Mayor: Milwaukee residents 65+ not able to get vaccine until February due to supply issues

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Interim Health Commissioner Marlaina Jackson announced Milwaukee residents 65 years old and older will likely not be able to get their COVID-19 vaccine at the Wisconsin Center until the week of Feb. 1.

"Right now if you are 65 and older, we're asking that you please just hold tight," Jackson said.

The announcement came Saturday, Jan. 23. Milwaukee leaders said they still have other people left to get vaccines, including health care workers and first responders, who have priority over the age group. 

"Over the last 48 hours has been the announcement though that individuals 65 and older are now eligible for the vaccination. But I'm using my words carefully because there's a difference between eligible and having the supply available. That's one of the challenges that we face right now is having the available supply," Barrett said during a media briefing Saturday.

The Wisconsin Center has been serving as the city's vaccine distribution hub. Jackson said the city has asked for 5,000 doses for the upcoming week.

Earlier this week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced adults over the age of 65 would be eligible for the vaccine beginning Monday, Jan. 25. 

Currently, frontline health care workers, residents in long term facilities (nursing homes and assisted living facilities), and police and fire personnel are eligible. 

Veterans who are 65 and older who are enrolled with the Milwaukee VA and its community clinics in Green Bay, Appleton, Cleveland and Union Grove are able to get a vaccine at one of the walk-in vaccine clinics on Saturday, Jan. 23 and Sunday, Jan. 24.

There are approximately 700,000 Wisconsinites who are 65 and older, and Wisconsin currently receives around 70,000 first-dose vaccines per week from the federal government. 

You can watch the full meeting below: