Vaccination optimism tempered by new cases

More than one-quarter of all Ozaukee County residents and nearly three-quarters of those 65 and older have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, but the good news in the fight against the pandemic is tempered by an uptick in new coronavirus infections.

“We’re seeing a slight trend upwards — and when I say slight I mean slight — but no major spikes, so it’s close to being a plateau, which is overall good news, but there’s still room for caution,” Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department Interim Health Officer Tyler Weber said. 

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, between March 24 and April 6 the Covid-19 infection rate statewide was 139.7 cases per 100,000 residents, compared to 136.9 in Ozaukee County and 125.7 in Washington County, rates which are characterized by the DHS as “high case activity.”

Factoring into the increase in cases are Covid-19 variants.

“We are detecting more and more Covid variants, including the U.K. variant and, most recently, the Brazilian variant,” Weber said, referring to test results in Ozaukee and Washington counties. “The U.K. variant is pretty widespread across the state and may become the most dominant strain in both counties and the state.”

Both variants, he said are more contagious and may spread more rapidly and easily among younger populations. 

  Weber said the recent uptick in Covid infections in Ozaukee County is likely due to “a combination of things,” including the emergence of Covid variants and “pandemic fatigue” among a population weary of social distancing and mask-wearing, “which is entirely understandable.” 

Weber said it’s also likely that there’s a tendency among people to let their guard down  “now that the vaccine is out there and more of the population gets vaccinated.”

“The good news is there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and every week there’s more and more of the population vaccinated,” he said. “The good news is Ozaukee County is doing really well with 45.2% of the entire population having had at least one dose and 28.4% of the residents having completed the vaccine. 

“To have over 45% of the population with a first dose and we’re only in mid-April is, I think, a great achievement, and that number will continue to increase.”

Among Ozaukee County residents age 65 and older, Weber said 84.2% have received at least one dose.

  In a report to the Aging and Disability Resource Center Board/Commission on Aging on Monday, Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department Interim Health Strategy Director Anneke Mohr reported that 73.5% of Ozaukee County residents age 65 and older have received both doses.

“We’re looking really good,” she noted.

Helping in the rollout of vaccines in Ozaukee County, Weber said, is the increasing availability of doses.

Interviewed on Monday, Weber said 6,700 vaccine doses were administered in Ozaukee County last week, bringing the county total to 64,700 doses.

“There’s vaccine available at most local pharmacies — Meijer, Costco, Roundy’s, Walgreen’s, CVS — our hospital systems and other independent health care, as well as the health department,” he said. “It was a very difficult challenge early on, one to two months ago, for people to get vaccinated because of the limited supply of vaccine and vaccinators out there, but it should be much easier now for people to get a vaccine. There are still people that are challenged in finding a vaccine so we certainly haven’t won yet, but we’re on a good trajectory.”

In Washington County, Weber characterized the pace of vaccinations as “good,” albeit “a little slower” than that in Ozaukee County.

“There are more vaccinators in Ozaukee County than Washington County, which is a big driver in the difference,” he said.

In Washington County, Weber said, 34% of all residents have had their first dose of vaccine, a number that rises to more than 76% among those age 65 and older.

As of April 5, people age 16 and older were eligible to receive Covid-19 vaccinations. 

To find a vaccine provider, visit the Department of Health Services website at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-map.htm. 

For additional local information on Covid-19, visit the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department website at www.washozwi.gov.