MADISON, Wisconsin (WMTV) – The list of people in Wisconsin who are eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine has grown much longer, with the Department of Health Services more than doubling the number of names on it at once.
On Thursday, the agency released a list of 20 medical conditions and said that anyone over the age of 16 living with at least one would be eligible for the vaccine on March 29.
Health officials explained that they chose to prioritize these conditions because they are associated with an increased risk of serious illnesses in COVID-19 and noted that the list is in line with the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We ask those eligible and most at risk to be vaccinated because every shot means that we are one step closer to getting back to our way of life in Wisconsin,” said Governor Tony Evers in a statement announcing the change.
DHS estimates that this change will add more than two million people to the eligibility list. This means that by the end of the month, most Wisconsin residents will be allowed to receive the vaccine.
However, with so many people who can be vaccinated and demand still outstripping supply, state health officials indicate that vaccine providers may need to prioritize who receives them. If they do, DHS is recommending that providers focus on those with serious medical conditions or two or more of the conditions listed, the elderly or communities that have been disproportionately affected by the virus.
“We continue to accelerate our pace, receiving more shots each week,” said DHS interim secretary Karen Timberlake. “Together with our vaccination partners across the state, we are helping those most at risk of exposure or most vulnerable to serious infections to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine.”
The agency noted that it expects the vaccine to be available to everyone over 16 “in May”.
- Asthma (moderate to severe)
- Cancer
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Down’s syndrome
- Heart problems such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) due to solid organ transplant, blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids or use of other drugs to weaken the immune system
- Liver disease
- Neurological conditions, such as dementia
- Obesity (body mass index [BMI] 30-39 kg / m2)
- Excess weight (BMI 25-29 kg / m2)
- Pregnancy
- Pulmonary fibrosis (with damaged or scarred lung tissue)
- Severe obesity (BMI 40 kg / m2 or more)
- Sickle cell anemia
- Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
- Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
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