OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A COVID-19 testing site is now a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus. Gov. Tony Evers, along with state and local health officials, toured the facility Friday morning.
Others were there for more personal reasons.
Fear brought James Herzig and Rodolfo Tapia to the new UWO vaccination clinic – fear at the thought of losing loved ones; parents, in Tapia’s case.
“They had the COVID in November, and they were so sick!” he recalled. “Every time I’d wake up and open the door in the night and say, ‘How’s everything?’ And they’d say ‘Okay,’ but they were so sick.”
For Herzig, fear of the possibility of not being able to see those closest to him grow.
“I have 14 grandchildren, so I want to be around as long as possible,” Herzig said, holding back tears.
The clinic, located in the Culver Center, opened to the public Tuesday.
As soon as Herzig and Tapia heard the vaccine was available in the area they live in, and they or their parents were eligible to get it, it wasn’t a second thought.
“Me and my brothers decided, as soon as they figure something [out], they’re gonna get the shot!” Tapia said.
Friends of Herzig have had some trouble getting vaccinated, so he says he headed their advice.
“They said, ‘Go as soon as you can,’ and I’m here!”
But, not everyone will be as lucky.
Nursing staff says, they requested about 3,000 doses but only received about 500. They’re able to vaccinate about 1,000 people a week but would be able to do five times that if there was more vaccine available.
“You can just figure, if you can go from 250 to 1,000 a day, that’s 750 additional, times five, you’re doing almost 4,000 more if we can get it,” UW president Tommy Thompson said.
Since opening the clinic, more than 500 people have been vaccinated.
“We have lots of demand, lots of folks that are putting shots in arms,” Gov. Evers said. “We need more vaccines, and we will continue to do that, but it is merely a factor of production.”
Because of this lack of supply, health officials are asking the public to continue following safety guidelines.
As for those able to get that first shot in the arm, their patience has turned into gratefulness, and gratefulness into hope for future generations.
“Who knows what’s gonna happen years from now,” said Herzig. “Maybe it’ll be a lot easier, like the flu shot and you’re done. You never know.”
The clinic has the capacity to vaccinate 1,000 people per day, UW System president Tommy Thompson said. However, because of supply, the clinic is currently vaccinating about 1,000 people per week.
Winnebago County health officer Doug Gieryn pointed out the importance of vaccinations. An outbreak in Omro is an example of why the pandemic is not over and vaccination is important, he said.
During his visit to UWO, Gov. Evers also signed a bill that allows pharmacy technicians and students to administer vaccines.
The public clinic is at the Culver Family Welcome Center, 625 Pearl Ave. Those who are eligible for vaccines can sign up on UWO’s Titans Return website.
Those who request an appointment will receive an email from Advocate Aurora to schedule a time. When appointments are full, the form will no longer be available.
Walk-ins are not accepted.
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