Madison Reporter

Dane County local health officials are encouraging residents to get their booster shots after COVID-9 transmission levels recently shot up.

COVID-19 transmission rates across the area have now spiked to "medium" levels, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

"While this increase is a cause of concern and caution, it is not a cause for alarm," Janel Heinrich, director of Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC), told WMTV. "We have always been clear that this pandemic is not over, we expect to see peaks and valleys in the number of cases in our community. Following these risk levels helps people make informed decisions and take proactive steps to stay healthy."

PHMDC said that COVID-19 cases have been on the rise recently, with a seven-day rolling average for cases sitting at 159 per day, WMTV reported. To determine transmission levels, the CDC looks at seven-day records of cases per 100,000 citizens, hospital bed availability and new hospitalizations.

The PHMDC's main goals are mitigating deaths and hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, WMTV reported.

"We do that by staying up to date on our vaccinations," Heinrich said. "So if you are among the 20% of our population currently eligible for boosters but have not gotten them, now is the time to get up to date."

Residents can visit their health care providers, clinics and mobile clinics, and pharmacies to get their vaccines and booster shots, WMTV reported.

Waunakee Hometown Pharmacy pharmacist Heather Walker said people are only eligible for a second booster shot four months after their first booster if they're at least 50 years old, or at least 18 years old if they're immunocompromised, WMTV reported.

"We get a lot of people asking questions," Walker told WMTV. "We have people scheduling appointments but they're not 50 yet so we have to cancel those."

Walker said immunocompromised individuals should enhance their immunity with a second booster shot, WMTV reported.

"Certainly if you're traveling and you're going to be among a whole bunch of people it might not be a bad idea to get a booster just so you have a little higher antibody level during the time you're traveling," Walker said.