The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is urging Wisconsinites to make a plan to get boosted against COVID-19. People 12 years and older are now eligible to receive updated COVID-19 boosters (also known as bivalent boosters). Doses of the updated COVID-19 boosters have started arriving in Wisconsin and will continue to be delivered to providers over the next several weeks. Pharmacies, health centers, and clinics are expected to make appointments available as their booster doses arrive. 

The updated boosters have received federal regulatory approval and are the first Omicron-specific vaccines to be made available in the United States. They target the original strain of COVID-19 as well as the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. The highly contagious BA.5 Omicron subvariant is the dominant strain of COVID-19, making up about 90% of cases nationally. 

The updated boosters are recommended as a single (1) dose for people 12 years and older who have received their primary COVID-19 vaccine series and have not received a COVID-19 vaccine dose in the last two months. People 12 years of age and older are eligible to receive the updated Pfizer COVID-19 booster, and those 18 years of age and older are eligible to receive the updated Moderna COVID-19 booster. In these age groups, these boosters replace the original boosters. The Pfizer and Moderna updated boosters can be administered after any primary series, including Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, or Novavax. 

Children ages 5-11 continue to be eligible for the original COVID-19 booster, which provides protection against the original strain of COVID-19. It is anticipated that this age group will be eligible for the updated boosters in the coming months.  

Primary Series Information 

Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to get vaccinated to protect against COVID-19. If you have not yet received your primary series of COVID-19 vaccines, it is never too late to get vaccinated. People 12 and older now have an additional option for getting their primary series, with the FDA authorization and CDC recommendation of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for unvaccinated people requires two doses separated by 3-8 weeks for full protection. Pfizer and Moderna continue to be available for primary series, and Johnson & Johnson is authorized for use in people over 18 who may not be able to take the other vaccines. Talk to a healthcare provider to learn which vaccine is right for you. 

People can safely get their COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines at the same time, including the annual flu vaccine.  

COVID-19 Vaccines Available at No Cost 

COVID-19 vaccines remain available to all Wisconsinites at no cost regardless of immigration or health insurance status. Anyone can schedule an appointment for the vaccine using a variety of options, including with their health care provider, at community-based vaccination clinics, local and tribal health departments, or pharmacies. Vaccination sites across Wisconsin may choose to provide vaccines to specific age groups. Individuals are encouraged to check with their local health clinics or visit vaccines.gov to find vaccination sites for specific age groups. 

For free, confidential support finding health care and community resources near you, dial 211. For information, resources, and data related to Wisconsin’s COVID-19 vaccination program, visit the COVID-19 vaccine webpage. We encourage you to follow @DHSWI on Facebook, Twitter, or dhs.wi on Instagram for more information about COVID-19. 

In addition, a local or tribal health department, primary health care provider, or community health center may be able to help find a testing site or self-test provider nearby.    

For free, confidential support placing an order for a household's test kit or finding health care and community resources nearby, dial 211.  

Testing After Holiday Gatherings 

Wisconsin’s seven-day average of new COVID-19 infections has decreased daily this past week, and now stands just below 1,200 new cases each day. 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 September 2, 2022, CDC data indicate 10 Wisconsin counties are in the “high” COVID-19 Community Level category: Florence; Forest; Marinette; Lincoln; Trempealeau; Jackson; Wood; Brown; Juneau and Rock. In addition, 29 Wisconsin counties are experiencing a medium COVID-19 Community Level, and 33 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. 

Click here for more county level data. 

• 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. Self-tests can be purchased at local pharmacy or retail stores, and each U.S. household is eligible to receive eight sets of free COVID-19 self-tests at COVID.gov. In addition to at-home self-tests, community testing sites remain accessible across Wisconsin. Find a site near you by dialing 211 or visiting the DHS Community Testing information page. 
• 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. 

There have been news reports about Paxlovid “rebound” COVID-19 infection. Paxlovid treatment helps prevent hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. COVID-19 rebound has been reported to occur between 2 and 8 days after initial recovery and is characterized by a recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms or a new positive viral test after having tested negative. People who rebound report mild symptoms, and there are currently no reports of hospitalizations for COVID-19 rebound in people taking Paxlovid. 

A brief return of symptoms appears to be part of the natural history of COVID-19 infection in some persons, independent of treatment with Paxlovid and regardless of vaccination status. In clinical trials, rebound illness occurred in roughly equal numbers in people taking Paxlovid, people taking Lagevrio, and in people not taking oral anti-viral medication. 

Gov. Tony Evers announced a $90 million investment into K-12 education across the state as kids, families, educators, staff, and administrators are set to return to school and welcome students back for the upcoming school year in the coming days. The investment includes $15 million to double the governor’s “Get Kids Ahead” initiative to provide mental health services in K-12 schools across Wisconsin, as well as $75 million designed to give districts flexibility to meet staffing needs, keep classroom sizes small, and provide other direct classroom support. 

The governor’s announcement comes as schools are set to begin the upcoming school year with many districts facing significant staffing challenges and increased student mental health needs, among other challenges exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. A recent Wisconsin Policy Forum report showed public sector workers, which includes educators and staff, left Wisconsin’s workforce in 2021 at the highest rate in two decades. 

At the same time, kids across Wisconsin and the country are facing significant mental health challenges in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Office of Children’s Mental Health (OCMH), the coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the mental health challenges and the decline of youth mental wellness kids have been facing for years while the ratio of mental health professionals to kids in Wisconsin and across the nation continues to remain below the recommended standards. OCMH research shows that improving student mental health also improves student health and learning, attendance, and engagement, while reducing bullying, risky behaviors, violence, involvement in the juvenile justice system, and substance use.