News Releases: 2022

On July 9, 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) identified the second confirmed case of orthopoxvirus, presumed to be monkeypox, in a resident of Milwaukee County. The patient is currently isolating, and DHS is working with federal and local partners to identify people who have been in contact with that person. As of July 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 767 confirmed monkeypox and orthopoxvirus cases in the United States.

On June 30, 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) identified the first confirmed case of orthopoxvirus, presumed to be monkeypox, in a resident of Dane County. The patient is currently isolating and the risk remains low for the general public. As of June 30, there have been 396 confirmed monkeypox and orthopoxvirus cases in the United States due to this outbreak.

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announce Wisconsin’s SeniorCare Program has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover certain vaccines that members receive in pharmacies. Vaccines covered include those that protect against shingles, tetanus, meningitis, and Hepatitis A and B.

Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake releases the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision: 
 
“DHS will work with our partners across the state to help Wisconsinites understand the implications of this decision. If you have questions about accessing abortion services, please call 414-289-3002 or contact your health care provider. 
 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation that children ages 6 months through 5 years should be vaccinated against COVID-19. Children within this age group can begin receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations this week as shipments of both authorized Pfizer and Moderna vaccines continue to arrive in Wisconsin and are being distributed across the state. 

“The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is pleased to see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation that children 6 months through 5 years be vaccinated against COVID-19. This recommendation follows authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is a milestone in the fight against COVID-19, allowing everyone 6 months and older to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is working to assist FoodShare members who lost food due to recent severe weather from a power outage lasting four or more hours or because of other storm damage.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that it will begin receiving requests for applications (RFAs) for $12 million dollars in EMS Flex Grant funding recently unveiled by Governor Tony Evers alongside an additional $22 million investment toward emergency response in the state. This investment comes from the American Rescue Plan Act – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Today, Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) held the final event of the "Thank You Tour: Moving Forward Together" event series to thank Wisconsin communities for their COVID-19 response efforts. Our last stop was in Milwaukee to recognize local public health officials from the southeastern region for their efforts over the past two years.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has updated the COVID-19 Data webpage to include additional data on people who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. People are considered up to date when they have received all doses in their primary vaccination series and all recommended booster doses.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation that children ages 5-11 should receive a booster dose five months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccination series. With this recommendation, DHS and CDC now recommend COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone five and older.

“The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is pleased to see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation that children ages 5-11 years-old should receive a booster dose five months after their initial Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine series. This follows the authorization of a booster dose for this age group by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In response to the ongoing national infant formula shortage, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has tips for families dealing with the shortage and struggling to find substitute formulas. 

As the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) continues to monitor an increase in the spread and impact of COVID-19 across the state, DHS recommends that Wisconsinites know their COVID-19 Community Level and increase take additional precautions against COVID-19 to protect health and save lives.

Today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced the Moving Forward Together Grant Program, a new funding opportunity to support continued efforts to promote health equity in COVID-19 vaccination in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is one of 10 states participating in the National Governors Association (NGA) knowledge exchange network for the Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce Learning Collaborative program.

Today the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) issued an update to health care providers statewide regarding the availability of COVID-19 treatments. Oral antiviral medications for the treatment of COVID-19 are now widely available across Wisconsin.

The Governor’s Health Equity Council (GHEC) voted Wednesday, April 27, on final recommendations. Today, Chairperson Gina Green-Harris and Vice-Chairperson Dr. Michelle Robinson released the executive summary, along with the council’s prelude to the full report and the principles it established to govern this work.

At the 2022 Hunger and Health Summit in Wisconsin Dells yesterday, the Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that Wisconsin has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service for its plan to send out 2021-2022 pre-6 pandemic electronic benefits transfer (P-EBT).

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is pleased to announce that 18 health care providers from around the state have received the annual Wisconsin “Big Shot” award from DHS for their efforts to vaccinate children against diseases.

An estimated 1,100 Wisconsin Medicaid members with an opioid use disorder will have access to residential treatment this year, thanks to $2.5 million in grants from the Department of Health Services (DHS) awarded to agencies serving 54 counties and four tribes. The funding from opioid settlement dollars will be used to cover room and board costs for this benefit.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today made a number of changes and updates to the COVID-19 data visualizations available on its website, aligning pages with the latest scientific recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the CDC Community Levels, and providing a more strea

Today, 15 local Birth to 3 Program grantees gathered virtually to talk about what they learned over the past 18 months as they piloted innovative efforts to help the social and emotional development of children enrolled in their programs. This work included a focus on supporting children who are enrolled because of incidents of child abuse or neglect as well as helping families better engage with and support their child’s development.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is seeking public comment for its draft waiver request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for an additional 30 days.

Today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) continues its "Thank You Tour: Moving Forward Together,” during National Public Health Week to further promote the hard work and dedication of our state’s public health heroes. As part of the Thank You Tour, DHS is calling on Wisconsinites to participate online by recognizing individuals, groups, or organizations who have been involved in the COVID-19 response.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today recognized the dedication, resilience, and ingenuity of the state agencies and workers involved in building a program to acquire, maintain, and distribute the state’s personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpile.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) issuing of expanded eligibility that adults ages 50 years and older may receive a second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. DHS also supports the option of a second booster dose for certain immunocompromised people ages 12 years and older.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today broke ground to mark the start of construction for the $65.9 million expansion and renovation of the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center (MJTC). Located on the grounds of Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, MJTC provides mental health treatment to the most troubled offenders in Wisconsin’s youth justice system. Currently, the facility only serves boys.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is encouraging Wisconsinites planning or returning from spring break travels to take simple public health precautions to prevent illness. Although overall COVID-19 case numbers are declining, students and other travelers can still become ill or spread COVID-19 to others.

