COVID-19 vaccine update for June 14

For added convenience, Gundersen Health System patients will soon be able to receive their COVID-19 vaccine during primary care appointments in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. The vaccine will be available to patients during Family Medicine appointments at the Onalaska Clinic in early July before expanding to clinic appointments in La Crosse, Sparta, Tomah, Decorah, Winona and Waukon, along with the Ashley Wellness Center for Ashley Furniture employees and their family members.

Gundersen has provided more than 84,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to people age 12 and older across its system. This includes more than 1,000 Pfizer vaccine doses to kids ages 12 to 15 years old. Nearly 41,000 people have been fully vaccinated at Gundersen locations.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, free and significantly lowers the risk of infection. This is especially important as many people travel, see family and friends, and enjoy summer activities that have largely returned to normal. Getting the vaccine protects you, your family, neighbors and anyone else around you from COVID-19 and the disease variants in our area. Everything is safer if you're vaccinated.

To receive maximum protection from COVID-19, including its variants, it is important to receive both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Johnson & Johnson remains a one-dose vaccine.

Anyone age 12 and older can schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at Gundersen.

Convenient walk-in vaccine appointments are available at the Gundersen Onalaska Clinic from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays (Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson) and Thursdays (Pfizer, Moderna). The Onalaska vaccine clinic is closed Wednesdays and Fridays.

Walk-in appointments are also available at select Gundersen regional locations. Check MyChart or the list of Gundersen locations offering COVID-19 vaccine to call for availability.

Adult Gundersen patients can walk-in, schedule their appointment through MyChart, or call the scheduling line at (608) 775-6829. Adult non-patients can walk-in or call the scheduling line at (608) 775-6829, option 2, for a vaccine appointment.

Patients under age 18 need parent or guardian consent in person or by calling the Gundersen scheduling line at (608) 775-6829.