Weekly Update: January 25, 2022
ICYMI: Recent DHS Media Recap
Mask Wearing: Dos and Don'ts
 Correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19. All masks provide some level of protection against the virus that causes COVID-19, but some masks offer higher levels of protection than others. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters air, and how many layers it has. It is recommended that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you can wear comfortably for long periods of time.
To learn more about wearing masks to help stop the spread of COVID-19, visit the COVID-19: Wear a Mask page.
Gov. Evers, DHS Launch “Keeping Kids Safe and in School” Multimedia Campaign
Gov. Tony Evers and the Department of Health Services (DHS) have announced the launch of Keeping Kids Safe and In School, a statewide multimedia campaign that focuses on ways to keep Wisconsin children healthy and in the classroom. This campaign is an extension of the broader You Stop the Spread campaign which has been running in Wisconsin since September 2020.
Keeping Kids Safe and In School raises awareness and promotes good public health safety practices for school-aged children and their families, including:
- Getting children 5 and older vaccinated.
- Wearing a well-fitting mask at school as well as other public, indoor spaces.
- And staying home from school when sick.
It will also include videos from Wisconsin doctors urging vaccination in children, building off of the previous Our Doctors multimedia campaign.
Keeping Kids Safe and In School, like You Stop the Spread, uses a combination of traditional media and social media channels. Wisconsinites will see the messaging on television, transit, and local newspapers. The campaign will utilize social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Snapchat.
Keeping Kids Safe and In School campaign also includes two new toolkits to help parents, guardians, and local community leaders promote public health best practices in their own community schools and school districts. DHS encourages Wisconsinites to use these materials in their own efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Where to Get Your Booster Shot
DHS recommends that everyone ages 12 and older receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine following the completion of their primary series. If you are 12 years or older, you can get your Pfizer booster dose at least 5 months after you got your second dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. If you are 18 years or older, you can get your COVID-19 booster dose:
- At least 5 months after you got your last dose of your Pfizer or Moderna primary vaccine series.
- At least 2 months after you got your Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
Additionally, DHS is recommending a third Pfizer primary series dose for certain immunocompromised children 5 through 11 years of age.
You are able to receive your booster dose at any vaccine provider. You may return to the site where you received your primary series, or if there is a more convenient location elsewhere, that is ok too.
It is not necessary to get the same vaccine type as your primary series. We encourage you to take the booster dose that is available to you at the most convenient time and location for your schedule.
To find a COVID-19 vaccine provider in your community, visit Vaccines.gov, or call 211 or 877-947-2211.
For additional information about booster doses, additional doses, and help accessing your COVID-19 vaccine record to determine when you may be recommended for a booster, visit the DHS Additional Doses and Booster Doses webpage.
COVID-19 Testing
Demand for COVID-19 testing is high, but there are still many ways to get tested in Wisconsin. Trusted testing partners include local health departments, community testing sites, pharmacies, and health care providers. We encourage you to contact your doctor or primary health care provider to see if they offer testing.
We encourage you to plan ahead as much as possible and please be patient with staff at these sites. Rapid over-the-counter at-home test are available for purchase at many pharmacies. Wisconsinites can also request at-home collection kits, a type of at-home test, to be delivered to their home at no cost. The results of these tests are usually available in several days. See a list of products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you need help finding a test, contact your local or tribal health department or call 211.
Americans can now order free, at-home COVID-19 tests online at COVIDtests.gov. This federal program ships tests directly to households within 7-12 days of ordering. To ensure broad access, the program will limit the number of tests sent to each residential address to four tests.
Tips for Talking About COVID-19 Vaccines
You may want to have a conversation about COVID-19 vaccines with your friends or family, but don’t know where to start. DHS has tips and examples to help you have an effective conversation with loved ones. To learn more, visit the COVID-19: Vaccines Conversations page.
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