Wisconsin to open COVID vaccine to seniors

By RICHARD JENKINS

rjenkins@yourdailyglobe.com

Hurley -- Starting next week, seniors in Iron County and the rest of Wisconsin over the age of 65 will be able to register to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations as the state announced the expansion of the vaccine roll-out Tuesday.

“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.”

Beginning Monday, those over the age of 65 who are interested in receiving the vaccine can call the Iron County Health Department at 715-561-2191 to be placed on an eligibility list so the department can contact them to schedule their vaccinations when the department receives doses of the vaccine. Up until now, Wisconsin has been vaccinating frontline health care workers, residents in long-term care facilities and first responders.

As the health department has to wait for the state to release the vaccine, officials are asking for residents to be patient with the process.

“We ask for your patience and flexibility during this time. Please know we have contracted with extra staff and are working very hard to get vaccine in arms as soon as it arrives. Our promise is that vaccine will not sit in a refrigerator but will be distributed in a timely fashion,” Health Officer Katie Hampston said in the announcement.

Those over the age of 65 can also receive the vaccine through their health care provider or public health agency, the spokesperson said in the announcement, and vaccinating entities can begin distributing the vaccine before Monday if they have doses on hand and have finished the previously eligible populations.

Many Aspirus locations in the region are also offering vaccinations, the Wausau-based health system announced Wednesday. Eligible adults over the age of 65 can request an appointment by calling the Aspirus COVID-19 call center at 844-568-0701, by visiting aspirus.org/vaccine to request to be contacted to schedule an appointment, or appointment requests will soon be able to made through the MyAspirus patient portal.

Aspirus encourages people to use the online options to reduce wait times for those who need to use the call center, as it also serves those seeking COVID tests and other resources.

Iron County has had a total of 448 residents test positive for COVID-19 and an additional 111 probable cases through Tuesday, according to the health department. Of those cases, 55 cases are considered active, 31 total cases over the course of the pandemic have required hospitalization and 36 people have died.

Michigan is in Phase 1B of its vaccination roll-out, which includes Michiganders over the age of 65. Qualifying Michigan residents are encouraged to reach out to their health departments, such as the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, or their healthcare providers to schedule a vaccination.

As of Monday, Gogebic County has had a total of 1,090 positive and probable cases. These include 40 deaths and 12 active cases, according to the WUPHD’s Monday update.

Ontonagon County has had 321 positive and probable cases, 16 deaths and four active cases, according to the update.

Although the vaccination process is underway, health officials are warning the virus is still present in the community and people need to continue to take precautions designed to prevent its spread -- including wearing a mask, frequently washing hands and practicing social distancing.