Updated 3:56 p.m. CDT
Wisconsin health officials have decided to make COVID-19 vaccinations available for the general public starting next week, accelerating the timetable by a month, Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday.
The move comes as Evers' administration braces for another surge in infections and a court order that could wipe out the governor's statewide mask mandate.
Wisconsin is leading the nation in getting shots into arms. We got here by following the science and empowering our healthcare professionals. Thanks to this success, anyone 16+ can sign up for their #COVID19 vaccine starting April 5th. pic.twitter.com/qNlVTLmeF6
— Tony Evers (@Tony4WI) March 30, 2021
Currently, health care workers, people over 65, nursing home residents and staff, educators and people with existing health conditions are eligible for coronavirus vaccines. That will expand to everyone 16 and older starting Monday, Evers announced.
“We still have a heck of a long way to go to get everyone vaccinated,” Evers said during a news conference. “But every day we are closer than yesterday in getting back to our Wisconsin way of life. I know I'm not alone in feeling the hope, excitement and relief. ... We are this close to the finish line.”
State health officials had planed to open up vaccinations to the general public on May 1. But case rates in Wisconsin have been rising over the past two weeks, mirroring a national rise in infections.
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When asked during the news conference why the state decided to accelerate vaccinations for the general public, Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said the department is confident in the Biden administration's long-range estimates of vaccine supply for the state, 75% of those over age 65 have received at least one dose and more than one million people have completed their vaccinations.
“There aren't that many more people left to put in the mix,” she said. “This really simplifies the whole scenario for our vaccinators and the public.”
While demand continues to outpace supply for the vaccine, she says increases in supply will be coming as more of the Johnson & Johnson shots arrive in Wisconsin.
“It has both been a steady increase in both Moderna and Pfizer vaccine. The federal government predicts we'll continue to see a little bit of an increase in Moderna and Pfizer but we're getting close to reaching their manufacturing peaks but most of the increase will come in Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” she said.
She acknowledged later in the news conference that Wisconsin is seeing warning signs of a surge, noting the seven-day case average stood at 501 on Tuesday, up from 363 on March 11.
“Keep washing your hands well. Keep physically distancing. Keep limiting your interactions and keep wearing a mask when you're out. Even if you are fully vaccinated. We need to continue taking these actions that stop the spread precisely because COVID-19 is still very present in our state,” said Willems Van Dijk.
Also Tuesday, state health officials announced that seven more pharmacy chains will receive vaccine this week as part of the federal retail pharmacy program. They are Costco; CVS; Hy-Vee; Good Neighbor and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation; Health Mart; Medicine Shoppe and Cardinal Health; and Topco. The Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network, which includes some Hometown Pharmacies, and Walmart will receive additional doses, allowing them to offer vaccinations at more locations.
A number of pharmacy chains in Wisconsin already participate in the federal program, including CPESN and Walmart; Kroger, Managed Health Care Associates; Meijer; and Walgreens.
The state health agency said 595 pharmacies will be able to order nearly 95,000 first doses through the federal government. That's on top of the state's total allocation and will include the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
CVS will start scheduling appointments Tuesday with Costco following suit by Friday. People can locate participating pharmacies and schedule appointments by visiting the CVS, Costco or Hy-Vee websites or by calling local pharmacies in the other chains. People also can find participating pharmacies and schedule appointments through the state health department's website.