Health officials say vaccines are key to returning to normal life

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Do you want a chance to win tickets to the Milwaukee Bucks game? Anyone who gets their COVID-19 vaccine from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Deer District has a chance.

Health officials say it's these vaccine efforts that are going keep us on the track to get life back to normal.

There was good news during Thursday's COVID briefing, health officials say Milwaukee County is averaging only 20 new COVID cases a day and a death every two days. Some of the lowest numbers since the pandemic began.

But officials are monitoring the fast-spreading delta COVID variant. So far there are only two confirmed cases in Milwaukee County.

"Although numbers are low in Wisconsin, we know they're not low in other parts of the country," said Darren Rausch, the director and health officer with the Greenfield Health Department.

Experts say that is why the push to get people vaccinated is as important as ever.

"If you get your vaccine and get both doses of the two-dose vaccine, you will be protected," said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson. "Recent studies show two doses of Pfizer are 96 percent effective against hospitalization from Delta variant."

Commissioner Johnson says talk to friends, family and coworkers, even offer to go with them to a vaccine site.

The CEO of Visit Milwaukee, Peggy Williams-Smith, says vaccines matter when it comes to rebuilding our local economy.

A survey found 52 percent of people say vaccination rates in cities will influence their travel destination.

"I firmly believe it will be vaccines that will get us from this point to a full recovery as locals and visitors alike will feel more comfortable visiting," Williams-Smith said.

Those who get the vaccine at the Deer District will be entered to win two tickets in section 101, row 12, right behind the basket. The winner will be drawn at 7 p.m. 

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