COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at reducing the risk of contracting COVID-19. For vaccinated individuals, the risk for severe disease and hospitalization is substantially lower. Getting vaccinated is the single best thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and friends, and our community from further spread of COVID-19. Vaccination is recommended for everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated and does not have a medical reason that would advise against vaccination.
WHO SHOULD GET A COVID-19 VACCINE?
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone ages 5 years and older.
Moderately or severely immunocompromised people who are ages 5 years and older are recommended to receive an additional primary dose of the same vaccine at least 28 days after their second dose.
Everyone ages 12 years and older who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should get a booster shot. Learn more about booster shots.
Current COVID-19 Vaccine Providers:
The following places have COVID-19 vaccine available:
La Crosse County Health Department
Walgreens
Wal-Mart
Weber Health
Gundersen Health System
Mayo Clinic Health System
AMI Vaccination Site hosted at UW-La Crosse
Other Vaccinators
Questions?
Which brand of vaccine is best?
All approved COVID-19 vaccine options are highly effective in preventing death, hospitalizations, and severe COVID-19 illness. As soon as you are eligible to receive the vaccine and the vaccine is available, take any opportunity to get it.
How many vaccines have been given in La Crosse County?
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services now tracks this data here: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-data.htm. You can see how many vaccines have been given in Wisconsin, the Western Region, and La Crosse County.
Why do we need a vaccine?
Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your community. A COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from getting sick and potentially prevent you from spreading the virus to others. It is important to note that a vaccine will not replace the need to continue other actions that stop the spread of COVID-19. This is especially true while we are still in the process of administering the vaccine, and this may take many months.
Is the vaccine safe and effective?
Yes. The FDA, CDC, and independent advisors all review vaccine safety and effectiveness data before any vaccine is approved or allowed for distribution. COVID-19 vaccines have gone through all of the usual steps and phases that all vaccines go through to get full approval. The FDA and CDC will continue to closely monitor the vaccine as it is rolled out. You can visit the CDC's website for more information about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety.html.
After I get the COVID-19 vaccine, do I still need to wear a mask and social distance?
Please see the CDC's new webpage Stay Up To Date With Your Vaccine for more details and guidance.
I had COVID-19, should I get vaccinated? When is it safe to get vaccinated after infection?
You may need to wait to receive your vaccine. If you received treatment for COVID-19 or if you have a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-A or MIS-C), you should talk to your healthcare provider to determine if you need to wait.
For those who had COVID-19 and are out of isolation, yes you should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19. Getting sick with COVID-19 offers some protection from future illness with COVID-19, sometimes called “natural immunity.” The level of protection people have from COVID-19 may vary.
I am a healthcare worker or retired healthcare worker, how can I volunteer to help with COVID vaccination or other needs?
We are accepting volunteers through the WEAVR database: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/preparedness/weavr/index.htm. When we are ready to take volunteers, we will be contacting you from this database.
I have a medical condition and have questions about how my body will react to the vaccine.
Please connect with your provider or utilize the following nurse line resources before registering or scheduling your appointment:
Is transportation available to vaccine appointments?
Same-day transportation is available to eligible BadgerCare Plus and Wisconsin Medicaid Members. To schedule a ride, members may call MTM, Inc. at 866-907-1493 (TTY 711). When scheduling their ride, members will be asked to provide their ForwardHealth ID (from their ForwardHealth card) and the address of the vaccination site.
For more information regarding scheduling rides, visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/nemt/index.htm
Wisconsin local health departments follow the guidance of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) on scheduling and providing booster doses. See COVID-19: Additional and Booster Doses on the DHS website.
For more information, also visit COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Trauma Acknowledgment:
The La Crosse County Health Department wishes to acknowledge that many of our community members have undergone years of disinvestment, biased treatment, and lack of access. We empathize with those who have historically or personally experienced discriminatory treatment in our community. These experiences have reinforced cycles of trauma and created a lack of trust with the government and with healthcare. The decision to receive a COVID-19 vaccination is a personal one. Our health department aims to educate the public about the safety and benefits of vaccination while also acknowledging these truths. We aim to build trust and the most equitable health outcomes.
After you've received a vaccine:
Educational Materials:
Additional Resources: