As we enter respiratory illness season, COVID-19 still deserves its prominent place on the watch list alongside the flu. The virus continues to mutate and cause infections worldwide, with the XFG variant, also known as “Stratus,” being the predominant strain in Wisconsin as of October.
Crystal Dobberstein, a public health nurse and immunization coordinator for the Outagamie County Department of Public Health, says that individual responses to COVID strains vary by person and can be difficult to predict, so following public health guidance is paramount.
But what exactly is the current guidance? This summer, the federal government changed its guidance for boosters to recommend them only for those 65 and older or with underlying health conditions.
Federal officials later indicated, however, that this revision was not based on new scientific data.
So the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Gov. Tony Evers, Dobberstein says, have taken state-level action to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines remains broad and without out‑of‑pocket cost to Wisconsinites 6 months and older. Furthermore, Wisconsin DHS issued a standing medical order (through Sept. 11, 2026) mandating that all health insurers, including Medicaid and private plans, cover the COVID-19 vaccine without cost sharing.
“This means that, regardless of federal policy changes, Wisconsin residents can receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine at no out-of-pocket cost,” Dobberstein says, adding that most pharmacies in the state are authorized to administer the vaccine without a prescription.
“The virus keeps changing, and immunity from vaccines or past infections can fade over time,” Dobberstein says, “so yearly boosters help your body stay prepared.”
For the latest state infection data, visit dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm.
