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Walgreens to Start Vaccinating in Wisconsin, DHS Releases County-Specific Vaccine Data

Wisconsin DHS

As of Thursday afternoon, 11.1 percent of Wisconsin’s population has gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 3.4 percent have gotten both doses and completed the vaccine series. The state’s goal is to get 80 percent of the population fully vaccinated.

You can now view a breakdown of how each county is doing when it comes vaccinating. Scroll down for an interactive version. 

“I think as you look at the map, you’ll see a mixture. You’ll see some more rural areas of that state are doing very, very well. Other rural areas, not as high of vaccination rate,” said DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk.

Iron County is leading the state when it comes to the percentage of people that have gotten at least one shot. 18.5 percent of Iron County residents have gotten at least their first dose.

Oneida County is tied with Bayfield County for 5th highest at 16.7 percent.

Iron, Oneida, Price, Vilas, and Forest Counties are all above the state average.  Lincoln and Langlade Counties are below it. These will likely even out as vaccine rollout moves further along.

“We also added in a population formula so that we would equitably distribute the vaccine across the state,” said Willems Van Dijk. “That means rural communities will get a proportionate number of vaccines as will urban communities.”

There are a couple possibilities as to why counties up are ahead of others in the state.

Keep in mind, smaller counties don’t have to vaccinate as many people to have a greater percentage.

For example, about 1,700 people in Price County have gotten their first dose equal to about 13 percent of the population.

More than 78,000 people in Milwaukee County have gotten their first shot, but that only accounts for 8 percent of the population.

The Northwoods does have a large portion of its population that is eligible for the vaccine.

About a third of the Northwoods’ population is made up of people 65 and older.

Healthcare systems are another factor. They’re major employers in the Northwoods and healthcare workers were the first to get access to the vaccine.

Tribal Governments are also playing a large role.

In Iron County, 38 percent of Native Americans who live in the county have been vaccinated. 13-16 precent of the Native American populations in Vilas, Forest, and Oneida Counties have also gotten at least one dose.

More good news on the vaccine front, Walgreens locations across the state will start getting a supply of vaccines.

Nearly 200 Walgreens pharmacies across the state are expecting to receive coronavirus vaccines directly from the federal government starting this week.

Credit Wisconsin DHS

Thursday, The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced the beginning of the program that targets underserved areas.

Dr. Stephanie Schauer said those locations are based on the social vulnerability index.

“We can go ahead and map out areas of the state that have a higher vulnerability versus lower and we did go ahead and map out the Walgreens sites over those areas and that information helped inform which site and will inform where sites are that are receiving that vaccine,” said Schauer.

The state health department said the vaccinations will be provided for free.

Initially, about 17,800 doses of vaccine will be sent to 178 Walgreens locations in Wisconsin.

“It is really a great opportunity that we have more doses coming into the state. This does not come out of the state allocation, so this is in addition to the state allocation,” said Schauer.

If you’re eligible to get vaccinated, you can make an appointment on Walgreens website.

DHS said Walgreens will also be setting up a phone line to make appointments soon.

Katie Thoresen is WXPR's News Director/Vice President.
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