The following is a message from the Department of Health Services and the Division of Public Health.

Sending Reminders To Your Clients

We are seeing large decreases in immunization coverage rates across Wisconsin since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To support your efforts in bringing back into your clinics the cohort of children in need of catch-up immunizations, we want to provide resources for recalling patients the (clients) in the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR).

WIR offers reminder and recall (R/R) letters, postcards, and address labels you can use to help reach your clients. Reminder letters can be used for patients with upcoming appointments. While recall letters can be used when a patient falls behind with appointments.

For questions and guidance about the WIR Reminder/Recall tools, email the WIR Help Desk(DHSWIRHelp@wi.gov) or call 608-266-9691.

Note: In response to population inflation within the registry, changes to WIR client status are being developed that are intended to improve R/R lists. You may see (especially local health departments) jurisdiction cohorts become more manageable once these changes are put into place. More information to come.

Strengthen Their Circle Campaign

On June 8, 2020 we are launching a social media campaign targeting pregnant people and their partners. The campaign encourages soon to be parents to plan to protect their baby against vaccine preventable diseases after they are born. Additional resources will be available to you on our website to support the Strengthen Their Circle campaign in up coming weeks.

Influenza

Vaccine Data By County Updated

We recently updated the Influenza Vaccination Rates by county for the 2019–2020 season.

Planning for a Safe 2020–2021 Influenza Vaccination Season

Vaccinating a majority of your patients against influenza this fall will be vital to reducing morbidity and mortality that would impact already fragile communities and high risk groups, as well as further strain medical facilities and the need for PPE. Using recommendations such as reminder letters listed above, we encourage you and your practice to begin considering the following:

  • How will you communicate to all of your patients about the importance of an annual influenza vaccine?
  • How do you plan to let patients know when they can come in for a flu vaccine appointment?
  • How will you safely provide influenza vaccines as well as other recommended vaccines?
  • How will you increase influenza vaccination and aim to do so earlier compared to previous seasons?