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Vaccinations of children 12-15 begins in Wisconsin
CDC: Fully vaccinated people no longer need a mask
Vaccinations Stock

MADISON (AP) — Coronavirus vaccinations for 12- to 15-year-olds began May 13 in Wisconsin after an advisory committee for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on the inoculations for younger children.

“The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announces that children 12-15 years old are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and vaccinations can begin starting Thursday, May 13. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine requires two doses for full protection and is the first and only vaccine available for this age group.”

The coronavirus accounted for 1.3% of all deaths among adolescents between Jan. 1, 2020, and April 30, or 127 deaths overall. In Wisconsin, there have been three deaths from COVID-19 of people age 19 and under.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin declined for the 10th consecutive day Wednesday to 492, down 297 cases from a month ago.

In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people on May 13, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.

The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.

Monroe Clinic to begin vaccinating 12-15-year-olds

Monroe Clinic will begin offering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine appointments for those 12-15 years of age on Monday, May 17.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling 608-324-1815. This line is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Monroe Clinic patients with proxy access have the option to schedule on MyChart.

In addition to standard COVID-19 vaccine appointments, those ages 12-15 are welcome to take advantage of Monroe Clinic’s Walk-In Wednesday clinics during the month of May. Walk-ins are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the main clinic in Monroe. Appointments are not necessary. Please check in at Central Registration upon arriving.

Individuals do not need to be a current patient and insurance is not required to receive the vaccine at Monroe Clinic. A parent or legal guardian of this age group must accompany the individual to the appointment or walk-in visit.

For more Monroe Clinic COVID-19 vaccine information, visit https://www.monroeclinic.org/coronavirus.