All About COVID-19 Vaccinations

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

• The La Crosse County Health Department provides free COVID-19 (and other) vaccines by appointment at Tuesday clinics held at the Health Department. Please call ahead for an appointment 608-785-9723. 

Walgreens

• Vaccine is available through the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program with a variety of local Walgreens locations.
• Visit their website to learn more: Walgreens' website. 
• Call 1-800-Walgreens with questions.

Wal-Mart

• Vaccine is available through the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program with a variety of local Wal-Mart locations.
• Visit their website to learn more: Wal-Mart website.

Weber Health

• For up-to-date vaccine availability, clinic hours, and general information, visit www.weber-health.com.

Gundersen Health System

• Please contact Gundersen Health System or your primary care provider directly for more information about vaccine appointments.

Mayo Clinic Health System

• Please contact Mayo Clinic Health System or your primary care provider directly for more information about vaccine appointments.

AMI Vaccination Site hosted at UW-La Crosse

• Approved vaccines are available as initial doses and booster doses.
• Vaccination site is at UWL Cartwright Center, 1741 State Street, La Crosse.
• To sign up go to https://vaccinate.wi.gov/en-US or click on the QR code below:
  

Other Vaccinators

• Some vaccination partners may host clinics through employers or for specific populations. This information would be provided directly by the vaccinator. 
• You may also find vaccine clinics and locations at vaccinefinder.org.

Questions?

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services Vaccine Assistance Hotline: 1-844-684-1064 (toll-free)
• La Crosse County Health Department's Vaccine Hotline: 608-785-6240
• La Crosse County Health Department's COVID questions email: [email protected] 

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:

• Gundersen: 608-775-4454 or click here
• Mayo:  608-785-0940 and ask for the Nurse Line

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:

• V-Safe: a smart-phone based tool that uses text messaging to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a vaccine
  
• Pfizer Fact Sheet
• Moderna Fact Sheet
• Johnson and Johnson Fact Sheet 
  
  

Additional Resources: 

• CDC Vaccine Information
• Wisconsin DHS Vaccine Information
• World Health Organization Vaccine Information
• Mayo Clinic Health System COVID Myths Debunked