MADISON, Wis. – Starting today, UW Health clinics in Wisconsin will begin administering COVID-19 vaccines to eligible patients and staff, which includes individuals ages six months and older requesting the vaccine, including pregnant patients.
On Monday, Oct. 6, patients can schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments by calling a UW Health clinic directly or through MyChart. No prescription is required.
As the respiratory illness season begins, UW Health encourages everyone to get the latest influenza and COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves and their loved ones. Getting vaccinated does not mean a person cannot catch a respiratory virus, but if they do, it helps protect against severe symptoms and lowers the risk of hospitalization or death, according to Dr. Jim Conway, medical director, UW Health immunization program and an infectious disease physician with UW Health Kids.
“By getting vaccinated, you decrease your chances of getting infected, or, if you do get infected, it’s more likely to be a milder case,” said Conway, who is also a professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Everyone who can should get the vaccines, but especially those who are 65 and older or individuals with high-risk factors.”
If a UW Health patient is already scheduled for a flu vaccine, a COVID-19 shot can be offered at the same appointment, and there is no need to schedule an additional visit.
