COVID-19 testing, vaccination registration under way

By Chris Spangler  

Contributor   

Wisconsin soon will be launching online registration for coronavirus vaccinations.

The state is working with Microsoft to set up the online system, and on Feb. 15, its software will begin being tested in 10 communities.

Meanwhile, Jefferson County residents may sign up for the COVID-19 vaccinations through the county Health Department and Fort HealthCare.

Since arriving in March 2020, the coronavirus has sickened 7,643 county residents and claimed the lives of at least 73. There also have been 907 probable cases with six more deaths related to COVID-19.

The City of Fort Atkinson has recorded 1,677 COVID-19 confirmed cases of the virus.

The county’s 14-day rolling average of confirmed and probable coronavirus cases is 31 new cases daily per 100,000 residents, for a total 437 during that time period.

Demand for vaccinations is exceeding supply. For instance, on Jan. 30, it took three to four minutes to fill up 500 available appointments for vaccinations through the Jefferson County Health Department.

That marked the first time that persons age 65 and older could start calling in to set up a time for a shot.

To be invited to call, residents submit a survey that is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/65EKDIS. They then are contacted with instructions to call in at a certain time and day to set up an appointment.

But on Jan. 30, all 500 appointments were gone within minutes, leaving some 3,500 more callers hoping to be able to get through in time the next week.

Currently eligible to sign up for vaccinations are frontline and long-term healthcare workers, emergency and corrections personnel, nursing home residents and persons age 65 and essential workers. 

Starting on March 1, the county Health Department will register eligible individuals through a survey to be posted on its website, dashboard and social media. To sign up, visit https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/community/residents/vaccine.php. 

As before, once the survey is posted and individuals sign up, the county will email all eligible persons, notifying them of available appointments. 

“We will notify all individuals who have signed up 24 hours before appointments are made available so that you can prepare accordingly,” the health agency said.

Groups that will be eligible starting March 1 include education and childcare staff, individuals enrolled in Medicaid long-term care programs, some public-facing essential workers, non-frontline healthcare essential personnel, and facility staff and residents in congregate living settings.

“We will be verifying appointments, eligibility and/or age at our clinics, so make sure to bring an ID or other document that reliably conveys your eligibility to your appointment,” the health agency said. “Any work ID/badge, paystub, or other document that reliably conveys your eligibility will be appropriate.”

Only Jefferson County residents may register at this time. 

Jefferson County has been receiving both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines as availability allows. 

For questions on eligibility, or for individuals aged 65 or older who cannot sign up using the survey, please email the department at Vaccine@JeffersonCounty.gov. More information is available at: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine.

Meanwhile, Fort HealthCare also is taking the names of persons wishing to be vaccinated.

They should visit FortHealthCare.com/VaccineSignUp to complete the COVID-19 interest form for being placed on a waiting list. Eligible patients age 65 and older will receive an invitation to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. 

“While this interest form does not guarantee an immediate appointment or replace the scheduling process, we may contact you for same-day appointments if they become available,” Fort HealthCare said.

Priority scheduling will be given to current Fort HealthCare primary care patients, although availability is open to the public. To expedite access to the vaccine, it is recommended that current primary care patients sign up for a MyCompass account through self-enrollment that is located on the Fort HealthCare website.

Meanwhile, the Jefferson County Health Department reminds the public that the Wisconsin National Guard is continuing to provide COVID-19 testing twice a week at the Jefferson County Parks Department shop, located at 1555 S. Industrial Drive, Jefferson.

Note the location change from the county’s Fair Park, where it was in the past.

Testing takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays, Feb. 12, 19 and 26 and March 5, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, Feb. 13, 20 and 27 and March 6.

Testing is subject to cancelation due to weather. 

Anyone age 5 and older is welcome and one need not have exhibited any symptoms to participate.

While the health department can vaccinate anyone, due to a vaccine shortage, the health department is working to offer vaccines first to those living and working in Jefferson County. 

Persons should sign up at Register.covidconnect.wi.gov. Those not registered will be assisted by the National Guard upon arrival.

For more information, visit Jeffersoncountywi.gov/Test4Covid.

In addition, community testing is taking place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Community Engagement Center, 1260 W. Main St., Whitewater.

Persons who want to receive a rapid-results test that is available in about 15 minutes should register at doineedacovid19test.com or call 1-800-635-8611. Those who test positive through the rapid-results test will be urged to get a confirmatory PCR test.

Individuals do not have to be experiencing symptoms or be a close contact of someone with COVID-19 to get a test, nor do they need to live in the community where the testing site is located.