COVID-19 vaccine update for June 21

People are gathering, resuming travel and enjoying outdoor activities this summer. Protect yourself against COVID-19 and its variants by getting vaccinated.

The vaccine is safe, free, significantly lowers the risk of infection, and protects you, your family, neighbors and anyone else around you. This last point is especially important now. The COVID-19 Delta variant, a CDC "variant of concern," meaning it is more transmissible and may lead to more severe illness, is in the Tri-State area, along with other variants of concern. It is important to receive both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine to have maximum protection against these variants.

Gundersen has provided more than 85,000 total doses of COVID-19 vaccine to patients and community members across its system. This week, Gundersen wraps up collaboration with local businesses to vaccinate employees. A total of 116 staff at six area businesses were vaccinated with Gundersen's help.

Coming soon
In early July, Gundersen will begin providing COVID-19 vaccine during appointments in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. The vaccine will be available first to patients during Onalaska Family Medicine appointments before expanding to clinic appointments in La Crosse, Sparta, Tomah, Decorah, Winona and Waukon later, along with the Ashley Wellness Center for Ashley Furniture employees and their family members.

How to get the vaccine
Anyone age 12 and older, patients or non-patients, can schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at Gundersen.

Convenient walk-in vaccine appointments are available at the Gundersen Onalaska Clinic 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays (Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson both days) and Thursdays (Pfizer, Moderna). The Onalaska vaccine clinic location is now closed Wednesdays and Fridays, and will be closed July 5.

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.