Following a review of public feedback from listening sessions and an online survey in January on the best uses of funding received through national settlements with opioid distributors and manufacturers, the Department of Health Services (DHS) will begin finalizing its plan to invest the funds to save lives and address Wisconsin’s opioid epidemic. DHS held 12 regional listening sessions in early 2022.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has confirmed the deaths of three children under the age of 18 due to complications from influenza. These are the first reported pediatric influenza-associated deaths in Wisconsin for the 2021-2022 season.

Today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Service (DHS) kicked off the “Thank You Tour: Moving Forward Together” with Gov. Tony Evers to thank communities for their COVID-19 response efforts. DHS is also launching a new webpage that allows Wisconsinites to post online notes of appreciation thanking others for their service and leadership in support of the COVID-19 response.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is actively investigating several reports from FoodShare members about compromised QUEST card benefits, and urges all members to take action now to protect themselves against fraud. DHS urges FoodShare members to do the following to help protect QUEST card benefits: 

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced a total of 154 Wisconsin National Guard members have completed certified nursing assistant (CNA) training since early January 2022. This collaborative effort among the Evers Administration, Madison College, and the Wisconsin National Guard was intended to bring needed short-term staffing support to Wisconsin’s hospitals and nursing homes. The goal was to open 200 or more beds by the end of February.

This past weekend, Wisconsin issued $3 million in benefits to more than 44,000 families for almost 62,000 children under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program for the 2021-2022 school year. Created by Congress in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the School P-EBT program provides vital food benefits for children who, because of COVID-19, miss the free or reduced priced meals they would normally have gotten at their school.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are investigating five consumer complaints nationwide of infant illness related to infant formula products from the Abbott Nutrition facility in Sturgis, Michigan. These complaints were received from September 20, 2021, to January 11, 2022. All of the infants who are ill are reported to have consumed powdered infant formula produced at this facility.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) metrics used to determine the risk level of COVID-19 in communities. Widespread access to vaccines and testing, available treatment options, and high levels of population immunity have combined to make a new approach to monitoring and preventing COVID-19 possible.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is submitting a request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for an additional 30 days of Medicaid coverage for women after pregnancy. Currently, women receive 60 days of coverage after giving birth. Approval of the DHS request by CMS would increase coverage to 90 days.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that $3.4 million in grants has been awarded to 43 organizations to promote health equity in COVID-19 vaccinations in Wisconsin. These organizations will use the funds to serve as trusted messengers within their communities to help reduce barriers to vaccine access among disadvantaged or underserved populations.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has confirmed a child in Wisconsin died from multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare but serious condition associated with COVID-19. The child lived in southeast Wisconsin and was under 10 years old. There have been 183 MIS-C cases reported in Wisconsin since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first case to result in a death.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has joined the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WIAAP) to urge families to make sure their children are up to date on well-child visits and vaccinations.

“In 2020, there was a significant drop in clinic visits. This resulted in delays in vaccinations, screenings, referrals, and general guidance to keep families healthy,” said Dr. Sarah Campbell, WIAAP president.

Governor Evers today joins the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) in announcing the launch of the updated Dose of Reality initiative today. The goal of this information and education campaign is to change the conversation around Wisconsin’s opioid epidemic.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted its full approval of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine will now be marketed under the name Spikevax for the prevention of COVID-19 in people 18 years of age and older.

The current surge in COVID-19 cases has led to an increased demand for testing services across Wisconsin. The Department of Health Services (DHS) and Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) are informing Wisconsinites how to find trusted COVID-19 testing sites, and how to share concerns related to testing sites.

Gov. Tony Evers and the Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced the launch of Keeping Kids Safe and In School, a statewide multimedia campaign that focuses on ways to keep Wisconsin children healthy and in the classroom. This campaign is an extension of the broader You Stop the Spread campaign which has been running in Wisconsin since September 2020. 

Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Health Services (DHS) today reminded Wisconsinites of available programs continuing to provide COVID-19 testing to Wisconsinites, including community testing sites, a K-12 testing program, support for child care testing, testing programs in shelters, long-term care facilities, jails, and pharmacies, and a service to distribute free at-home testing supplies.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has updated the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS) to allow positive COVID-19 test results to be automatically imported into the system. This change is intended to support the efforts of local and tribal health departments (LTHDs) to manage the large influx of positive tests resulting from the ongoing surge driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

In order to keep students, teachers, and staff safe and in school, the Evers Administration and Department of Health Services (DHS) sent a letter to all public, private, and independent charter schools detailing the tools that DHS and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) have made available to schools to help in this effort.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation that 12- to 15-year-olds should receive a single booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The opioid epidemic has touched every corner of Wisconsin, and how the state responds to the crisis must be informed by the unique circumstances of each individual experiencing opioid use disorder, their friends and family, and their communities.