GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – People with a whole host of medical conditions will see their COVID-19 vaccine eligibility arrive earlier than expected in Wisconsin.
As vaccinators in the state continue one of the most efficient distributions in the country, the next phase of eligibility is now coming a week sooner. Approximately two-million people with certain conditions will now be eligible starting on Monday.
“We know across the state the vaccinators have run really efficient operations, and seeing that increase in vaccine supply allows us to start opening up to a few more folks,” said Bellin Health Chief Operating Officer Sharla Baenen. “We’re very excited to see a change coming, and I think locally too, we’re starting to see a little bit of an increase in our vaccine allocation. So that it will allow us, next week, to start serving that population that they’ve just announced.”
Baenen is hopeful that people in that group will be welcomed into the new community vaccination site at Lambeau Field as soon as they become eligible next week. She’s also optimistic that the efficiency could lead to other things moving up.
“As we start to see that continued increase in the vaccine supply coming into the state, I think there is the likelihood of them looking at moving up the general population date,” Baenen told WTAQ News. “The potential could be there if the supply really increases in April and we’re able to vaccinate a large number of those with medical conditions quite quickly…It’s really top-of-mind for folks right now, but as summer approaches, people get busy and have plans and sometimes I think the prioritization of beating COVID might not be there. So let’s get this done now.”
As for the end of pandemic-related restrictions and recommendations like masking and distancing? That might not be quite as far off as initially thought either, but it remains unclear exactly what would spell the end of those suggestions.
“You hear about the concept of population immunity or herd immunity being about 75-80% of the population vaccinated. You hear those numbers come from a lot of the experts in that area,” Baenen said. “The other thing that obviously we’ll be keeping an eye on across the state is the positivity rate and those having active COVID cases. That’s a good indicator and we want to see that reduced.”
However, many people remain reluctant to get the shots, or outright oppose receiving the vaccine.
“It may be a challenge when you do hear that out in the public. I think certain populations of people are more likely to get vaccinated,” Baenen said. “Continued education and looking at the science and getting that information out to the public will be really key, especially for vulnerable groups of people, and helping them understand more information about the vaccine.”
