GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – In two weeks, another two million Wisconsinites will become eligible for their Covid-19 vaccine and the state is encouraging health care providers to work with local employers so everyone can get their shot.
Just like you’ve had the chance to get the flu shot at your work, now the state is hoping you can do the same with the Covid-19 vaccine.
“We encourage our employers to be thinking how they might host vaccine clinics on site for their employees because we want everyone to be getting vaccinated as we move into these next months,” said Julie Willems Van Dijk, Wisconsin Health Services Deputy Secretary.
Dr. Ashok Rai with Prevea Health tells FOX 11 he’s been in contact with several employers who are asking how to get the vaccine into employees’ arms.
“From manufacturing to media to you know food production, which already qualifies, but they want more of their employers done. It’s pretty much all over the board right now.”
When vaccine clinics request doses from Wisconsin Health Services, the state is now asking clinics if they are partnering with an area employer. If yes, the clinic can request a separate allocation of doses for that employer. That’s in addition to what the clinic already requests separately for its supply.
“For example, for our UWGB site we may ask we’d like 8,000 or 10,000 first doses but we would also like this company would like 500 doses and this company would like 300 doses and that would be separate from our allocation,” said Dr. Rai.
Dr. Rai hopes this addition will address any concerns in racial disparities of getting the vaccine. State data shows 20% of white Wisconsinites have received their first dose. Compared to 10% of Asians and 7% of Black people.
“I think the employer part and eligibility part will really help, I hope narrow a very obvious gap we know we have.”
But overall, Dr. Rai says vaccine supply is still not meeting demand.
“Supply is still limited. We sometimes get 20-25% of what we ask for. We’re hoping this week for more.”
Dr. Rai says Prevea will have to wait and see if employers get as much vaccine as they’re requesting. He also says overall, Prevea’s priority remains vaccinating those 65 and older.
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