COVID-19 Vaccine Information
COVID-19 vaccine is not likely to be available to the public until Spring 2021 or later
Current Vaccine Groups and Distribution Status
Despite COVID-19 vaccine becoming available, there will not be enough doses right away to vaccinate everyone. As a result, there will be a series of group recommendations for who should receive vaccine first. Recommendations for which groups receive the vaccine first come from the federal and state level (Food & Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and Wisconsin Department of Health Services). We will work with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and follow these priority groups.
Currently, Walworth County is accepting vaccine registration for:
We are not currently accepting vaccine registration for any other category at this time and continue to follow the guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Complete COVID-19 Vaccine Registration here |
The first group will focus on frontline health care workers with the highest risk of exposure. It will also focus on people who work or live in long-term care facilities. It is unknown exactly how long giving vaccine to the first group will take.
Medical workers classified as Phase 1A are currently eligible for vaccine. This is defined as “Individuals who provide direct patient service (compensated and uncompensated) or engage in healthcare services that place them into contact with patients who are able to transmit SARS-CoV-2, and/or infectious material containing SARS-CoV-2 virus.” See a list of medical workers who are eligible in Phase 1A (PDF) PDF PDF .*
If you meet the classification for Phase 1A, please review the following guidance:
- Check with your organization’s healthcare system about vaccine availability
- If you are not affiliated with a healthcare system that is able to vaccinate, Walworth County Public Health may be able to provide you with a vaccine or match you with another vaccinator.
- Individuals should fill out the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration here .
- If you are an employer wanting to register your organization, everyone within the organization will need to complete their own registration by completing the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration above.
Please note, if you do not meet the classification for Phase 1A, there is no "waitlist" for the vaccine or any action needed from you at this time
(click the above tabs for: Ages 65+ Information, Phase 1B information and Subsequent Phases)
Starting January 25, 2021, residents who are 65 years old or older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 Vaccination. If you are aged 65 and older and have a healthcare provider they will likely be in contact with you when it is your turn to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you are aged 65 or older and do not have a healthcare provider, you can sign up to be matched with a vaccine provider through Walworth County Public Health by completing the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration form here.
It may take weeks or months before you are connected to a vaccine provider as there remains a national shortage.
Currently Phase 1b includes Fire/EMS, Law Enforcement, Correctional Facilities, and Ages 65+ and older. The next groups to be added to Phase 1b will be determined by Wisconsin DHS and communicated once these group definitions are finalized. Walworth County Public Health, local healthcare and community partners are working on plans for giving the vaccine in equitable, ethical, and transparent ways.
We will communicate updates through media briefings, our partners, website, and press releases. You can register to get updates on Phase 1b vaccine registration status from Walworth County via the alert center on the website here.
We want to ensure that everyone who can and wants to be vaccinated is able to access a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Please note, however, that there is a significantly larger number of people within Phase 1b, and that vaccine availability is still limited. Not everyone in this group will be able to be vaccinated immediately, and the process of vaccinating all groups in Phase 1b will likely take months. We thank you for you patience as you wait to become eligible and/or contacted.
It is unknown exactly how long giving vaccine to the first groups will take. We do not anticipate the COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available to the general public until Spring 2021 or later. As production of vaccines increase to the point of being widely available, we will be sure to communicate widely and frequently.
Public Health is not currently registering for Subsequent Phases. We will communicate updates through media briefings, our partners, website, and press releases. You can register to get updates on vaccine registration status for Subsequent Phases from Walworth County via the alert center on the website here.
While vaccination is an essential component towards ending the pandemic, please click here to find additional ways to help