On paper, Wisconsin is changing the rules for the coronavirus vaccine. On paper the state just said people over 65 can get the shot starting next week. That’s a lie.
Wisconsin has been horrible about getting the vaccine to people in the state. The process at DHS takes too much time and involves too many committees and reviews. We are one month into the vaccine and barely 250,000 people have gotten a dose. That’s a little over half the doses sent to the state, and a fraction of the almost 800,000 that have been promised.
While DHS says anyone over 65 will be able to get the shot next week, the reality is much different.
From the Journal Sentinel:
Julie Willems Van Dijk, deputy secretary at DHS, urged patience in a briefing with reporters.
"It’s going to take a week or two to really get rolling on this ... People will get their vaccine. Not tomorrow, but sometime in the next month or two," she said. "Honestly, if I was 65 today, I’d say, that’s good — I know I’m going to get my vaccine before summer comes. And I would simply wait a few weeks and see as more information comes out."
A month or two? By the summer? How is this any better than the current failure?
It’s not. But this is why DHS has to lie to people.
Wisconsin has, is continuing to, and will play political games with the vaccine list. There is no other reason than politics as to why prisoners and inmates are on the vaccine list and grocery store workers are not. By opening-up the vaccine to everyone 65-plus, and the special carve-outs DHS is ensuring there will not be enough doses to go around.
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