MILWAUKEE – A local mother is raising concerns after learning that extra doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are going into the arms of people who are not yet eligible for vaccination.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Kerri Engebrecht has been waiting for the day when his 19-year-old son, Nate, whose doctor was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I looked for all the people I can think of to try to include him on some vaccination list,” said Engebrecht.
Currently, in Wisconsin, frontline healthcare professionals, residents of qualified wards or long-term care facilities, police and fire personnel, and anyone aged 65 and over can be vaccinated.
But Kerri often says he is listening to stories like that of Milwaukee Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry. The 33-year-old man said in a tweet on Friday that he received the vaccine this week after his wife received a call from the facility where her uncle works, with leftover doses.
“Well, my first reaction, of course, was like anger and privilege, and he has money and all that,” said Engebrecht.
But Kerri says he doesn’t blame Lasry.
“It is not his fault. It is the fault of DHS and its committee that is making these rules. They have nothing in place, they do not have something mandatory to tell people what to do with these extra vaccines,” said Engebrecht.
During a COVID-19 press conference on Friday, the governor and state health leaders responded to criticism that people who are not part of the eligible vaccination groups are still somehow getting the vaccine.
“After putting a jar in one day, you can’t just put it back in the fridge and use the rest tomorrow. You have to empty that particular jar,” said Assistant Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk of the Wisconsin Department. Health services.
Deputy Secretary Willems Van Dijk added that every vaccinator signs an agreement with DHS to vaccinate those who have been prioritized to receive the vaccine and, if the facilities continue to violate the recommendations, they risk losing the opportunity to receive more vaccines.
“I would rather have them do that than throw something away,” said Governor Tony Evers.
Kerri says this is unacceptable and better planning is needed.
“You can strongly suggest, you can have a set of standards, you can have an outline of how this should be done,” said Engebrecht.
TMJ4 News asked Lasry for an interview, but he declined.
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