Public Health Madison & Dane County

COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccine is not likely to be available to the public until spring 2021 or later

Groups Currently Eligible for Vaccine (Tier 1a and people 65 and older)

Dane County is following Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ (DHS) guidelines for vaccine prioritization. We do not decide who is in each tier. The following groups are currently eligible for vaccine:

• Frontline healthcare workers 
• Fire and police personnel
• EMS staff
• People who are 65 years old or older 

I’m a frontline healthcare worker. What should I do?

Medical workers classified as Tier 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 Tier 1a.

If your Dane County organization has Tier 1a medical workers:

• Check with your organization’s healthcare system about vaccine availability.
• If you are not affiliated with a healthcare system that is able to vaccinate, Public Health Madison & Dane County may be able to provide your workers with vaccine or match you with another vaccinator. If you’re a volunteer, then that agency is your employer. If you’re a home health worker, then you should be licensed and can use the name on that business license. If you’re self-employed, then register like a business.
  • Have one person from your organization fill out this survey.
  • Public Health will follow-up with you to collect names and contact information of individuals eligible for vaccine.
  • Individuals will be matched with appointments as vaccine becomes available.

I’m 65 years old or older. What should I do?

• Dane County has begun vaccinating people 65 years old and older, per state guidelines.

  • If you have a local healthcare provider, they should be reaching out to you, based on vaccine availability. You can also visit your provider's website for more instructions. Below are websites to a few of the most common providers in the area:

    • Group Health Cooperative
    • SSM Health
    • UnityPoint Health
    • University Health Services
    • UW Health
  • If you do not have a local healthcare provider, Public Health Madison & Dane County will be able to vaccinate you or match you with a vaccinator in Dane County. A sign-up form will be added to this page this week.
• Please note that there are 700,000 people in Wisconsin who fall into this age group but Wisconsin is only receiving about 70,000 first doses per week. Not everyone in this age group will be able to be vaccinated immediately.

Groups That May Be Eligible for Vaccine Soon (Tier 1b)

Dane County is following Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ (DHS) guidelines for vaccine prioritization. We do not decide who is in each tier. A draft document with Tier 1b definitions has not been formalized by DHS yet. We expect this to happen the week of January 18. While Tier 1b has not been finalized, it may include:

• Educators
• First responders
• Non-frontline healthcare workers
• Congregate living facility staff

I’m in a group that may be eligible for vaccine soon. What should I do?

• We are collecting preliminary information from employers and organizations that might employ Tier 1b staff.
• If you believe your organization has employees who might be in Tier 1b, please have one person register your organization.
• Once Tier 1b definitions are finalized, we will contact your organization with instructions on how your staff can individually register for a vaccination.
• Although Tier 1b might include anyone over a certain age, this specific survey is for employers and organizations who believe they might have Tier 1b essential workers.

Stay Up-to-Date

• For the latest data on vaccine distribution in Dane County, see our weekly Data Snapshots. Please note the Dane County vaccination progress is only updated by the state once per week.
• To stay up-to-date on vaccine rollout statewide, subscribe to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' weekly newsletter.

More Information About the Vaccine

Read our series of blog posts about how the vaccine is developed, who gets it first and why, safety, and more. 

• A COVID Vaccine Has Been Authorized
• COVID-19 Vaccine: Who Gets It First And Why?
• How We Know the COVID-19 Vaccine is Safe

Other sources of credible vaccine information:

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Centers for Disease Control