Wisconsin Department of Health Services Digital Updates

COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Update

Wisconsin Department of Health Services sent this bulletin at 10/10/2022 05:00 PM CDT

COVID-19 Update

Wisconsin COVID-19 news, data, and resources for the week of October 3, 2022.

DHS News

Have You Been Infected With COVID-19? Why You Still Need to Get a Vaccine!

Getting vaccinated and staying up to date provides added protection for everyone, including people who already had COVID-19. Vaccines and boosters increase your protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. You may consider waiting three months after you tested positive or started feeling sick to get your next COVID-19 vaccine dose. Waiting three months may maximize the protection you get from the vaccine. Studies show that waiting this time may give you stronger, longer-lasting protection.

You may want to get vaccinated sooner after recovering from COVID-19 if you are at higher risk of getting very sick. This includes if you have a medical condition or are in an area with High COVID-19 Community Levels.

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 variants.

Lost Your Vaccination Card? You Have Options.

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 Public Immunization Record Access
- 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.

COVID-19 Testing Resources for You 

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 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 date.

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. 

COVID-19 Therapeutics 

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 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 to over 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.   

Data

Know Your Community Level

As of October 6, 2022, Wisconsin’s seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases hovered around 866 new cases a day. 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 October 7, 2022, CDC data indicate 2 Wisconsin counties are in the “high” COVID-19 Community Level category: Barron and Rusk. In addition, 19 Wisconsin counties are experiencing a medium COVID-19 Community Level, and 51 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.  

For more county level data, visit the Wisconsin Summary Data page. In addition, DHS urges all Wisconsinites to take the following actions to help keep COVID-19 levels low in our communities:   

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. 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 by the Numbers

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

Resources

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.