The NNS coronavirus update for week of March 15: A mass vaccination effort on the South Side; new groups to become eligible for vaccine on March 29 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
March 15, 2021
The Milwaukee Health Department has expanded its list of those eligible for the vaccine because of an increase in supplies. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
A new effort led by Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers and Ascension Wisconsin seeks to quadruple the number of vaccines available on the city’s South Side.
Sixteenth Street was selected to participate in the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program and will receive an allotment of vaccines from the federal government. Ascension will provide staff to support the effort.
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The clinic will have the capacity to vaccinate up to 2,000 people a week, the news release said. Vaccinations will take place in a heated tent previously used for COVID-19 testing. The vaccinations will be administered at Sixteenth Street’s Parkway Clinic, 2906 S. 20th St.
Sixteenth Street was the only health center in the state chosen, according to a news release.
Those who are eligible can make an appointment at (414) 672-1353.
The Latinx community, which predominantly makes up the South Side, has been hit hard by COVID-19, accounting for roughly 30% of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city despite making up only 19% of the city’s population. The 53215 and 53204 ZIP codes are the only ones in the city with more than 6,000 confirmed cases.
The Milwaukee Health Department has expanded its list of those eligible for the vaccine because of an increase in supplies.
Those in the currently eligible group, including food supply chain workers and those in long-term Medicaid programs, began receiving the vaccine last week. The vaccine had previously been prioritized for teachers due to smaller supply.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services officials say they have more than doubled the allotments of vaccines coming to Milwaukee County in the last month.
Those who wish to schedule an appointment can go to the city’s website or call (414) 286-6800.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced this week that eligibility for those 16 and older with chronic conditions would begin on March 22. It was originally planned to start on March 29.
Those aged 16 and older with certain medical conditions will be eligible. This is expected to be the last priority group before the vaccine becomes available to the general public. Eligibility for the general public is expected in May.
The following conditions will make a person eligible:
The Medical College of Wisconsin launched a new website last week with useful information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
The webpage includes infographics on safety, community protection and what to expect when you receive the vaccine. It also includes informative videos on herd immunity and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is expected to send 57 medical workers and 25 registered nurses with additional staff to the Wisconsin Center to aid the city’s vaccination efforts.
The agency will provide staffing beginning Monday at the Wisconsin Center site at 400 W. Wisconsin Ave. This will allow local health department employees to staff clinics and other sites operated by the city as well as bump the Wisconsin Center into “federal mass vaccination site” status.
As of March 12, 165,531 people in Milwaukee County had received one dose of the vaccine. This includes 61% of the 65+ population, which amounts to 80,873 people.
The state has fully vaccinated 667,193 people with both doses of the vaccine. The state has administered at least one dose to 1,185,602 people.
About 66% of Wisconsinites over the age of 65 have received the vaccine, for a total of 673.901 people.
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To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
The Southside Health Center, 1639 S 23rd St, is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd., and Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., are now open and operating. American Family Field (formerly Miller Park), 1 Brewers Way, is also open as an effective testing site.
For more information on testing, including how to identify symptoms and when you should get tested, visit TestUpMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
For more information on vaccine distribution and where to find it, visit HealthyMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.