Transitioning to the next vaccination group
Update from Portage County Health & Human Services
As of March 3, there have been 1.48 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Wisconsin and 13,055 doses administered in Portage County.
Beginning March 1, the next group of individuals eligible for vaccination include, in priority order: education and child care staff, individuals enrolled in Medicaid long-term care programs, some public facing essential workers, non-frontline essential health care personnel, and facility staff and residents in congregate living settings.
More information about these eligibility groups and where to find available vaccine is available on the DHS vaccine webpage. While these groups are eligible on March 1, educators and childcare providers should anticipate receiving vaccine by mid-March, with the remaining groups being vaccinated in April and May.
Portage County Division of Public Health continues to prioritize vaccination for individuals who are frontline health care, EMS, fire, and police workers, providing direct patient care and long-term care residents, and those who are age 65 and over.
At this time, we are coordinating plans to vaccinate K-12 education and childcare staff and anticipating that we will begin vaccination of this next eligible group by March 15, due to the demand of vaccine being high while the supply of vaccine is low. With the FDA emergency use approval of the Johnson and Johnson one dose vaccine, it is expected that the availability of vaccine will increase leading to expansion of vaccination efforts.
Please note: If you are included in the next eligible group for vaccination, you may view where vaccinations are available to you in the state. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services COVID-19 vaccine provider map can be found here.
If you would like to submit a request to be vaccinated with Portage County Division of Public Health, please complete the appropriate form here.