The city of Milwaukee said it will administer 100 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to frontline health workers and members of the fire department beginning this morning.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Wednesday afternoon the city received an expedited shipment of 100 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to give to fire department/EMS staff and public health workers employed by the city.
Priority for 50 of those doses will go to employees working in closest contact with the public, including those in the city’s three health clinics, along with laboratory staff and workers at the city’s COVID-19 testing sites. The other 50 doses will go to the fire department.
Another 800 doses are expected to arrive next week, Barrett said.
Milwaukee health commissioner Marlaina Jackson said the city is highly encouraging, but not requiring employees, to get vaccinated.
Barrett said Milwaukee fire chief Aaron Lipski reported 60% of his staff had signed up for their vaccine appointment, and that rate will likely increase.
“We’re looking at potentially a very, very high compliance rate,” Barrett said.
City officials said they would begin vaccine clinics at 10 a.m. Thursday, and vaccinate 10 to 12 people per hour. All doses will go to individuals in the state’s highest-priority 1A group, which includes frontline health workers, emergency responders and those living and working in long-term care settings.
