Vaccine Newsletter | March 11 2021
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Thanks for subscribing to our vaccination updates.
In this week's newsletter:
- Progress vaccinating population
- Information for eligible groups
- Future eligibility
- Ways you can be connected to vaccine
- Answers to common questions
- Legislative round-up
Waukesha County Public Health has opened COVID-19 vaccine appointments at its clinic to all eligible groups.
Although the state announced increased eligibility last week, vaccinators were required to prioritize previously eligible groups before new ones. Now, we have made enough progress to allow individuals from all eligible groups to make appointments at our clinic.
Please read on to learn more about the County's progress, as well as to learn how you can find opportunities for vaccination.
Paul Farrow
Waukesha County Executive
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90,515
Vaccines Administered to Waukesha County Residents
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Who is currently eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine?
- Frontline health care workers
- Nursing home and assisted living residents and staff
- Police, fire department, and correctional staff
- Adults aged 65+
- Education and child care
- Individuals enrolled in Medicaid long-term care programs
- Some public-facing essential workers
- Non-frontline essential health care personnel
- Facility staff and residents in congregate living settings
Who is eligible next?
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Waukesha County Progress
More Than One in Five Waukesha County Residents have Been Vaccinated
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Waukesha County has made tremendous progress vaccinating our population since our community clinic opened.
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22.4% (90,515) of Waukesha County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
- 11.4% (46,039) of residents have completed the vaccine series.
- The majority of vaccines have gone to individuals in the 65+ age group. Right now, 68.4% of that population has received at least one dose of vaccine.
- The majority of educational staff have been connected to vaccine either at our clinic or through one of our healthcare partners
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More than One in Five Residents Have Received COVID-19 Vaccine
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53,035
Residents aged 65 and older who have received at least one dose of vaccine
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68.4%
Of Residents 65 and older have received at least on dose of vaccine
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Now that the majority of the 65 and older population and educational staff have had access to vaccines, Public Health is incorporating other eligible groups into appointments at the Waukesha County Expo Center. More individuals will become eligible March 29.
More information about scheduling vaccination appointments and eligibility is below.
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The Johnson and Johnson Vaccine Arrives in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has begun receiving its first allocation of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Most of the 48,000 doses will be used for educators and child care workers, and the other portion will be worked into the normal allocation process for all vaccinators.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine marks the third safe and effective vaccine approved for use against COVID-19. It is a one-dose vaccine that can be stored and transported at refrigerated temperatures for long periods. This added tool in our toolbox puts us one step closer to ending the pandemic.
Due to the current national shortage of vaccine, you should get vaccinated with the first type of vaccine that is available to you in order to protect yourself and others from the COVID-19 virus.
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Vaccine Appointments Now Available for All Eligible Groups
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All eligible groups can now sign up for Waukesha County's vaccination waitlist in one of two ways: online or through our call center.
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GO ONLINE
- Access the waitlist online using the link below, or on our website www.waukeshacounty.gov/covidvaccine
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GIVE US A CALL
Residents with no access to the internet are welcome to phone the Waukesha County Vaccination Hotline at 262-548-7626.
Help us spread the word: If you know a vaccine-eligible resident that has no access to the internet, please share this number with them. Thank you!
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SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT
- Residents who are signed up on the Vaccine Waitlist will be invited to register for vaccination appointments when they are available.
- Eligibility will be verified prior to the appointment.
- Invitations to register will go out to individuals in priority groups first.
- If you are 65 or older, you MUST enter your birthdate when you sign up to be prioritized.
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If members of eligible groups are able to find vaccination opportunities through their healthcare provider or a local pharmacy, they are encouraged to take advantage of those opportunities.
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More Residents Become Eligible for Vaccination on March 29
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Beginning March 29, individuals aged 16 and older with certain medical conditions that have a greater risk of severe infection from COVID-19 will become eligible to be vaccinated.
Residents with these conditions will have multiple options to be vaccinated, including community clinics, pharmacies, and their healthcare providers. Stay tuned to this newsletter for details about when the Waukesha County Expo Center will begin accepting appointments for these groups.
