Chippewa County
COVID-19 Situation Report
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This monthly Chippewa County COVID-19 Situation Report, created by the Chippewa County Department of Public Health, was developed to share information on local response efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic. The report contains the most recent COVID-19 information available at the time of dissemination. |
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Additional Data Resources |
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Chippewa County Department of Public Health's hub has further information about vaccine distribution, county risk level, total positive cases, total deaths, current hospitalizations, daily case count, and more. |
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) website provides many interactive data dashboards. The dashboards display information detailing hospital capacity, county-level data, mapped data, and demographic case information. We recommend visiting the DHS website for the most up-to-date information and data. |
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FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine |
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On August 23, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 years of age and older. The previously named Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee) for those age 16 and older.
The decision to grant full approval is the result of a rigorous review of thousands of pages of additional safety and efficacy data, as well as inspections of vaccine production sites, consistent with all other full approval processes.
The vaccine continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA) for individuals 12-15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain individuals who are immunocompromised.
The FDA-approved Pfizer-BioNTech product COMIRNATY and the FDA-authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine under the emergency use authorization have the same formulation and can be used interchangeably to provide the COVID-19 vaccination series without presenting any safety or effectiveness concerns.
Read the FDA's full news release below!
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FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir'-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease...
Read more
www.fda.gov
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$100 COVID-19 Vaccine Reward Program |
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Earlier this week, Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) launched the $100 COVID-19 Vaccine Reward Program. Wisconsin residents who get their first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine between August 20, 2021 and September 6, 2021 are eligible for a $100 Visa gift card, with confirmation of the vaccination through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) which gathers records from vaccinators in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. Wisconsinites ages 12 and older are eligible for the reward. Proof of insurance, identification, or citizenship is not required to be eligible for the vaccine or to receive the $100 reward.
Many Wisconsinites face financial barriers to access the COVID-19 vaccine—factors such as transportation, childcare, or the inability to take time off from work which can make it difficult for many to get vaccinated. The $100 COVID-19 Vaccine Reward Program will provide some additional support to those wanting to get protected against COVID-19.
In order to receive the $100 Visa gift card, Wisconsin residents will need to fill out the form available at 100.wisconsin.gov. Information submitted will be used to verify that individuals received their first vaccine dose from a vaccine provider located in Wisconsin between August 20 and September 6. Visa cards will be mailed to the individual's Wisconsin address and may take up to six weeks to be mailed to participants.
Unfortunately, individuals that received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine prior to August 20, 2021 are not eligible for the $100 incentive. With school reconvening and the rise in cases mainly due to the more infectious Delta variant, DHS is using this incentive to really urge those who have not been vaccinated to get their first dose of the vaccine before Labor Day. Helping those who have not been able to get vaccinated prior to this incentive will benefit everyone by increasing vaccination rates and controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
From January 1, 2021 through July 22, 2021, over 98% of COVID cases occurred among people who were not fully vaccinated. The best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community from COVID-19 and the Delta variant is to get vaccinated.
Click the image below for more information.
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Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for People Who are Immunocompromised |
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An additional dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is now recommended for individuals 12 and older with certain medical conditions or who are receiving medical treatments that compromise their immune system’s ability to function.
Individuals with weakened immune systems may not develop adequate immunity following initial vaccination; therefore, these individuals are also more likely to develop serious illness with COVID-19 and may spread the virus to others in their homes. Adding an additional dose to the series for immunocompromised people could help better protect those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
Immunocompromised individuals who receive an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should receive the same vaccine product as their initial two-dose mRNA COVID-19 primary vaccine series. If the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine product given for the first two doses is not available, the other mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product may be given.
A person should not receive more than three mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses. Additional doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should be administered at least 28 days after completion of the initial two-dose vaccine series.
To offer added protection against COVID-19, immunocompromised people should continue to utilize other public health precautions such as wearing masks, avoiding crowds, and practicing physical distancing from people who do not reside in the same household. All individuals who are unvaccinated and who are around immunocompromised people should get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community.
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Are COVID-19 Booster Shots Available for the General Public? |
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For the general public, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has also developed a plan to begin offering booster shots this fall pending FDA and CDC evaluation and recommendation.
HHS is prepared to offer booster shots beginning the week of September 20 and starting 8 months after an individual’s second dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna). Those who were vaccinated earliest, particularly those who are most at risk — such as health care workers, nursing home residents, and seniors — will be prioritized.
Receiving a booster dose is not an uncommon practice (i.e. tetanus); therefore, the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines should not be questioned. The COVID-19 vaccines work and continue to be remarkably effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against the delta variant.
While we continue to see stable and highly effective protection against hospitalizations and severe outcomes for people who are fully vaccinated, we are beginning to see a slight decrease in vaccine effectiveness against less severe COVID-19 infection. It is possible that protection against severe outcomes could also decline over time.
