Milwaukee partnership with Children’s Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin helping ramp up vaccination efforts for educators

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A new partnership between the City of Milwaukee Health Department, Children’s Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin is focused on vaccinating educators and child care providers.

More than 100 volunteers from the two health care providers are helping get shots into arms at the Wisconsin Center.

“We know there’s 25,000 teachers and childcare workers that need shots in arms,” Children’s Wisconsin President and CEO Peggy Troy said Sunday, March 7. “And we’re committed to doing everything we can along with the Medical College of Wisconsin to make sure we’re successful in that endeavor.”

Some of those receiving doses Sunday included Jeffrey Pucel and Carmen Fernández.

Pucel is a carpenter for Milwaukee Public Schools currently focusing his work on making sure windows at schools are functioning properly for ventilation. Pucel said the process at the Wisconsin Center was efficient.

“The registration was very easy, the shot preparation was simple, the waiting afterwards, everything was just seamless, it was real nice,” Pucel said. He also expressed gratitude for the volunteers.

“They’re the heroes here, they really are,” Pucel said.

Fernández, who spoke to CBS 58 in Spanish, echoed that sentiment.

“It’s fantastic. It’s very good that they help us all get back to normalcy,” Fernández said, her comments translated from Spanish to English. “I’m very grateful to all of them for their help in this cause.”

Fernández is a dual language teacher at La Escuela Fratney in Milwaukee’s Riverwest Neighborhood. She said she was nervous to the receive the shot but said she barely felt the pinch and encourages others who want the shot to get it.

Officials said Sunday the city was able to administer about 9,000 doses in the last week, with 17,000 doses expected this week.

City leaders said the effort impacts their families as well and hopes it can help speed up the process to return to class.

“Speaking as a parent of an MPS student, I saw my own child’s kindergarten teacher today so I’m really excited too,” Kirsten Johnson, Milwaukee’s Health Commissioner said. “I would really love to have my kids back in school when it’s safe for them to be there.”

Workers in the education or child care sector who live and work in Milwaukee can click here to learn more about appointments.