Forest County Health Department

Forest County is helping to provide COVID-19 vaccine to organizations that have frontline healthcare personnel that are not affiliated with a healthcare system, hospital, or long-term care facility.

Individuals who provide direct patient service or engage in healthcare services that place them into contact with patients who may have COVID-19 are currently eligible for vaccine during Phase 1a.

Some of the healthcare personnel categories in Phase 1a include:

• Certified nursing assistant, nursing assistant, nurse aide, medical assistant, nurses
• Chiropractors
• Dental services, including dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistants
• Direct care personnel, for example, people who provide direct care to patients, including in their homes (for example, personal care assistant, home health worker)
• Emergency medical responders (EMR), including emergency medical technician/paramedic including all levels of EMRs
• Environmental services, food & nutrition, buildings & grounds in patient care setting
• Hospice workers
• Long-term care facilities staff
• Pharmacist/pharmacist assistant
• Physicians, physician assistant/nurse practitioners
• Transportation services to and from health care settings, for example, testing sites, dialysis centers, ambulatory care

This is not an exhaustive list. For a full description of who is in Phase 1a, see the Wisconsin State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee guidance at: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p02858.pdf. 

If you feel you or those within your organization are eligible for the vaccine during Phase 1a, please contact the Forest County Health Department for more information at 715-478-3371.  The vaccine is offered voluntarily and at no cost.

This process may take some time. The public is asked to be patient and to continue strong everyday precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These preventive measures include:

• Practice physical distancing of at least 6 feet from people not in your immediate household

• Wear a mask in public
• Wash your hands frequently
• Avoid large gatherings
• Stay home if you are sick and contact your healthcare provider to be tested

The Health Department will share more information about vaccine availability for other Phases as it becomes available. 

Please contact our office with any questions or concerns at 715-478-3371.

On December 12, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer vaccine.  The Department of Health Services (DHS) is distributing the Pfizer vaccine to regional hubs across the state. On December 18, the Moderna vaccine was issued an EUA and shipments are expected to arrive in Wisconsin starting December 22.

From December 14 through December 20, the first week of Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program rollout, the state’s vaccine data are as follows:

• 84,825 doses of Pfizer and 100,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine have been allocated to Wisconsin.
• 10,358 total doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and reported to the Wisconsin Immunization Registry, including 10,358 doses of Pfizer.

The federal government will continue to provide Wisconsin with vaccine doses as more supply becomes available. Allocations of the FDA-authorized vaccines are expected to increase substantially in 2021 as more vaccine becomes available.

Due to the initial limited supply of vaccine, the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC) developed Wisconsin-specific recommendations on vaccine prioritization. Based on these Phase 1a recommendations from federal and state health experts, the first populations to receive vaccine will be frontline healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

As supply increases, recommendations will likely expand to cover other essential workers, people ages 65 and older, and people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 to receive a vaccine. Later, as more supply becomes available, groups of people at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and the general public will be recommended to get vaccines.

The Forest County Health Department is enrolled as a COVID-19 Vaccine Provider and is awaiting further information from DHS about our allocations for each phase.  We will continue to provide updates and further vaccination planning as it is available from DHS. 

Getting vaccinated will be 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 those around you.  A vaccine, however, does not replace the need to continue other actions to stop the spread and keep ourselves healthy.

Forest County Public Health officials have confirmed additional persons have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) for a total of 806 cases in Forest County. County health officials and local partners are contacting others with whom the individuals who tested positive had close contact with. As of today, Forest County has 3,775 negative test results. There are currently 18 active cases in isolation, 761 released from isolation, 4 hospitalized, and 23 deaths.

The Forest County Health Department encourages community members keep your friends and family safe this holiday season by only sharing a meal with the people that live in your household or having a virtual dinner with family and friends. Try preparing meals and treats for delivery. If you deliver them in a way that doesn’t involve contact, it can be a great way to safely share the holidays with family, friends and neighbors without risking their health. Shop online rather than in person, and watch sports events, parades, and movies from home. For more information or tips on how to keep your community safe and healthy during the holidays, visit www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/community.

Please continue to practice physical distancing and good personal hygiene, wear a mask or cloth face covering, and stay alert for symptoms of COVID-19.  If you are experiencing any symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please contact your health care provider and ask to be tested. In an effort to keep our community members up to date on COVID-19, the Forest County Health Department will continue to update our Facebook page daily and local newspapers weekly with current COVID-19 case counts. This will include the number of negative and positive cases in Forest County. Please call our office at 715-478-3371 with any questions or concerns.

Forest County Public Health officials have confirmed additional persons have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) for a total of 786 cases in Forest County. County health officials and local partners are contacting others with whom the individuals who tested positive had close contact with. As of today, Forest County has 3,712 negative test results. There are currently 31 active cases in isolation, 731 released from isolation, 2 hospitalized, and 22 deaths.

The Forest County Health Department encourages community members to minimize their contact with others by staying home when possible, practice physical distancing and good personal hygiene, wear a mask or cloth face covering, and stay alert for symptoms of COVID-19.  If you are experiencing any symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please contact your health care provider and ask to be tested.

In an effort to keep our community members up to date on COVID-19, the Forest County Health Department will continue to update our Facebook page daily and local newspapers weekly with current COVID-19 case counts. This will include the number of negative and positive cases in Forest County. Please call our office at 715-478-3371 with any questions or concerns.