Healthcare and public health organizations across Dane County are urging patience and continued adherence to public health guidelines, even as COVID-19 vaccines are authorized and distributed in limited quantities.

While some healthcare organizations in Dane County have received or will shortly receive vaccines, it is very important to remember that Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines dictate the limited number of vaccines be used first on frontline healthcare workers, followed by essential workers, and others in direct contact with COVID-19-positive individuals and the virus, which are still to be defined by state Department of Health Services, and people older than 75 years of age. Only those who meet CDC and state criteria for risk can receive the vaccine at this time.

As production of the currently authorized vaccines ramps up, and hopefully other vaccines are authorized, availability should improve. But for most Americans this availability is still months away, which means patience and diligence to public health guidelines will be crucial to limit further spread of the virus, hospitalizations and even deaths.
From frequent hand-washing to maintaining at least six feet of distance between others and wearing a mask, members of the public have the power to protect and support one another until the time when vaccines are widely available.

While there is much enthusiasm in our community to receive the vaccine, please know that only those who meet the CDC criteria for risk can receive it at this time. Your healthcare providers cannot add you to a wait list or pre-schedule vaccination for future availability. We ask that the public please not call their healthcare providers requesting the vaccine at this time, as a high volume of calls makes it more difficult to address those patients with immediate needs.

To keep up with the status of vaccinations in Wisconsin, please visit the Department of Health Services vaccine data page.
           
These Dane County healthcare organizations support this urgent public health message:

• Access Community Health Centers
• Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin
• Public Health Madison & Dane County
• SSM Health
• Stoughton Health
• UnityPoint Health ‒ Meriter
• UW Health
• University Health Services, University of Wisconsin–Madison

For more on the vaccines and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit:

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Centers for Disease Control