As vaccine flows, variants found in area, health official urges caution

A free flowing supply of vaccine and an increasing number of vaccinators providing shots means that whoever wants to be vaccinated against Covid-19 can be, but the top health official in Ozaukee County said residents should remain cautious, especially as new variants of the virus have cropped up in Ozaukee and Washington counties.

Meanwhile, Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday that everyone 16 and older is eligible to receive the vaccine beginning April 5, regardless of their health condition. 

The state Department of Health Services announced last week that a variant to the Covid-19 virus, the Brazilian, or P.1., variant, was found in Ozaukee County, the first such case in the state.

That comes two weeks after the local health department announced that the U.K., or B.1.1.7., variant was found in Washington County.

According to the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the variants are natural mutations of the coronavirus and spread more easily and quickly, but are controllable with the current available vaccines.

“A lot is still being learned about the variants,” Washington Ozaukee Public Health Interim Director Tyler Weber said. “I would exercise a little more caution around the Brazilian variant, but from what I read the vaccine has some degree of effectiveness.”

He said the fact that mutations are occurring is reason for continued use of masks and maintaining social distancing.

Meanwhile, the flow of vaccine continues to increase and is becoming more available through private sources.

The state recently announced more pharmacies are offering the vaccine, including Costco and CVS. 

“Those are just indicators that more vaccine is coming through and there are more locations where you can get the vaccine,” Weber said.

The City of Mequon announced recently that mass vaccination clinics will be held at City Hall, 11333 Cedarburg Rd., from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Wednesday, March 31, through Friday, April 9, and from Wednesday, April 21, through Friday, April 30. 

The clinic is open to all Ozaukee and Washington county residents, Weber said.

To register, visit Midland Health’s online scheduler at onsitehealthtesting.com/signup/mch  and search for: Mequon City Hall. 

Weber said it’s unlikely his department will schedule a mass clinic, as he suggested a few weeks ago.

“There seems to be so much vaccine coming through at so many locations, there may not be a need,” he said.

His department continues to provide vaccinations at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds in Cedarburg and at the Washington County Fairgrounds near West Bend three days a week, vaccinating those who register on the department’s website at www.washozwi.gov.

His department’s waiting list for vaccines a few weeks ago had a backlog of 2,000 or more people, but Weber said the department has worked through that group.

“We’re getting to everyone now who registers within a few days,” he said.

That’s because the health department’s allotment of the vaccine from the state has risen from just a few hundred doses each week to 1,300 last week to 1,400 this week.

Weber said he expects that allotment to continue, if not increase.

“The state is filling most of our request,” he said.

Weber said an uptick in the number of active cases has continued as people have become more relaxed about mask wearing and social distancing.

According to the health department website, there are 246 active coronavirus cases in Ozaukee County, about the same number as over the last month but down from 388 on Feb. 24 and up from just five on Feb. 11.

While the number is up, Weber said he’s not alarmed.

“We’re not seeing any major concern from our data. We’re not seeing any increase in hospitalizations or deaths. But we still recommend mask wearing,” he said. 

The state DHS announced that 1 million people in Wisconsin have completed their Covid-19 vaccine series and are fully vaccinated against the disease.

Nearly 3 million people have received at least one dose.

In Ozaukee County, 36.5% of all residents have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 80.5% of all residents 65 and older have received at least one dose.

Covid-19 testing continues at the county fairgrounds. To register, visit www.curative.com to schedule an appointment.