Dear Wisconsin license holder,
It is World Immunization Week, a global public health campaign to raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated against preventable diseases. Obviously, World Immunization Week arrives at an important time as we race to immunize the population against COVID-19.
Last week, Gov. Tony Evers announced that more than 4 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered in Wisconsin. It is remarkable that we began vaccinations just a few months ago and already more than half of eligible people in Wisconsin have received at least one dose. I commend Governor Evers and the Department of Health Services team leading the vaccination effort. Their work is saving thousands of lives and is accelerating our return to normalcy.
However, there is still more work to do. Many eligible adults have yet to receive a vaccine. The vaccines are safe and effective. They are also necessary for us to return to our pre-pandemic way of life. Many of our occupational boards are joining me in encouraging Wisconsin licensees to seek and obtain COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves, their patients, their customers, their families, and the general public.
Boards that have taken action supporting the COVID-19 vaccination effort include the following:
- The Architect Section, Professional Engineer Section and the Professional Land Surveyors Section of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects and Prof. Engineers, Designers and Professional Land Surveyors
- Chiropractic Examining Board
- Controlled Substances Board
- Cosmetology Examining Board
- Hearing and Speech Examining Board
- Medical Examining Board
- Athletic Trainers Affiliated Credentialing Board
- Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board
- Board of Nursing
- Occupational Therapists Affiliated Credentialing Board
- Podiatry Affiliated Credentialing Board
- Council on Physician Assistants
- Optometry Examining Board
It is getting easier and easier to find convenient times and places for vaccination. Appointments are widely available at numerous locations, including local health care provider offices, pharmacies, community-based clinics and more. Many locations—including some of the pharmacies in your own communities—have multiple same-day appointments. That means you can get vaccinated close to home, and you can get vaccinated tomorrow or even today.
To find a local vaccine provider, visit https://vaccinefinder.org. You can also call the toll-free vaccine hotline at 1-844-684-1064 with questions or to get help registering for a vaccination appointment. The hotline is also available in Hindi, Hmong, Somali, and Spanish.
Like many of my fellow Wisconsinites, I have completed my vaccine series. If you have not yet, I encourage you to begin or continue yours. It is the best available protection against COVID-19, and it is the clearest path out of the pandemic. Everyone 16 years of age and older is now eligible for the vaccine.
I and other members of Governor Evers’ administration participated in a video message about the Wisconsin vaccination campaign. The video message can be found on the governor's Facebook and Twitter. It is also available on the governor's YouTube channel here.
Sincerely,
Dawn B. Crim
Secretary-designee
To contact DHS with any general vaccine questions please email DHSCOVIDVACCINEPUBLIC@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
If you are a health care provider with clinical or programmatic questions, please email DHSCOVIDVACCINATOR@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
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