The FDA has announced meeting dates throughout June to examine requests for new and expanded Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for several new COVID-19 vaccines, including for children under the age of 5.  

A new vaccine or the expanded use of a vaccine needs to be approved, recommended, or supported by The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before it can be administered. 

After a new vaccine or expanded use of a vaccine is approved or authorized by FDA, an advisory panel to the CDC reviews the recommendation and issues detailed clinical guidance for health care providers. Both agencies review detailed information and data regarding safety and effectiveness of a vaccine before issuing their recommendations.  

In Wisconsin, DHS reviews any recommendations regarding a new vaccine or the expanded use of a vaccine before it can be administered. DHS uses this process to ensure that vaccinators are following the new clinical guidance safely and accurately for Wisconsin residents. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines in Wisconsin, visit our website. 

While Wisconsin’s seven-day average number of cases has declined in the past week, we are seeing increased hospitalizations and deaths. 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 health care. In addition, many people, particularly older adults and people with underlying health conditions, remain at risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death.    

As of June 2, 2022, CDC data indicate 11 Wisconsin counties are in the “high” COVID-19 Community Level category: Milwaukee; Waukesha; Ozaukee; Washington; Wood; Marathon; Lincoln; Sawyer; Burnett; Bayfield and Douglas. In addition, 20 Wisconsin counties are experiencing a medium COVID-19 Community Level, and 41 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:  

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. 

Try any of the following: 

• Call the provider where you were vaccinated to see if they can give you a new card. 
• If you received your vaccination in Wisconsin, access your vaccination record using the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR). 
• If you have a social security number, Medicaid ID, or Health Care Member ID, you can access your record through the WIR Public Immunization Record Access. Follow these steps to find and save your electronic vaccine record. 
• If you do not have one of these numbers, you can access your record one of two ways: 
• Option 1: Fill out the Wisconsin Immunization Registry Record Release Authorization, F-02487 and have your records sent to you. 
• Option 2: Ask the organization that vaccinated you to assign you a chart number in WIR. The chart number field is linked to the Health Care Member ID. 
• Then, visit the Public Immunization Record Access webpage and enter the chart number assigned to you in the Health Care Member ID field. 
• If you received your vaccination in another state, go to that state department of health’s website to search their vaccine registry.  

Please note, DHS cannot issue COVID-19 vaccination cards. You can provide your vaccine record from the Wisconsin Immunization Registry as proof of vaccination for childcare, summer camp, school, university, or employment purposes. 

DHS supports the CDC recommendation that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster dose five 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 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. Being up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines can strengthen and extend protection against infection, serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. To be up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, you will need to be fully vaccinated and get a booster dose when eligible. 

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.  

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. 

Most people who get COVID-19 have mild illness and can treat themselves at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications to decrease fever and discomfort. For people who are at higher risk of experiencing severe COVID-19 illness, medications called monoclonal antibodies and oral antivirals are available throughout the state. 

COVID-19 oral antivirals are pills taken by mouth at home after someone has tested positive for COVID-19. They help the body fight off the virus that causes COVID-19 and are proven to reduce serious symptoms that can lead to hospitalization and death. A prescription is required for these medications. These treatments need to start within five days of symptom onset, so it is important that people who develop symptoms of COVID-19 do not delay – they should test and seek treatment right away. Oral antiviral pills are available at nearly 600 pharmacies across the state. To get a prescription, you can visit a healthcare provider, a community health center, walk-in clinic, or find a Test to Treat site near you.  

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules that help the immune system recognize and respond more effectively to the virus. Monoclonal antibody treatment is given in a health care setting by intravenous (IV) injection. This treatment is also proven to reduce serious symptoms that can lead to hospitalization and death. There is also a monoclonal antibodies medication used for prevention of COVID-19 in people unlikely to produce an immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. Click here to learn more about available treatments.