Wisconsin residents 65 and older eligible for COVID-19 vaccine beginning Jan. 25

By: CBS 58 Newsroom

Posted: Jan 19, 2021 9:38 AM CDT | Updated: Jan 19, 2021 11:14 AM CDT

NOW: Wisconsin residents 65 and older eligible for COVID-19 vaccine beginning Jan. 25

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced Tuesday, Jan .19, adults over the age of 65 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning January 25th.

Currently, frontline health care workers, residents in long term care facilities (nursing homes and assisted living facilities), and police and fire personnel are eligible. There are approximately 700,000 Wisconsinites who are 65 and older and Wisconsin currently receives around 70,000 first-dose vaccines per week from the federal government. It will take time to vaccinate this population in Wisconsin.

Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk says her advice to people is to go to the place where they usually get the flu vaccine, whether that be a clinic or a pharmacy. She says to monitor their websites for information about how to sign up for the vaccine.

"I implore people for their patience, encourage them to use websites and their My Chart system for scheduling and be a little patient. We just announced this today, we did give our healthcare providers a little bit of headway on this, but it's gonna take a week or two to really get rolling on this," she said.

@DHSWI announces today that people age 65 and older will be eligible for their #COVID19Vaccines starting January 25. Get the details at https://t.co/zlDGXn50IV #COVID19_WI #YouStopTheSpread pic.twitter.com/eti1Pq8Moe
— WIDeptHealthServices (@DHSWI) January 19, 2021

"Older adults have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and prioritizing this population will help save lives,” said DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm. “Wisconsin systems and operations are ready to vaccinate more people. The amount of vaccine we get from the federal government will determine how quickly we can get these groups vaccinated. Our partners in health care, pharmacies and local public health are ready and up to the task.”

Adults 65 and older have been recommended by the federal government and discussed by the Wisconsin State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC). COVID-19 has more severe consequences in older adults and prioritizing this population will help protect more Wisconsinites from serious illness and death. The full recommendations from SDMAC on the rest of 1B eligibility will be voted on later this week.

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