Politics
Crowley Rolls Up Sleeve for Flu and COVID Shots as Measles Deaths Mount
Wisconsin Governor-elect David Crowley received flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at UW Health in Madison on Friday, urging residents to follow his lead as a second child dies from measles in the state.
MADISON â Wisconsin Governor-elect David Crowley received his seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at a UW Health clinic in Madison on Friday, using the visit to urge residents to consult their health care providers and get protected as a measles outbreak claims a second child's life in the state.
Crowley, who has spent much of the week in the capital assembling his transition team, said he stopped by UW Health while in town and framed the shots as a matter of leading by example.
"I want to lead by example by getting my vaccinations, but I want to encourage everybody here in the state of Wisconsin to continue to share trusted information, have conversations with your health care provider about why a vaccination may be particularly important for you," Crowley said.
The governor-elect said vaccination is a step every Wisconsin resident can take to protect themselves, their communities and young children, and he stressed that people should get immunized wherever they can.
His comments came as state health officials confirmed a second child has died from measles in Wisconsin. The outbreak has renewed attention on slipping childhood vaccination rates and the preventable nature of the disease.
"It's unfortunate that we still have diseases that you can be vaccinated for that are still a threat here in this country, still a threat here in the state of Wisconsin," Crowley said. "And the best way for us to combat these types of diseases and these issues is by talking to our health care provider."
Leah Shelerud, the registered nurse who administered Crowley's vaccines, said UW Health clinics have been busy with immunizations and that the process has run smoothly, with patients able to get in and out quickly. All UW Health clinics are offering the vaccines, she said.
"It was very exciting. I was thrilled to do it, thrilled to meet him. He is just as kind in person as I anticipated he would be and the perfect patient," Shelerud said.
Shelerud said vaccination matters for everyone, not only those at highest risk.
"So getting vaccinated is just important for everyone. And these are preventable illnesses and vaccines can help reduce the severity of the illness if you do end up getting it," she said.
The public vaccination stop marks an early, visible signal from Crowley on public health as he prepares to take office. With measles circulating and flu season underway, his message places trusted medical guidance and broad access to shots at the center of the state's response.