Executive order from Gov. Evers clears up COVID-19 vaccine confusion

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) - On Monday, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order to open up more access to COVID-19 vaccines throughout the state.

The order comes in response to the Trump administration looking to restrict access to vaccines.

Hashim Zaibak is the founder of the Hayat Pharmacy and has several locations throughout SE Wisconsin that got the new shipment of vaccines two weeks ago.

“We were getting mixed messages,” Zaibak said. “The messages we were getting from the federal government were that we need to restrict who has access to the vaccines this year, so a lot of pharmacists were confused in the last 2 weeks.”

Zaibak said his pharmacies were giving vaccines only if the patients had a medical reason for it, like a chronic disease.

Jim Maklary has diabetes and was able to get his updated COVID-19 vaccine last week.

“It’s been confusing as far as what their guidelines and stuff are,” Maklary said. “I wanted to get it done before it got worse than it was, I’m glad that we have a Governor that stands for the people.”

Zaibak says with the recent executive order, his pharmacies can go back to giving vaccines out like they have every year.

“We do have a standing order right now so we don’t have to call the doctor to get a prescription for a patient,” Zaibak said. “It’s just a lot simpler.”

Jenny Gassner was at one of the Hayat pharmacies on Tuesday to get her 9-month-old son vaccinated ahead of a trip to Germany.

“It was a bit complicated, just finding a good place, a place that allowed for a young baby to get it done,” Gassner said.