COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 Booster Doses Authorized

SEPT. 27, 2021 — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the recommendation that certain populations who have increased risk of exposure to or transmission of COVID-19 receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after having received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

“Our nation’s leading medical experts reviewed the available data and recommended COVID-19 vaccine booster doses be provided to some people who have received the Pfizer vaccine,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “Booster doses are another tool at our disposal to stop the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant and slow the spread of COVID-19 in communities throughout Wisconsin.”

DHS recommends that the following populations SHOULD receive a booster dose of Pfizer at least 6 months after receiving their second dose of Pfizer in order to further strengthen their immunity:

• People 65 years and older
• All residents in long-term care
• People ages 50–64 years with certain underlying medical conditions:
  • Cancer
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic lung diseases, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe),
  • interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension
  • Dementia or other neurological conditions
  • Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
  • Down syndrome
  • Heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies or hypertension)
  • HIV infection
  • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)
  • Liver disease
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
  • Smoking, current or former
  • Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
  • Stroke or cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood flow to the brain
  • Substance use disorders

DHS recommends that the following populations MAY receive a booster dose of Pfizer at least six months after receiving their second dose of Pfizer vaccine, after considering their individual risks and benefits:

• People ages 18–49 years with certain underlying medical conditions (see above)
• People ages 18–64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their job or
• institutional settings. Occupations at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission include front line essential workers and health care workers:First responders (health care workers, firefighters, police, staff at congregate care facilities)
• Education staff (teachers, support staff, childcare workers)
• Food and agriculture workers
• Manufacturing workers
• Corrections workers
• U.S. Postal Service workers
• Public transit workers
• Grocery store workers

This list could be updated in the future

MMC-BD Now Vaccinating Adolescents 12-15 Years of Age

MAY 13, 2021 — Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam (MMC-BD) has announced it is now providing COVID-19 vaccinations for adolescents 12-15 years of age. MMC-BD hosts ongoing walk-in clinics every Tuesday and Thursday as well as every third Saturday utilizing the two-dose Pfizer vaccine, which is now approved for those 12 and older.

As minors, individuals age 12-17 must have a parent or guardian present to receive the vaccine. Individuals age 12-17 should bring their parent with them, have their parent/guardian and have their parent complete this form.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccination to include youth aged 12-15 on Monday. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has made the vaccine available to this age group after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gave its final approval Wednesday.

No safety concerns were found for up to eight weeks following vaccination of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in more than 1,100 adolescents (12-15 years of age) during the phase 3 clinical trial. These results are comparable to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial results for older populations. More than 130 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine have now been administered safely in the U.S.