Wisconsin DHS Encourages Healthcare Providers to Enroll in COVID-19 Vaccination Program

Despite promising news about vaccines, many logistical questions remain in Wisconsin’s local health department.

On Monday, pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced that the COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 90% effective, according to clinical results released by the company. However, at Wisconsin, plans for how and by whom the final vaccine will be distributed are still in its infancy.

Wisconsin Health Department Encourages Healthcare Providers on Monday Press release Register with the state COVID-19 vaccine program If you plan to administer the vaccine once it is available to the public.

“We are encouraging providers planning to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to enroll in the program as soon as possible,” said Julie Willems Van Dyck, Deputy Secretary of DHS... “The earlier we start enrolling vaccinated people, the more we will be ready when a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.”

Abbey Ruth, a media specialist at the La Crosse County Health Department, told WPR that the department would enroll in the program, but it’s unclear what role it will play.

“We know that our health sector plays a role,” Ruth said. “It’s a little too early, so I still don’t know what that role will be.”

Judy Burrows, a spokesman for the Marathon County Health Department, also said her department would enroll in the state’s vaccination program. She said certain coronavirus vaccines have not yet been finalized, but local health officials are working to cover their bases.

On October 26, DHS released an executive summary of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination program. The one-page document is ambiguous and states that many vaccines are under development, but it has identified a step-by-step approach to vaccination of the public.

The first phase involves vaccination of health care workers who treat high-risk populations of health care workers who have been exposed to COVID-19 or who live in care facilities. Second stage issued when “vaccine supply is sufficient” Will expand to include the general public.

DHS expects to participate in the Federal Pharmacy Partner Program, which combines long-term care and assisted living facilities with vaccination pharmacies. The document states that the local and tribal health departments, along with hospitals, “play an important role in vaccination of critical populations,” but it does not specify what those populations are.

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According to Burroughs, the H1N1 pandemic in the late 2000s has given health departments and other healthcare providers experience of mass vaccination, despite the sheer number of unknowns.

The Pfizer vaccine and other vaccines in the Phase 3 trial require two doses and a very low temperature to keep the vaccine viable before injection. Burroughs says it raises other questions for all healthcare providers.

“Ultimately, when we are able to vaccinate the general public, we need to make sure that everything we need to vaccinate safely and effectively is logistically in place.” Said Burrows. “And it involves something like refrigeration of vaccines.”

She said that Pfizer vaccines in particular should be stored at -90 degrees Fahrenheit.ancestor.

“It’s very likely that different equipment will be needed to ensure that the vaccine stays cold,” Burroughs said.

Dr. Jonathan Temte, Vice Dean of Public Health and Community Engagement at UW-Madison Medical College and School of Public Health, is part of a state subcommittee planning the final distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. .. He is working hard in Wisconsin to come up with the fairest and ethical approach to distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to those at risk and those who perform important functions. Said that there is.

“”So getting rid of this will be very, very important. That way we can get closer to life again in a more normal way, “Temte said.

Another major hurdle for local, state, and national health authorities is to persuade the majority of the population to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Burroughs said education would be part of the preparation.

A Pew Research Center research In September, 51% of adults said they would undoubtedly or perhaps be vaccinated if the vaccine was currently available. However, 49% say they are definitely or probably not vaccinated at this time. According to Pugh, the proportion of adults trying to get the vaccine dropped by 21 points between May and September.