The latest data shows the COVID-19 vaccination rate in Wisconsin is decreasing.
The Department of Health Services reports providers administered 36,173 COVID-19 doses Tuesday. That's a nearly 61 percent drop from when numbers peaked to 91,950 on March 31 of this year.
Health officials in Northeast Wisconsin said they've noticed a similar downward trend.
"We're seeing a bit of a decline in the number of folks coming out to get vaccinated each day," said Sharla Baenen, Bellin Health chief operating officer.
Baenen said staff vaccinated between 800 and 1,000 people at the Lambeau site last week. She said numbers are now down between 20 and 30 percent.
"A lot of folks are completing their second doses, so that's contributing to the decrease in volumes," Baenen said.
Debra Konitzer, Oconto County Public Health officer, said they've also seen less interest in vaccine appointments lately, especially from young people.
"We've done a good job of getting at the 65 and older population and those with underlying health conditions," Konitzer said. "We've done a good job at reaching them. Now it's getting to those that are younger adults."
In Oconto County, state data shows just over 36 percent of residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. About 30 percent of those eligible have completed the series.
"Trying to have people understand that it is really important for us to get our population immunity up," Konitzer said. "That is one of the ways that we're going to get the pandemic under control."
Due to the sizable number of vaccinations sites in the county and decreased demand, Oconto County Public Health will hold its final COVID-19 vaccination clinics within the next 30 days. They are as follows:
- April 29: 1st dose Pfizer vaccine
- May 6: Johnson & Johnson vaccine
- May 13: 2nd dose Pfizer vaccine
- May 20: 2nd dose Pfizer vaccine
People looking to make an appointment need to call 920-834-6846. The clinic will not accept walk-ins.
Although the data shows COVID-19 vaccinations are decreasing, Dr. Ashok Rai, president & CEO of Prevea Health, said they expected that trend as the state entered its current vaccine phase.
"What you're seeing right now in that little dip is what we've seen all along: You get done with one population, you have a dip, you move on to the next population," Rai said.
He said the decrease itself won't impact community immunity, but Rai said people need to continue getting vaccinated to build it up.
"We need a large percentage of every age group that's eligible to be vaccinated so the science can show itself, the virus can go away and once we know that, we can move on," Rai said.
He said vaccine supply now outpaces demand, but the supply is still needed. Rai said while mass vaccination sites were critical during the start of the vaccination process, he said it's now about finding new ways to get shots into arms.
That's why Bellin Health and Pevea Health are working on new ways to make getting the COVID-19 vaccine convenient for all currently eligible groups, and easy for those who may not want to make an appointment.
To reach more people, the Lambeau Field Vaccination Site is now allowing walk-ins. Bellin and Prevea are also working to bring the vaccine to employers and the workplace.
Those who would still like to make a COVID vaccine appointment can check out the VaccineFinder to search for the nearest location.
