The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has updated the COVID-19 Illness After Vaccination data page to include additional data on individuals who have received COVID-19 booster doses. Everyone age 5 years and older, who has received their primary vaccination series, is eligible for their booster dose 5 months after they have been fully vaccinated.   

In addition to including data by vaccination and booster dose status, DHS released a new data visualization showing the rate of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths by vaccination status over time. The new graph displays monthly, age-adjusted rates for groups who are unvaccinated, have received only their primary series, and those who have received their primary series and booster. Previously, the data on this page compared rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths between “fully vaccinated” and “not fully vaccinated” groups. DHS has updated the reporting of this data to align with CDC metrics. 

In the month of April 2022, unvaccinated people were 2.1 times more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19 than people who had received their booster doses, and 5.78 times more likely to be hospitalized than people who had received their primary series. Unvaccinated people died from COVID-19 at a rate 7 times higher than people who were boosted or vaccinated.  

DHS encourages all Wisconsinites to get a booster dose as soon as they become eligible to achieve maximum protection against severe illness and death due to COVID-19. COVID-19 therapeutics are also effective at preventing the severity of COVID-19 if you do test positive. As COVID-19 cases remain elevated, DHS recommends that Wisconsinites know their COVID-19 Community Level and take additional precautions against COVID-19 to protect and save lives. In addition to staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, DHS urges Wisconsinites to get tested if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19, stay home if you are sick or test positive for COVID-19, and talk to a health care provider or visit a community clinic to ask about available treatments. 

DHS continues to track the impact of COVID-19 using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC’s) COVID-19 Community Levels, which are based on the number of new cases and hospital capacity. Taking steps to control the spread of COVID-19 remains important, especially to make sure hospitals have the capacity to provide the full range of healthcare. In addition, many people, particularly older adults and people with underlying health conditions, remain at risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death.    

As of May 27, 2022, CDC data indicate 10 Wisconsin counties have moved into the “high” COVID-19 Community Level Category: Kenosha; Racine; Milwaukee; Waukesha; Ozaukee; Washington; Wood; Marathon; Lincoln; and Douglas. In addition, 24 Wisconsin counties are experiencing a medium COVID-19 Community Level, and 38 are experiencing a low COVID-19 Community Level. Residents in counties with a high COVID-19 Community Level are recommended to wear a well-fitting mask or respirator in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status.  

In addition, DHS urges all Wisconsinites to take the following actions:  

• Know the COVID-19 Community Level where you live or are traveling to and follow the associated guidelines. 
• Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines by getting all recommended vaccines and booster doses.
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19.
• Stay home if you are sick or test positive for COVID-19 and talk to a health care provider or visit a community clinic to ask about available treatments. For free, confidential assistance finding a doctor or community clinic near you, dial 211. 

Individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive, or were exposed to someone with COVID-19 should continue to follow isolation and quarantine recommendations.  

To find the latest guidance for your community, visit COVID.gov. 

The CDC has updated the Operational Guidance for K-12 School and Early Care and Education (ECE) Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning. The updated guidance is based on the COVID-19 Community Levels, and continues to support a path forward for living with COVID-19. The guidance incorporates the most updated science, which continues to change rapidly, and can help K-12 school and ECE program administrators support safe, in person learning for K-12 schools, and keep ECE programs open moving forward. Camp directors of both day and overnight camps should also follow the recommendations in this guidance. The updated guidance provides flexibility so schools and ECE programs can adapt to local needs to manage the spread and community health impacts of COVID-19.   

Updated COVID-19 outbreak guidance to help Wisconsin K-12 schools and ECE programs prepare for the 2022-23 school year is forthcoming from DHS. This guidance will continue to build on the lessons we have learned in our state. DHS encourages local and tribal health departments to use this guidance as they continue working with school partners to ensure the health and safety of students, teachers, and school staff, as well as the broader community. 

Gov. Tony Evers announced new investments for emergency response projects under the previously announced Neighborhood Investment Fund and Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Grant pandemic response programs at a stop on the DHS’ Thank You Tour for Public Health Workers. An additional $22 million investment will target support toward fire station construction and expansion, emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency medical response (EMR) program support and expansion projects, and a permanent drive-through immunization and testing site.    

Gov. Evers earlier this year announced more than $200 million in awards through the Neighborhood Investment Fund and nearly $100 million in the Healthcare Infrastructure Grant programs, respectively, to go to projects in communities throughout Wisconsin. 

The Neighborhood Investment Fund and Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment programs are administered by the DOA and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. A list of grant awardees and additional information can be found on the respective program websites:   

https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/NeighborhoodInvestment.aspx   

https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/HealthcareInfrastructure.aspx 

DHS supports the CDC recommendation that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster dose 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccination series. With this recommendation, DHS and CDC now recommend COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone 5 years of age and older. The CDC also recently strengthened another booster recommendation, encouraging people 12 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, and people 50 and older to get a second COVID-19 booster dose.  

“The recommendation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for 5 through 11-year-olds provides parents with an excellent opportunity to ensure their children receive additional protection from COVID-19 prior to summer activities,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “We encourage everyone 5 and older to join the more than 2 million Wisconsinites who have already gotten their booster or additional COVID-19 vaccine doses. Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines is the best protection for preventing the worst outcomes from this virus.”  

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine authorized and recommended for 5- to 17-year-olds for the primary series and booster doses at this time. DHS strongly recommends that everyone who is eligible to get a booster should get one as soon as possible. Booster doses can strengthen and extend protection against infection, serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.   

Anyone in Wisconsin can get vaccinated at no cost – even if they do not have insurance or their insurance does not cover COVID-19 vaccination. 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.  

Being up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines ensures you have the best protection possible against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. 

To be up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, you will need to be fully vaccinated and get a booster dose when eligible. 

Reminder: Turn on Your Wisconsin Exposure Notification App  

Wisconsin Exposure Notification is a smartphone app that uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. Once you activate the app, your phone exchanges anonymous signals with other phones that are near it for at least 15 minutes. If somebody who has the app tests positive for COVID-19, they can then send an anonymous alert using the app to those other phones. This will allow people who are close contacts to quickly get the care they need and avoid exposing others to the virus. 

The app is available for download from the Google Play Store or can be enabled in Settings on your iPhone. Remember, if you test positive for COVID-19, use the notification in the app to alert others who have been in close contact with you. 

For more information on the Wisconsin Exposure Notification App, please see our webpage. 

If you have a compromised immune system, there is a highly effective medication called Evusheld that can help prevent severe symptoms of COVID-19. Evusheld showed a 77% reduction in the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 compared to placebo in clinical trials. If your doctor recommends this medication to you, we urge you to take it. 

If you experience symptoms of COVID-19, get tested right away and talk to your health care provider about other available treatment options. COVID-19 antiviral pills can help prevent severe symptoms when taken within five days of your symptoms starting. Your health care provider will review your health history and determine whether any of these treatments are right for you. 

Click here to learn more about available treatments.