May 5, 2021

UW Health welcomes anyone who needs second COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine shot

Madison, Wis. — Starting today, anyone who received a first-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shot can get their second at UW Health, regardless of where they got the first shot.

Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data suggest that 8% of people in the United States who have received a first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine regime (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) have not returned for their second shot. That’s about 5 million people.

UW Health is hoping to combat this problem, according to Ric Ransom, president, UW Hospitals, Madison region, UW Health.

"If we are going to reach herd immunity in this country, people need to get the most effective immune response they can," he said. "And, that can only be achieved if you get both doses."

Vaccination is perhaps the most effective tool in ending the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent weeks, the demand for COVID-19 vaccines in Wisconsin has been outpaced by supply, according to the state Department of Health Services.

"This means that anyone in Wisconsin who wants a shot, can get a shot, and at UW Health that means even if you got a first shot elsewhere and need a second shot, you can get it with us," Ransom said.

The process is simple. Members of the public may call (608) 720-5055 to make an appointment. We have a drive-through and a walk-up clinic option, both staffed by medical professionals, available for people to receive a vaccination.