From the Monroe County Health Department
The Monroe County Health Department will offer appointments for free COVID-19 vaccinations at the office location, 315 W. Oak St., Sparta, on the following dates and times:
• All Fridays in March from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Other locations:
• Monday, March 28, from 5–7 p.m. at the Norwalk Community Health Center gym (200 North St., Norwalk)
Vaccinations are one important tool that can help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at reducing the severity of illness and risk of hospitalization and death caused by COVID-19.
Current available vaccines include:
·• Pfizer — Requires two doses three weeks apart. Available to those age 12 and older. Booster dose available to those age 12 and older who have completed the original series at least five months prior.
• Pfizer 5-11Y — Requires two doses three weeks apart. Available to those 5–11 years old.
• Moderna — Requires two doses four weeks apart. Available to those age 18 and older. Booster dose available to those age 18 and older who have completed the original series at least five months prior.
All Covid-19 vaccinations are provided for free. No insurance is required.
Pre-registration is preferred. To book an appointment, visit https://vaccinate.wi.gov or call the Monroe County Health Department at (608) 269-8666 during business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday). You may also email questions to covid19@co.monroe.wi.us.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted its full approval to both Pfizer (Comirnity) and Moderna (Spikevax) COVID-19 vaccines. For more information on these approvals, visit https://www.fda.gov/.
The FDA has issued an emergency-use authorization for the Pfizer 5-11Y vaccine for children from 5–11 years old. The vaccine requires two doses three weeks apart. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recommend that everyone age 5 and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
The FDA has authorized a booster dose of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccines. Booster doses are strongly recommended for people who are the greatest risk for severe disease, such as people who are 12 years and older and live in a long-term care setting and everyone age 50and older.
The FDA and CDC recommendations allow for mix-and-match dosing for booster doses. Those 18 and older can choose which vaccine to receive as a booster dose no matter which vaccine was given as the primary series. CDC recommends people receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) over Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, those from 12–16 years old are authorized to receive only a Pfizer vaccine booster dose. Additional doses for immunocompromised individuals should be from the same manufacturer, as the original two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series.
For additional information about locations in Monroe County to get vaccinated, visit http://healthymonroecowi.org/vaccine. For the most current information on vaccines, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health website page https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-data.htm or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/.
Follow the Monroe County Health Department Facebook page for more.