The scientists and medical experts who developed the COVID-19 vaccines are closely analyzing data from the U.S. and around the world and continue to watch for signs of waning immunity and how well the vaccines protect against new mutations of the virus.
The plan to offer booster shots does not currently include recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as the data to access this need are still being collected, but experts anticipate that these boosters will also be needed. More data on the J&J vaccine and a possible booster is anticipated in the coming weeks.
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Chippewa County Department of Public Health Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics |
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Chippewa County Department of Public Health continues to hold its weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Chippewa County Courthouse on Thursdays. The clinic operates from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm and both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available to those age 18 and older.
Walk-ins are welcome for all clinics - No appointment needed!
As a reminder, the CCDPH does not offer the Pfizer vaccine; however, if individuals under the age of 18 are interested in receiving the vaccine, please contact the Health Department at 715-726-7900 and a member of our team will help you find a location administering the vaccine. Anyone in Wisconsin under the age of 18 will need parental consent to receive the vaccine.
For community members who prefer to make an appointment with the Health Department for the Moderna or J&J COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the Chippewa County Vaccine Appointments webpage.
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In an effort to bring the COVID-19 vaccine closer to our community members, the Chippewa County Department of Public Health is partnering with local businesses and organizations to hold pop-up vaccination clinics throughout Chippewa County. We also encourage farms and other businesses that employ and house community members who face barriers to reach out about vaccination possibilities.
Any business or organization that is interested in partnering with the Health Department to hold a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic for employees or for the public, please contact us at 715-726-7900.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Sign-Up Resources |
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To sign-up for a vaccine through the CCDPH, please click on the link below or call 715-726-7900 and we will be happy to help you schedule an appointment. |
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VaccineFinder can be used to locate vaccinators (by vaccine brand) in your area. To find a location giving the COVID-19 vaccine, click the link below. |
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ICS (Incident Command System) Update |
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Safety: The Safety Team continues to work with event organizers to provide guidance on COVID-19 safety measures. The Team also continues to answer questions and provide recommendations on gatherings to businesses and individuals in local communities.
Public Information Officer (PIO): The PIO Team put together two press releases - one specific to additional doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised people and one related to the FDA's approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The bilingual Community Health Worker continues to provide translation and interpretation services to the Spanish-speaking population in local communities. The Chippewa County COVID-19 Response Hub is currently being updated. A new "Sick or Exposed" page was created and is active on the Hub. The PIO Team continues to work on resources and communication tools for local school districts for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. The COVID-19 Testing Locations flyer was updated to reflect available COVID-19 testing locations in the area. The PIO Team continues to work on additional resources to provide community education and information about COVID-19 and the vaccine. The PIO Team remains active on social media, highlighting various public health topics, while also responding to community questions. Weekly press conferences resumed August 26, 2021 and will be held on Thursday mornings.
Liaison: Continues to meet with Chippewa County school superintendents. The liaison discussed CCDPH's updates including the increase in positive case numbers specifically among school-aged children, increase in testing, County vaccination numbers, and vaccine clinics including community pop-up clinics. Discussed the federal mandate requiring masks on public transportation including school buses. As schools are preparing for the new school year, the group continued discussions regarding COVID protocols, including potential work from home during quarantine, masks encouraged but optional at this time, thresholds for implementing additional mitigation measures, and assistance for live streaming equipment. The liaison continues to provide athletic and school guidance, share resources with the community and partners, and answer questions and connect partners.
Logistics: The team continues to monitor personal protective equipment to be used in the future.
Fiscal: The Fiscal/Admin Team and Grant Taskforce continue to respond to efforts as needed.
Operations: The Volunteer Taskforce, Childcare Taskforce, and Testing Taskforce continue to respond to efforts and needs as they are presented. The Wisconsin National Guard held a testing event on August 24, 2021 at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds. The Investigations Strike Team has continued with case follow-up. The Fit Test Taskforce continues to schedule and complete fit testing for staff as needed.
Planning: The Vaccination Taskforce continues to evaluate the demand for the vaccine and will keep holding vaccination clinics on Thursdays at this time. Pop-up vaccination clinics are also being scheduled throughout local communities.
More information about the work of the ICS Committees will continue to be shared in future situation reports.
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Recent Guidance and Press Release |
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Local:
State:
DHS Resources
National:
CDC Resources
- COVID-19 Vaccination Toolkits
- COVID-19 Vaccine Communication and Social Media Toolkits (flyers, infographics, videos, factsheets, graphics, etc.)
- Schools webpage
- Travel Planner webpage
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For general questions related to COVID-19, you can:
- Call the Regional COVID-19 Call Center at 715-831-7425, or
- Contact Wisconsin 211 by dialing 211 or texting COVID-19 to 211-211
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