MILWAUKEE – The state of Wisconsin is spelling out who will tentatively be eligible next for the COVID-19 vaccine, perhaps around March 1. Meanwhile, local officials say they’re trying to iron out problems with vaccinating those currently eligible — especially people 65 and older who are not in nursing homes.
Currently, Wisconsin receives about 70,000 vaccine doses per week. But the state still has to vaccinate about a quarter-million health care workers and has just started immunizing the 700,000 people age 65 and older who are not in skilled care facilities.
It appears the most controversial groups eligible around March 1 will be prison and jail inmates.
The state’s largest business group, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), said manufacturing workers should be eligible, instead of prisoners.
“Manufacturers have been an essential part of Wisconsin’s response to this virus since the spring, and they have produced critical medical supplies, personal protective equipment and just really have kept our economy moving,” said WMC Spokesperson Nick Novak.
Novak said federal health experts have advised including manufacturing workers in the current vaccination line-up, or what’s known as phase 1b.
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