MADISON, Wis (WBAY) – State leaders admitted on Friday that they had fallen below their vaccination targets.
Governor Tony Evers said the Trump administration bears the responsibility.
“It was a slap in the face to the people of Wisconsin, and frankly, I have no idea why they made the allegation when they knew it was inaccurate,” Governor Evers told a news conference of the Department of Health Services in Wisconsin.
The governor commented on a report by the Washington Post that the federal government had sent all second Covid-19 vaccine doses to states by the end of December. Those reserve doses would have allowed states to expand who they could vaccinate.
Just this week, Governor Evers said Vice President Mike Pence and Alex Azar, secretary of health and human services, told him that Wisconsin would soon receive the reserve doses.
“I think they may be telling the truth because it’s zero,” he said.
DHS announced new partnerships with pharmacies on Friday and the launch of “Covid’s mobile vaccination teams.” Both are meant to get more shots in people’s arms.
According to state health officials, they will start vaccinating long-term care facilities as part of their plan to move on to Phase 1B.
DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said they are not waiting to vaccinate everyone under the 1A category before starting at 1B.
Several hospital systems across the Green Bay metro area and the Fox Valley are starting new clinics to expand Covid-19 vaccinations. The problem, however, is that there may not be enough stock to go around.
Willems Van Dijk said the state needs 1.4 million vaccinations per month, more than three times the amount now received, to secure herd immunity by June.
“We are not able to open it. We will only be crushed by people who want vaccine and do not have enough vaccine, and therefore we use this very deliberate approach, ‘said Willems Van Dijk.
Governor Tony Evers also announced that his government will set up another public health emergency and extend the requirement for the entire mask for another 60 days.
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