Officials continue to offer resources for COVID-19 vaccine appointments
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
Walworth County Public Health officials want the public to know they are welcoming walk-ins at COVID-19 vaccination clinics from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. The vaccination clinic is in the Walworth County Health and Human Services building at 1910 Highway NN in Elkhorn.
People may still register for an appointment on Walworth County’s COVID-19 dashboard by visiting co.walworth.wi.us.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports a steady decline in doses administered across the state on a weekly basis.
As of April 26, Walworth County Public Health reports 35,968 residents have received at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine with 24,707 residents who have receive both dose. According to the Health Department nearly 35% of the county’s population has been vaccinated.
Walworth County has 39 confirmed active cases as of April 23 with zero current hospitalizations. The seven-day rolling average as of April 23 was 8.38, dropping from 13.38 on April 15. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Walworth County has recorded 9,132 confirmed cases, 362 hospitalizations and 154 deaths.
Karen Timberlake, Wisconsin Department of Health Services secretary-designee, previously said vaccinating against COVID-19 is critical to stopping the spread.
“This pandemic has proven that our health is connected with the health of everyone in our community. COVID-19 is a contagious virus that spreads from person to person but the vaccine helps stop the spread,” Timberlake said. “The more people that are vaccinated, the more protected Wisconsin is from the virus. That is why our biggest priority is to get 80% of Wisconsin vaccinated.”
Resources available
The DHS, meanwhile, began using VaccineFinder, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched in March, to help people more easily find available vaccine providers who are open to the public.
VaccineFinder, according to the DHS, allows users a more customizable experience when searching for vaccine.
“DHS is constantly evaluating different tools to make it easier to find available vaccine,” Timberlake said on April 22. “It is critical that we streamline this process so anyone wanting a vaccination can quickly locate available vaccine in their community and get vaccinated.”
VaccineFinder, found at vaccinefinder.org, includes days and hours of clinics, locally and nationally, and enables people to search for a specific such as Moderna, Pfizer as well as Johnson and Johnson.
For people without Internet access, or language barriers, they can call 844-684-1064 with questions or for help finding a vaccine appointment.
Vaccine providers range from local Walgreens pharmacies, the Public Health COVID-19 community vaccination and area healthcare clinics, like Advocate Aurora Health and Froedtert South.
Statewide, a total of 2,425,970 Wisconsinites, or 42.1% of the population, received one dose while 1,834,240 (31.5%) completed the series.
Everyone older than 16, regardless of medical condition, is eligible for the vaccine.
State health officials on April 22 encouraged Wisconsinites to continue best health practices.
“While more Wisconsinites become fully vaccinated, COVID-19 disease rates remain high and, therefore, it is critical for everyone to continue good public health practices,” the DHS states. “Masking up, staying physically distance, washing hands, and getting tested continue to be crucial tools for protecting ourselves and our communities against COVID-19.”
Cases keep fluctuating
Statewide, according to the DHS, new confirmed COVID-19 cases have fluctuated from April 20 to 26.
State health officials saw a high of 805 on April 20 to a low of 367 set on Monday within the seven-day span.
Since March 15, 2020, when the DHS began recording data, a total of 595,049 Wisconsinites have tested positive while 2,831,052 returned negative results.
Of the people who have tested positive, according to state health officials, 8,600 residents have an active COVID-19 infection and in isolation at home or in the hospital for a rate of 1.4% of all confirmed cases.
A total of 579,426 residents (97.4%) recovered and the DHS recorded 6,756 deaths of people with a known COVID-19 case.
