Wisconsin Department of Health Services Digital Updates

COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Update

Wisconsin Department of Health Services sent this bulletin at 09/19/2022 05:00 PM CDT

COVID-19 Update

Weekly Update: September 19, 2022

Updated Boosters Now Available!

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is urging Wisconsinites to make a plan to get boosted against COVID-19. People 12 and older are now eligible to receive updated COVID-19 boosters (also known as bivalent boosters). Doses of the updated COVID-19 boosters have arrived 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 are the first Omicron-specific vaccines to be made available in the United States. These boosters have been authorized by the FDA and recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 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.

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

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. People are encouraged to check with their local health clinics or visit vaccines.gov to find vaccination sites for specific age groups.

Find a Pop-up Vaccination Clinic in Your Community

There are many ways to find a COVID-19 vaccine—whether it is at your doctor’s office, through your employer, or at your pharmacy. But did you know that you can also get vaccinated at a pop-up vaccination clinic? These events are typically hosted by local trusted community organizations such as places of worship, barbershops, schools, or libraries. To find a pop-up clinic in your community, visit the 211 Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccination Special Event Directory.

Have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine?

Anyone who has questions about COVID-19 vaccines or appointment locations can call 211 or 877-947-2211. Wisconsinites can also text COVID to 211-211 for county-specific information on COVID-19, vaccination clinics, and other resources.

How to Prove COVID-19 Vaccination

When proof of COVID-19 vaccination is needed for travel, employment, and more, it’s important to understand the different ways to access your vaccination record or provide proof.

Vaccination Card

First, your vaccination card has information on when and where you received your vaccine as well as other helpful information related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Keep your card in a safe place! When taking pictures or posting selfies about getting your COVID-19 vaccine, do not post photos of your vaccination card online to protect your health information. Do not laminate your vaccination card.

Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR)

If you do not have your vaccination card, you may also visit the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) for a copy of your complete vaccine record. Your record can be accessed whether or not you have a social security card or internet. To learn the different ways to access your vaccination record visit the WIR webpage or call 608-266-9691.

DHS Changing COVID-19 Data Update Schedule

Last week, we made changes to our COVID-19 data update schedule. You can find updated COVID-19 cases and death data every Tuesday – Friday and COVID-19 vaccine data every Wednesday. Explore the data at dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm

Know Your Community Level

Following the pattern we’ve observed in the past 2 falls, there is a slow, but distinct rise in the seven-day average of cases. Taking steps to control the spread of COVID-19 is 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 16, 2022, CDC data indicate 8 Wisconsin counties are in the “high” COVID-19 Community Level category: Barron; Rusk; Price; Lincoln; Florence; Marinette; Jackson; and Crawford. In addition, 29 Wisconsin counties are experiencing a medium COVID-19 Community Level, and 35 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.

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. 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.

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.

COVID-19 Therapeutics: What You Need to Know

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 health care clinic, a community health center, walk-in clinic or a Test to Treat site, and for Paxlovid, you may be able to get a prescription from a pharmacist.

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.

Testing Information

If you are feeling ill or if you may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, using a COVID-19 self-test is a safe and highly effective method for detecting COVID-19 infection.

To support Wisconsinites’ access to COVID-19 self-tests, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has launched an online portal for residents to order free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests directly to their homes. Orders can be placed on the Say Yes to COVID Test webpage. Initial supplies will allow for one test kit to be ordered per household. Each test kit includes a total of five tests.

COVID-19 tests are also accessible by:

Purchasing self-tests through pharmacies over-the counter or online. Self-tests are widely available at pharmacies and other retail stores.

Using health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare plan to cover the cost of at-home tests. Private insurers and some Medicare plans will cover the cost of eight rapid COVID-19 tests per member each month. Members of BadgerCare Plus and most Wisconsin Medicaid programs can also receive COVID-19 self-tests from Medicaid-enrolled pharmacies using their ForwardHealth ID card. Individuals are encouraged to contact their health insurance program for more information.
Visiting a free local community testing site.

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 of 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.

COVID-19 by the Numbers

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

Access to Health Care

211 is Wisconsin’s statewide community referral service available to help you find community and health resources related to COVID-19, as well as resources that can help Wisconsinites access support around housing, finances, food access, childcare, or emotional support. Find an online directory to identify further information by topic, or available resources. And remember, if you want free, confidential personal assistance on these or other topics, dial 211 OR 877-947-2211, text your ZIP code to 898-211 or visit 211Wisconsin.org. A friendly voice is there to talk with you every day.

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.