Submitted by Wisconsin Central Time NEWS Editorial Staff
As of April 3, 2021, 27.1% of Marathon County residents have received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 15.3% have completed the vaccine series, as reported by Marathon County Health Officer Joan M. Theurer in her April 5, 2021, Marathon County Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situational Report (PDF). But those vaccination numbers are about to increase dramatically with the opening of a new, large-scale Community-Based Vaccination Clinic (CBVC) in Marathon County on April 6, 2021.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk urged those 16 and older to register to get the vaccine, stating:
“For 7 years, I had the privilege to serve Marathon County as their Public Health Officer and called Wausau home for many years. I want to encourage everyone [eligible] in Northcentral Wisconsin to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity. These vaccines are not only incredibly safe but they are very effective at preventing illness from COVID-19. And these vaccines save lives.”
Here’s a rundown of the key details for the new COVID-19 Community-Based Vaccination Clinic in Marathon County…
Who Is Eligible to Sign Up to Receive the Vaccine?
- Anyone ages 16 years and older in Northcentral Wisconsin can now register to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. (NOTE: Minors who are 16 or 17 years old require parental consent to receive the vaccine.)
How Do You Register to Receive the 2-Dose Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine at the New Clinic?
- You must register for your COVID-19 vaccination appointment online through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Vaccine Registry system at: https://vaccinate.wi.gov/en-US.
- If you do not have a cell phone or computer, you may request assistance from staff at the Department of Health Services with registering online by calling the DHS toll-free at 1-844-684-1064.
- PLEASE NOTE: Staff at the Marathon County Health Department and Northcentral Technical College are NOT able to take your registration. They are not equipped to schedule appointments for this clinic; you MUST use the DHS registry system available at: https://vaccinate.wi.gov/en-US or you can use the phone service referenced above.
- After clicking the “Register now to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment” button, you’ll fill out a brief questionnaire, choose a date and time for your vaccine appointment, and then receive a QR code to either print and bring with you or show staff on your phone the day of your appointment.
- NOTE: After receiving the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, you will be required to wait onsite for at least 15 minutes for observation of any possible adverse reactions.
- Your second-dose appointment date will be scheduled onsite at the clinic the day of your first dose. It must be at least 21 days from the date of your first dose.
- For vaccine-related questions, appointment registration support, or for those who are experiencing website difficulties, call DHS toll-free at 1-844-684-1064.
- For more information on other available COVID-19 vaccination options, visit the Where can I get vaccinated?
Where is the Vaccination Clinic?
- The clinic is located at Northcentral Technical College — Center for Business & Industry building. The address is 1000 W Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 54401. NOTE: After you register online, the location will appear in your confirmation email as: DHS-CBVC-Marathon, 1000 W Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 54401. This is correct. Registration for the Northcentral Technical College site in Marathon County is facilitated by the Department of Health Services (DHS) and is called a Community-Based Vaccination Clinic (CBVC).
- Parking is available directly in front of the NTC Center for Business & Industry building, so walking distance is minimal.
- The clinic site is on a bus route and is handicap accessible.
When Is the Clinic Open?
- The clinic is open for appointments Tuesday through Saturday from April 6 through the end of June 2021. Hours are currently 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Interpretation services are available during all clinic hours. (See details below.)
When Am I Considered Fully Vaccinated After Receiving the Pfizer 2-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine?
- You are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if it has been 2 or more weeks since you got your second dose in a two-dose series (such as with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine), or 1 dose of a single-dose vaccine (such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine).
Why Get Vaccinated?
- The COVID-19 vaccine will prevent a person from serious illness and death related to COVID-19 disease.
- By getting vaccinated, we will be able to resume more of the activities we enjoy sooner. On March 29, 2021, Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that 1 million people in Wisconsin had completed their COVID-19 vaccine series were fully vaccinated against the disease, stating:
“We’re happy to see folks in Wisconsin doing their part and getting vaccinated when it is their turn. Keep up the good work, and we’ll be back to our Wisconsin way of life before you know it.”
How Much Does the Vaccine Cost?
- The vaccine is free of charge. No proof of insurance, identification, or citizenship is required (though having an ID helps speed the registration process along when you get there).
How Many People Can Receive the Vaccine Per Day at the Clinic Located at NTC?
- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) contracted with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare — a business that specializes in setting up and managing community clinics. AMI then partnered with the Marathon County Health Department, Northcentral Technical College, and others in the community to create a clinic in Marathon County that is currently able to vaccinate 400+ people per day with the capability to vaccinate up to 1,000 people per day as more vaccine becomes available from the Federal government.
If I’ve Already Had 1 Shot Elsewhere, Can I Register for My Second Shot at This Community Clinic?
- You should get your second dose at the place you received your first dose.
Are There Services to Assist Hmong & Spanish Speakers?
- In-person assistance for Hmong or Spanish speakers is available on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Hmong or Spanish interpreting assistance via iPads or phones is available every day all hours that the clinic is open.
Can I Stop Wearing a Mask After I Receive the First Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine?
- It depends. For now, fully vaccinated people can gather indoors without physical distancing or wearing masks with:
- Other people who are fully vaccinated
- Unvaccinated people from 1 other household, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19
Until more is known, fully vaccinated people should continue to wear masks and stay 6 feet apart from other people in other settings, like when they are in public or visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households.
Additional recommendations can be found at When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.
Where Can You Get Updates or More Information About the COVID-19 Vaccine or Vaccination Clinics?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), a link to the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration page, and more can be found at: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-registry.htm
- Northcentral Technical College staff will NOT be able to answer questions about the Community-Based Vaccination Clinic or the COVID-19 vaccine. Please do not call them.
- Visit the Marathon County Health Department Facebook page or COVID-19 webpage for further details.
- Sign up for Marathon County’s Alert System — powered by the Everbridge smartphone app — to receive updates and messages about the COVID-19 vaccine and other important county-related messages.
View instructions on how to download the Everbridge app here.
View Health Officer Joan M. Theurer’s latest video announcement about the new clinic below, and her April 5, 2021, Situational Report (PDF) here.
Thank you for your continual actions to keep our Marathon County community safe!
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