The Kewaunee County Public Health Department does not expect a new COVID-19 variant to affect its vaccination efforts. The department began vaccinating residents in Phase 1A last week and expects to begin doing the same for those in Phase 1B on Tuesday. A much more transmissible variant of COVID-19 was found in Eau Claire County last week. Although more contagious, the variant poses no greater risk to carriers and the COVID-19 vaccine is still effective. Kewaunee County Public Health Director Cindy Kinnard says she would not be surprised if the variant makes it here, but they are prepared.

Kinnard says you can still add yourself to its waiting list, but warns you will be on it for a while as they follow state guidelines and meet the area’s demand for the vaccine. The state Department of Health Services announced on Tuesday people ages 65 and over can begin getting their vaccinations for COVID-19 as soon as January 25th if they are available.