MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As more people are becoming eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin, state health officials say they’ve been told vaccine shipments will remain the same over the next three to four weeks.
Starting on Monday, people 65 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin.
With people above the age of 60 accounting for 92% of Wisconsin’s coronavirus deaths, state health officials say it was a no brainer deciding who should be vaccinated next.
“It’s still a forest fire burning,” said Julie Willems Van Dijk, the deputy secretary for Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services, when talking about the current state of the pandemic. “We’re starting to see some control of it around the edges, but it’s still a big ole forest fire burning.”
People 65 and older join healthcare workers, longterm care residents and workers, and police and firefighters in those who are vaccine eligible.
If you qualify and want a shot, it’s recommended you try using the internet to schedule an appointment.
“I want people to think where would you go to get your flu shot and then go to the website of that place,” said Willems Van Dijk.
Right now, the state is receiving about 70,000 vaccine doses a week. With about 700,000 residents in the 65 and older group, the state believes it could take up to two months to vaccinate the majority of them.
3.2% of the age group is already vaccinated, largely nursing home residents.
“We anticipate the skilled nursing facilities will likely finish up this week,” said Dr. Stephanie Schauer, Wisconsin’s Division of Public Health Immunization Program Manager. “They have about 89% of the facilities completed with their first dose and then they will make that transition into working with the assisted living.”
As for who could be eligible next, decisions are expected to be made at committee meetings this week.
So far. the state reports about 4% of Wisconsin’s population has received at least one of the vaccine doses. They say it will be a while before eligibility is open to everyone and we approach herd immunity.
“If we were to strive to have 80% of the population vaccinated by the end of June or say this is a six month period, we’d need three times the amount of vaccine we have now,” said Willems Van Dijk.
State health officials say the federal government has told them vaccine supply will remain at its current level the next three to four weeks.
