I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and safe.
Together we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and advocate for the health, well-being, and safety of our neighbors and families. This update includes information on the COVID-19 response from the State and vaccination information. I have also included a brief update on legislative action here at the Capitol and the majority party’s efforts to overturn the public health emergency and mask mandate.
Please follow my Facebook or Twitter for more frequent updates. I hope they help keep you informed and engaged with what’s going on in Madison and Milwaukee.
As always, I welcome any feedback or ideas you may have. Stay tuned for an update in the near future about further updates and legislative priorities going into the 2021-2022 legislative session. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you.
Evan Goyke
Evan Goyke State Representative 18th Assembly District
COVID-19 Response Updates
Public health and the safety of Wisconsinites must remain our top priority as we fight this pandemic. This week, my Assembly Republican colleagues worked hard to repeal the statewide mask order and derail the bi-partisan COVID-19 relief bill by injecting it with hyper-partisan changes that will only further delay relief and recovery for our state.
Masks work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the pending GOP resolution will result in fewer people wearing masks. Fewer people wearing masks means more infections, more hospitalizations, more people dying of COVID-19. We also know that our healthcare workers, schools, businesses, and communities need resources and relief now in order to continue fighting the COVID-19 crisis.
By authoring and attempting to pass these pieces of legislation, my Republican colleagues are choosing politics & ideology over the health and lives of Wisconsinites.
The loss of federal revenue shouldn't overshadow the potential human loss repealing the mask mandate may bring, but it does show that the authors and proponents of the resolution acted only with partisan political motives and pushed forward without doing the basic homework that every public official should do when advancing public policy.
I will continue to support the mask mandate and advocate for your health and safety. I consider this one of the most important duties I have as your State Representative. This battle at the Capitol is far from over. Please stay tuned for future updates.
Today at the State Capitol, I heard from numerous constituents and I spoke with the media about the Republicans' attempt to overturn the mask order. I appreciated all of the engagement and advocacy from Wisconsinites.
As vaccine supply and the number of vaccinators increase, phases for distribution will expand and may overlap. The number of vaccines that DHS receives from the federal government can vary by week which impacts the vaccination schedule.
Expanding Eligible Populations – Last week DHS announced that adults age 65 years and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. DHS estimates that this group consists of more than 700,000 individuals. Phase 1A eligible individuals (e.g. health care providers and long-term care residents), as well as police and fire personnel, also remain eligible. This week, DHS announced the next populations that will be eligible for the vaccine tentatively beginning March 1st. DHS determined eligibility for group 1B based on the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee approving the Recommendations for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for COVID-19 Vaccine Priority Group 1b last week.
Accessing the Vaccine for Populations that are Currently Eligible
How to access the vaccine differs by eligible populations. This information is detailed below and can also be found HERE.
Frontline health care personnel
Primary vaccinator: Employers
If you work within a health care system, you should expect to receive information from your employer about receiving the vaccine.
Other options:If you are an EMS worker or not affiliated with a health care system, please visit your local health department’s website.
Residents in skilled nursing and long-term care facilities
Primary vaccinator: Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program
If you are a resident of a nursing home or assisted living facility, you will likely be vaccinated through the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. CVS and Walgreens pharmacies have been contracted to offer onsite COVID-19 vaccination services. This program began vaccinating patients at skilled nursing facilities on December 28 and will begin vaccinating residents of assisted living facilities on January 25.
Enrollment into the Pharmacy Partnership for Long Term Care Program has closed. If you are unsure if your facility is enrolled please email DHSCOVIDVACCINATOR@dhs.wisconsin.govand provide the name and address for the facility. For facilities that are not enrolled in the program please contact your local health department for information.
Police and fire personnel, correctional staff
Primary vaccinator: Local health departments
Local health departments will lead the coordination for the vaccination of police and fire personnel. Local health departments will work in partnership with local vaccinators, including health care systems and pharmacies. To ensure everyone that is eligible for a vaccine has access to a provider, DHS will work alongside local health departments in coordinating with police and fire associations.
Adults ages 65 and over
Primary vaccinators: Health care providers and pharmacies
Other options: DHS and local health departments are coordinating additional vaccination options throughout the state. We ask for everyone's patience during this time as vaccination efforts ramp up.
Staying informed for populations not yet eligible - We will continue to provide updates on how populations that become eligible to be vaccinated can access the vaccine.
Milwaukee County Residents - Milwaukee County has a tool that allows you to sign up to be notified when you become eligible for the vaccine and be connected to an approved vaccinator by visiting this site: https://www.healthymke.com/home
Data updates - The Vaccine Distribution Summary has been updated to provide more clarity and transparency on the distribution process. The Shipped category has been replaced with two new categories: Ordered and In transit. Ordered represents the cumulative total number of doses that have been ordered by COVID-19 vaccine providers in Wisconsin and shipped by the federal government from the state’s total allocation. The In-transit category reflects COVID-19 vaccine orders from the previous week that have been shipped by the federal government and are en route to vaccine locations in Wisconsin.
Important Local COVID-19 Resources
During these unprecedented times, I want to make sure that you are connected to the resources that are available in our community. Each e-update will include resources and opportunities that may be helpful for anyone experiencing hardship due to the pandemic.
W-2 Emergency Assistance: One-time payment that can help qualifying low-income parents to pay for emergency housing or utility-related expenses.
Energy Assistance Program: Provides qualified Milwaukee County residents with a one-time, annual payment toward heating and electric bills. The funding pays a portion of energy costs determined by household size, income, and energy costs.
2-1-1 Social Service and Community Resource Referral Support through IMPACT, Inc.:
Dial 2-1-1, or (414) 773-0211
To avoid being charged a long-distance fee, call 2-1-1 toll-free at (866) 211-3380
Text your zip code: TXT-211{898-211} Mon- Fri 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