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Ways you can be vaccinated
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Wisconsin Map of Vaccine Providers
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Wisconsin DHS has created searchable map to help Wisconsinites more easily find and connect with vaccine providers in their area. It is also meant to provide a snapshot of where vaccine is being sent across the state.
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Vaccinating Entities in Wisconsin Include:
Your employer If you work within a health care system, you should get instructions and information from your employer about getting the vaccine.
Your healthcare provider Waukesha County healthcare providers continue to focus on vaccinating the 65 and older population. Healthcare providers already have the information for this group, and they do not need to join any additional list.
Pharmacies with COVID-19 vaccination programs Some pharmacies have online registration systems for individuals seeking vaccine outside of healthcare providers. However, low vaccine supply means appointments remain extremely limited:
- Meijer offers three ways for eligible individuals to register for the COVID-19 vaccine:
- Text COVID to the number 75049. You will receive a link to register.
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Online at https://clinic.meijer.com.
- No internet or smartphone? Call your local Meijer Pharmacy and speak with the pharmacy staff, who can assist with registration.
- Walgreens offers vaccines to eligible groups in Wisconsin. Appointments are limited.
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Register at https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp or call 1-800-Walgreens.
- Kroger locations are administering the vaccine to eligible populations.
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This includes the following Roundy’s pharmacies in Wisconsin: Metro Market and Pick-n-Save. To sign up, check Kroger’s website(link is external)
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Or call (866) 211-5320 to schedule an appointment as they are available.
The Waukesha County Expo Center Community Vaccination Clinic Currently Eligible Residents Can Sign up for Waukesha County's Vaccination Waitlist, online or by phone as outlined above. They can also find a link to the waitlist at www.waukeshacounty.gov/covidvaccine.
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We want your questions! There's a lot to know, so take a look below at some of this week's most common questions.
If you have a question that hasn't been answered below, send us an email! Thank you!
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Q: I am homebound and unable to leave my house to get a vaccine. If I am currently eligible, how do I get signed up for a vaccine?
A: Waukesha County is working diligently to put a plan in place for our homebound residents. If you are currently eligible under 1A or 1B we invite you to sign up for our Vaccine Waitlist and select "Homebound" from the drop down menu. Once we have a plan in place you will be contacted by someone from our vaccination team to schedule your appointment. If you don't have internet access, or are unable to sign up for our online waitlist, you can call our Vaccination Hotline at (262) 548-7626 and our staff will be able to assist you. If you know a homebound resident that has no access to the internet, please share the number above with them. Thank you!
Q: I'm eligible under Phase 1B, but I was told you were prioritizing teachers. When can I get my vaccine?
A: Waukesha County is quickly meeting our benchmarks for the 65 and older population and educators and we anticipate we will start scheduling appointments for other 1B eligible individuals soon. If you are 1B eligible, we ask that you sign up for our Vaccine Waitlist, and we will contact you to set up an appointment as soon as we have vaccine available.
Q: I'm fully vaccinated. Do I still need to wear a mask in public? Can I start visiting my family members who haven't been vaccinated yet?
A: You are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose in a 2-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
Even if you meet these qualifications and are fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends you continue to wear masks and social distance when in public. However, you are able to have small gatherings in your home with other people who have been vaccinated or one household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
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Changes at the State and Federal level directly impact Waukesha County residents
President Biden has signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. It passed the Senate over the weekend and the bill, along with the Senate modifications, went back to the House yesterday where it was approved.
The Senate made several modifications to the bill:
Stimulus checks: The Senate lowered the income cutoff at which stimulus payments phase out from $100,000 to $80,000 for individuals, and from $200,000 to $160,000 for couples filing jointly.
Unemployment benefits: The Senate kept the federal unemployment insurance payments at $300 per week through September 6. The House legislation would have increased the weekly benefit to $400 per week through August 29.
Homeless Services: The Senate approved $510 million more than the House to fund FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which provides support to homeless service providers for overnight shelter, meals, food banks and pantries across the country.
Healthcare: For laid off workers who wish to remain on their company’s health care plan, the Senate version subsidizes 100% of those premiums under COBRA through the end of September.
The National Conference of State Legislatures has a comprehensive analysis of the bill which can be found here.
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