DHS Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard to Include 0-4 Age Group 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has updated its COVID-19 Vaccines for Wisconsin Residents dashboard. The dashboard now includes data on COVID-19 vaccinations in the 0-4 age group as well as COVID-19 booster data for the 5-11 age group.  

As of June 18, 2022, children ages 6 months to 4 years old are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, as of May 20, 2022, children ages 5-11 are eligible to receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 

Parents and guardians of young children should check with their child’s healthcare provider, call 211, or visit Vaccines.gov to see which age groups your local vaccination sites are serving. Children 5 years and younger may need a prescription from a doctor before getting a COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy. 

Stay Healthy this Fall: COVID-19 At-Home Tests and Booster Shots Still Available with No Out-of-Pocket Cost 

DHS and the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) are reminding Wisconsinites that their COVID-19 at-home tests and booster shots are still available with no out-of-pocket cost. 

DHS continues to urge all Wisconsinites to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Updated COVID-19 boosters are recommended for everyone ages 12 and up and are designed to give broad protection against COVID-19, including better protection against the currently circulating Omicron variant. Doses of the updated COVID-19 boosters have been delivered to providers in Wisconsin.  Pharmacies, health centers, and clinics are continuing to  offer appointments at a variety of locations across the state. People are encouraged to check with their primary care provider, local or tribal health department or clinics, or visit vaccines.gov to find vaccination sites near them. Health plans are also required to cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, through the end of the federally declared public health emergency. 

As well, all health plans are also required to cover the cost of over the counter, at-home rapid COVID-19 tests for their members. This requirement applies to both private health insurance companies and group health plans, like those provided by an employer.  

If you think any package of COVID-19 tests you have at home may be expired, check before you throw it out!! The FDA has extended the expiration dates for many of the COVID-19 self-tests that are widely available at stores and pharmacies, including tests by iHealth which were commonly shipped by the federal government’s program and are now shipping out through the Wisconsin Say Yes! COVID Test program.  

Many of these COVID-19 tests were initially authorized with expiration dates that have been extended due to  the manufacturers studying testing data that validates the tests are still accurate. To check if your package of COVID-19 tests has an extended expiration date, people can find more information here on all the FDA-authorized brands, as well as specific information on iHealth brand tests that includes a tool to search your package’s expiration here.  

Double Your Protection: Safely Receive COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine at the Same Time 

Make a plan to get protected against both COVID-19 and the flu this season! Studies continue to indicate that it is safe to receive both a COVID-19 vaccine and a seasonal influenza vaccine at the same time.  

Click here to find a flu vaccine near you and here to find a COVID-19 vaccine. 

What You Need to Know: Long COVID Conditions 

While most people recover from COVID-19 within a few weeks of infection, some people experience post-COVID conditions. These conditions can impact many systems in your body and can present themselves as different combinations of health problems. Protect yourself against COVID-19 and possible long term health outcomes by getting vaccinated if you are eligible. Learn more, www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/long-covid.htm.

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. 

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.  

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. 

COVID-19 self-tests can be purchased at local pharmacy or retail stores, and each Wisconsin household is eligible to order a package of COVID-19 self-tests that contain five tests for free at sayyescovidhometest.org. All health plans are also required to cover the cost of over the counter, at-home rapid COVID-19 tests for their members. COVID-19 tests may either be covered by the insurer with no upfront cost or reimbursed by the insurer. 

If you think any package of COVID-19 tests you have at home may be expired, check before you throw it out!! The FDA has extended the expiration dates for many of the COVID-19 self-tests that are widely available at stores and pharmacies. To check if your package of COVID-19 tests has an extended expiration date, people can find more information here on all the FDA-authorized brands, as well as specific information on iHealth brand tests that includes a tool to search your package’s expiration here. 

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.