MADISON (WKOW) — Now that the FDA and CDC have signed off on boosters of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, Wisconsin vaccinators are preparing to get more shots in arms.
“We know how to do this. We did it back in February, March, April, where we were giving 90 to 100 vaccines a day,” Thad Schumacher, the owner of Fitchburg Family Pharmacy, said. “So, we know how to do it. We just have to get back into that mindset.”
However, Schumacher and other vaccinators aren’t able to start administering booster shots just yet.
Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services said Friday it’s waiting for the CDC to release its clinical guidance on the boosters first.
“Once those are published, vaccinators in Wisconsin will be able to begin providing booster doses and ensure they are following the safest protocols,” the department said in a news release.
For previous COVID-19 vaccine authorizations, that process has taken a few days.
Schumacher said he expects a lot of people in the Madison area to be interested in getting an additional dose, but he doesn’t think he’ll know the true demand for booster shot appointments until he’s actually able to start giving out the doses.
“Until we get into the thick of it, I think we’re gonna have to play it by ear and kind of call an audible once it starts to see what’s the best way to take care of the large groups of individuals that are all going to be wanting vaccine at the same time,” he said.
Now that boosters are recommended for all three available vaccines, attention is turning to what COVID-19 vaccination will look like in the long run. However, DHS’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ryan Westergaard, said it’s too early to know for sure.
“There are some vaccines series for which three doses is a complete series and you don’t need another one,” he said. “As everyone knows, there are other vaccines, like influenza, which we get an annual booster. Where this fits along that spectrum, it really remains to be seen.”
Local vaccinators said their vaccine supply is reliable, and they don’t expect any shortage of doses, even with more people now eligible to get booster shots.
