People 65+, teachers, child care workers will be prioritized
For the Tomahawk Leader
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) on Thursday, Feb. 25 announced that new groups will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday, March 1.
The newly eligible groups, initially announced in January, include in priority order: education and child care staff, people enrolled in Medicaid long-term care programs, some public-facing essential workers, non-frontline essential health care personnel, and facility staff and residents in congregate living settings.
“Groups eligible March 1 were recommended for the vaccine based on relative vulnerability and risk of exposure to COVID-19, DHS said in a release. “This will add more than 700,000 people to the number able to get vaccinated.”
While these groups will be eligible as of March 1, educators and child care providers should anticipate receiving the vaccine in March and early April, and the remaining groups can plan to be vaccinated in April and May, according to the release.
DHS noted that the state’s allocation of vaccine from the federal government has increased and is expected to further increase on March 1. In recent weeks, Wisconsin’s allocation has increased to approximately 90,000 doses weekly. Beginning Feb. 23, Walgreens began receiving 36,000 first doses each week for the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which is up from the 18,000 allocation in previous weeks.
“This increase will initially be targeted to educators and child care providers,” DHS said. :Additionally, Wisconsin has vaccinated nearly 50% of residents 65 and older. Wisconsin continues to be one of the top states in the country for vaccine administration and opening up further eligibility will allow vaccinators to keep up the pace.”
Due to the limited supply of vaccine doses, people 65 and older, educators, and child care workers will be prioritized for the vaccine. Based on the current allocation numbers, it will take about two months to vaccinate these groups. Local and tribal health departments are coordinating local-specific plans to vaccinate K-12 education and child care staff. To vaccinate these priority groups, DHS said it will focus allocations each week on 65+ and educators to ensure both groups are getting vaccinated before moving on to other newly eligible populations.
“There are multiple options for vaccinations, including community clinics, local and tribal health departments, health care providers, and pharmacies,” DHS stated. “Those eligible for vaccine should visit our eligibility page (www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-about.htm) to learn more about their options.”
“Part of bouncing back from this pandemic means protecting all the educators and essential workers, many of whom have been putting their health at risk throughout this pandemic,” said Governor Tony Evers. “With more than 1,281,903 doses of the vaccine already administered (as of Feb. 25), we are working quickly to get more shots in arms as we have supply available. While our supply is still not enough for us to vaccinate at the rate we all want, we’re going to keep working around the clock to get folks vaccinated as quickly as we can.”
“Everyone included in these newly eligible groups will eventually have the opportunity to get vaccinated, but we are asking everyone to practice patience and wait to schedule an appointment in order to allow those at higher risk to get vaccinated first,” said DHS Interim Secretary Karen Timberlake. “Workers who are more likely to come in contact with the public or who are unable to avoid close contact with others are at higher risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.”
For information, resources, and data related to Wisconsin’s COVID-19 vaccination program, visit the COVID-19 vaccine page (www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine.htm).