Crawford County Cancelling Johnson & Johnson
 (Janssen) Clinics

Crawford County, WI - April 13, 2021 - Crawford County Public Health is cancelling all scheduled Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine clinics that were scheduled for this week.  We have removed the registration links from our website and will contact those already scheduled to offer Moderna or Pfizer vaccine instead.
   The following is a Joint CDC and FDA Statement on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine:
As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous, and alternative treatments need to be given.
   CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Wednesday to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. FDA will review that analysis as it also investigates these cases. Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution. This is important, in part, to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan for proper recognition and management due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot.
   Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government, and we take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously. People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider. Health care providers are asked to report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System at https://link.zixcentral.com/u/4dc7d1dd/zCB-BVqc6xGWnAHjhnsoMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Fvaers.hhs.gov%2Freportevent.html
   CDC and FDA will provide additional information and answer questions later today at a media briefing. A recording of that media call will be available on the FDA’s YouTube channel.

Gov. Evers, DHS Announce Everyone 16 and Older
 Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine Starting April 5

March 30’ 2021 - Wisconsin leads the nation in getting available shots in arms
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), today announced everyone age 16 and over will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 5, 2021. Wisconsin currently leads the nation in being one of the most efficient vaccinators for getting available shots in arms. With increased vaccine supply and an accelerated vaccination pace in recent weeks, the state is able to push the eligibility date four weeks earlier than expected.
   “We knew all along our COVID-19 vaccination program would be a massive undertaking, and we’re proud Wisconsin is currently leading the country in these efforts and that we’re now able to give all Wisconsinites 16 and older the opportunity to get vaccinated,” said Gov. Evers. “This marks a major milestone in our state’s fight against this virus and gets us closer to overcoming this pandemic and bouncing back together. Thank you to all the folks in public health, vaccinators, and staff helping make this possible.”
   While everyone will be eligible starting April 5, some areas of the state may have a higher demand for vaccinations and may have waitlists. Vaccine providers will prioritize anyone previously eligible such as public-facing essential workers and people with medical conditions.
   There continue to be many options available for getting vaccinated, including through DHS, federal, and local community-based vaccination clinics, pharmacies, healthcare providers, local and tribal health departments, and employers. 
   More information about each of these options is available on the COVID-19 where to get vaccinated page. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for individuals age 16 and 17.
   To find a local vaccine provider visit the COVID-19 vaccine provider map or visit https://vaccinefinder.org. Individuals can also call the toll-free vaccine hotline at 1-844-684-1064 with questions or help registering for a vaccination appointment. The hotline is also available in Hindi, Hmong, Somali, and Spanish.
   Certain vaccine providers are using the COVID-19 Vaccine Registry. Anyone can register for an appointment using the COVID-19 vaccine registry. After you register, you will be notified when you are able to schedule an appointment. Appointments are based on whether a vaccine provider in your area uses the registry for scheduling and has available vaccine, and your place on the waitlist. Other vaccine providers may use their own scheduling system.

“We have built-up a strong network of vaccine providers across the state. Every community is different, some providers may have openings and others may have waitlists but I assure you that anyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one in the coming weeks,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to reach 80 percent community immunity in Wisconsin.”

DHS and Laboratory Partners Confirm a Third
Variant Strain of SARS-CoV-2 in Wisconsin

DHS confirms variant P.1 and an additional case of variant B.1.351
On March 25 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and laboratory partners confirmed a third variant strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in Wisconsin. This variant strain, referred to as P.1, differs from variant B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, which have both previously been confirmed in Wisconsin.
   The newest variant P.1, was first discovered in 4 travelers from Brazil who were tested at an airport near Tokyo, Japan in early January. According to epidemiologic and modeling studies, researchers have found that this new strain, similar to B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, spreads more rapidly and easily than the original strain of SARS-CoV-2.     
   However, this variant has unique mutations that may affect the ability of antibodies, generated through previous COVID-19 infection or through vaccination, to recognize and fight off the virus. This means variant P.1 may be able to more easily infect people. View the entire news release.

COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out to
the Community Update

March 8, 2021 - Crawford County Health Department is now opening our registration link to everyone who is currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin.   The eligible groups include:
   Health care workers (paid & unpaid);
   Long-term care staff and residents;
   Police-fire-correctional institute personnel;
   Individuals age 65 and older;
   Education and childcare staff;
   Individuals enrolled in Medicaid Long-Term Care programs (IRIS, Family Care, Katie Beckett);
   911 Operators;
   Utility & communications workers;
   Public Transit;
   Food supply chain workers;
   Non-frontline essential health care personnel;
   Congregate living facility staff and residents.
   Breakdown of who qualifies in each of these categories can be found on the Department of Health Services website: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-about.htm
   Eligibility within many of these groups is based on their employment.  This will require some type of proof of eligibility upon receipt of the vaccine (ex. copy of pay stub, work ID cards, letter from employer using employer’s letterhead).
   This week, Crawford County Public Health has been allotted 156 doses of Pfizer for first dose vaccinations.  We have scheduled individuals into a clinic in Seneca from our current waiting list.  “We are moving more quickly than we anticipated through our waitlist as more vaccine is flowing to our vaccinators in our county, but we continue to ask everyone to please remain patient”, says Cindy Riniker. 
   To complete registration for the vaccine and be added to our waitlist, please register on-line at https://www.crawfordcountywi.org/health.html or call our office at 608-326-0229 and we help with the registration process.

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