Milwaukee County ranks near the bottom of the list for the percentage of residents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in WisconsinThe Wisconsin Department of Health Services unveiled new data Thursday, showing the number of vaccines distributed by county and demographic. “We are going to make sure that they understand how serious this is for the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Thursday. Just about 8% of Milwaukee County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to more than 11% in Waukesha County, 14% in Dane County and nearly 18% in rural Lafayette County.”Up until three weeks ago, we did not have a population formula,” said Julie Willems Van Dijk, DHS deputy secretary. “And that will start to help that equalize that allotment of vaccine.”Local and state health officials cited various reasons, including the number of hospitals and health care workers who live and work just outside of Milwaukee County’s borders.Still, city and county leaders say they want immediate change.”This is playing right into the notion of underserved communities not having equitable access,” Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said. The new data also shows statewide more than 10% of white Wisconsinites have received a vaccine compared to 3% of Black and Hispanic residents. “My question is if you’ve got 2,000 doses that are floating around in an area that’s not densely populated, should the state be sending any additional ones there?” Barrett said. “Or should they be redirecting them to an area like Milwaukee where you are seeing this very, very sharp disparity in people of color receiving the vaccines.”Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISNGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Milwaukee County ranks near the bottom of the list for the percentage of residents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services unveiled new data Thursday, showing the number of vaccines distributed by county and demographic.
“We are going to make sure that they understand how serious this is for the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Thursday.
Just about 8% of Milwaukee County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to more than 11% in Waukesha County, 14% in Dane County and nearly 18% in rural Lafayette County.
“Up until three weeks ago, we did not have a population formula,” said Julie Willems Van Dijk, DHS deputy secretary. “And that will start to help that equalize that allotment of vaccine.”
Local and state health officials cited various reasons, including the number of hospitals and health care workers who live and work just outside of Milwaukee County’s borders.
Still, city and county leaders say they want immediate change.
“This is playing right into the notion of underserved communities not having equitable access,” Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said.
The new data also shows statewide more than 10% of white Wisconsinites have received a vaccine compared to 3% of Black and Hispanic residents.
“My question is if you’ve got 2,000 doses that are floating around in an area that’s not densely populated, should the state be sending any additional ones there?” Barrett said. “Or should they be redirecting them to an area like Milwaukee where you are seeing this very, very sharp disparity in people of color receiving the vaccines.”
Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISN
Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.
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