(WKOW) – The group of Wisconsin residents eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines is growing this week. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) said more than 700,000 new eligible people will be able to receive vaccines.
The list includes educators, grocery workers, bus drivers, 911 dispatchers, mink farmers, inmates, non-essential health professionals and employees in shared housing situations. The list also includes people enrolled in Medicaid’s long-term care programs.
According to DHS, the education and daycare team will take priority in the new group. However, the agency instructed vaccinators to continue to prioritize previously qualified groups before younger groups.
After Dane County officials announced that teachers’ vaccinations would be delayed, SSM Health announced that, after all, it could start vaccinating classes this week. Vaccination clinics at the site begin on Tuesday, the day after teachers became eligible for the vaccine.
Educators in Waunakee and Sun Prairie will be among the first to be vaccinated. The Waunakee team will begin receiving vaccines on Tuesday and the Sun Prairie team will begin vaccination on Friday.
On Sunday, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. As it has the green light, it can start shipping soon. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is the third COVID-19 vaccine to receive emergency use authorization.