vaccine rollout.

• @DHSWI on Facebook and Twitter
• dhs.wi on Instagram

Newsletter

Looking for previous newsletters? To view past versions of this newsletter, visit the DHS website.

Please do not respond to this email. Additional information about COVID-19 is available at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.