Weekly Update: April 4, 2022
DHS Supports 2nd Dose of COVID-19 Booster
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) issuing of expanded eligibility that adults ages 50 years and older may receive a second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. DHS also supports the option of a second booster dose for certain immunocompromised people ages 12 years and older.
The CDC also expanded eligibility for another booster dose to people ages 18–49 years who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised and who received Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series dose and booster dose. These individuals may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
To find a COVID-19 vaccine provider in your community, visit Vaccines.gov or call 211 or 877-947-2211. For additional information about booster doses, additional doses, and help accessing your COVID-19 vaccine record to determine when you may be recommended for a booster, visit the DHS Additional Doses and Booster Doses webpage.
Being up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines ensures you have the best protection possible against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
To be up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, you will need to be fully vaccinated and get a booster dose when eligible.
- The primary series includes two doses of Moderna or Pfizer or one dose of Johnson & Johnson.
- People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary dose for the best protection.
- Everyone 12 years and older should get a booster dose to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines and boost protection against COVID-19.
If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, you will need to get an additional dose for better protection. Visit CDC's website, call 211, or talk to your health care provider to learn more.
Reminder: COVID-19 Testing Options
DHS reminds Wisconsinites of the various ways to get tested for COVID-19. Trusted testing partners include community testing sites, local health departments, pharmacies, and health care providers. Over-the-counter rapid at-home COVID-19 tests can be purchased at most retail pharmacies, and you can order two free sets of four tests per household that will be mailed to your home by the federal government. DHS currently provides all Wisconsinites free at-home collection kits which you can send to a lab for results. The results of these tests are usually available in several days.
Anyone with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested, regardless of their vaccination status. If you are exposed to COVID-19, get tested 5 days after exposure. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, get tested right away, and stay home and monitor your symptoms while you are waiting for your results.
You may need to be tested before or after you travel, even if you are up to date with current vaccine recommendations. Consider using a self-test before going to a public event or getting together with friends and family. See a list of testing products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you need help finding a test, contact your local or tribal health department or call 211.
Reminder: Treatments are Available for COVID-19
Wisconsin continues to receive allocations of oral antivirals as well as monoclonal antibodies to treat patients diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19. Wisconsin also receives allocations of Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody treatment used for prevention of COVID-19 in people unlikely to produce an immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. If you are likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19, your health care provider may recommend one of these treatments authorized for use by the Food and Drug Administration.
If you feel sick, please get tested, and follow your doctor’s advice on the best course of treatment for you, which may include one of these medicines. If your provider tells you that you are eligible, we encourage you to take these medications. They have a good track record of keeping people out of the hospital.
And remember, vaccination, including getting the booster dose or doses you are eligible for, is still the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19.
To learn more about COVID-19 treatments and medications, visit the DHS website.
Spring Break COVID-19 Safety
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is encouraging Wisconsinites planning or returning from spring break travels to take simple public health precautions to prevent illness. Although overall COVID-19 case numbers are declining, students and other travelers can still become ill or spread COVID-19 to others. Getting tested after returning home if you’ve been to a location with high COVID-19 Community Levels and continuing to layer prevention strategies are essential steps for staying safe, protecting the most vulnerable in our families and communities, and reducing strain on health care systems in communities across the country.
If Wisconsinites do travel, DHS recommends they know the COVID-19 Community Level of their destination and follow the appropriate precautions. Wisconsinites should continue to practice layered prevention strategies as recommended to stay safe, protect others, and reduce strain on health care systems. Wisconsinites should not travel if they:
- Have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Have tested positive for COVID-19 and have not completed their isolation period.
- Have recently been exposed to COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine.
- Are awaiting COVID-19 test results. Mask wearing is still required on all forms of public U.S transportation.
Wisconsinites are also responsible for knowing and complying with all airline and destination requirements. We urge all Wisconsinites to continue use a combination of COVID-19 prevention strategies, even while traveling, that will allow us to continue to keep our communities safe and healthy.
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