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Wisconsin has delivered at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose to about 10.4% of white residents, compared to just 2.9% of Black and Hispanic residents respectively.
That’s according to a new Department of Health Services data dashboard unveiled Thursday. The trend mirrors racial disparities in vaccination in other U.S. communities where data have been made public. Black and Hispanic residents are gaining protection from COVID-19 more slowly despite being more likely than whites to be harmed by the disease.
The state has vaccinated 7.3% of American Indians and 4.9% of those it labels Asian.
“This new dashboard highlights the hard work of our vaccinators and also helps us all identify areas where we must continue to make improvements,” DHS Interim Secretary Karen Timberlake said in a statement. “We remain committed to an equitable and fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccine.”
The new vaccine dashboard, embedded below, maps geographic trends as well. Iron County, which borders Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, leads the state with 18.5% of residents receiving at least one dose. Northwest Wisconsin’s Rusk County lagged behind all others, with 6.3% of residents receiving at least one dose.
Top Stories
How COVID-19 has helped dramatically decrease the number of influenza cases — Milwaukee Neighborhood news Service
10% of white Wisconsin residents have been vaccinated so far, but only 3% of Black residents — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Roughly 40% of the USA’s coronavirus deaths could have been prevented, new study says — USA TODAY
Here are the Wisconsin Walgreens locations that will offer COVID-19 vaccine appointments — Appleton Post-Crescent
Mercyhealth cancels 650 COVID-19 vaccine appointments citing no shipment from state — Janesville Gazette
Gov. Tony Evers orders flags to fly at half-staff Friday to honor former fire inspector — Wisconsin State Journal
Waukesha County exhausts week’s supply of 1,000 COVID-19 doses — WISN-TV
COVID-19 vaccine rollout by the numbers: Here’s where things stand in Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties — Appleton Post-Crescent
Wisconsin DWD exploring options to reinstate waiver of one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits — Wisconsin State Journal
Region’s blood donations tested for COVID antibodies — Beaver Dam Daily Citizen
What are we missing? And how are you coping? Help us provide critical information and accountability by filling out this form or emailing us at tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Quotable
“Every single staff member I know does not feel it is safe to go back. We do not understand the push when vaccines for school staff are supposed to begin March 1st.”
— East High School teacher Amanda Pustz, as quoted by the Cap Times, about the Madison School District’s plans for a phased reopening beginning March 9
“People have questions, but we’ve committed to going through this together.”
— Madison school superintendent Carlton Jenkins on plans for the district’s reopening, according to the Cap Times
Data to note
Here’s a look at the new DHS vaccine dashboard.
https://bi.wisconsin.gov/javascripts/api/viz_v1.jsDHS continues to log fewer daily infections, with a seven-day average daily cases now at 879 — the lowest since early September. Still, the agency reports a seven-day average of 21 new daily deaths. Wisconsin’s pandemic death toll now sits at 6,140.
Public health officials continue to urge Wisconsinites to wear masks and practice physical distancing until vaccinations are more widely distributed.
WisContext offers this visualization of Wisconsin COVID-19 infections and deaths.
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In Wisconsin, even small gatherings can carry a big risk of exposure to the coronavirus, according to a nationwide tool that estimates the danger by the size of gathering and county in which it is held. Data scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Stanford University developed the tool, which you can find here.
Resilient Wisconsin
People helping others and showing resilience during this time of anxiety. Send suggestions by tagging us on social media — @wisconsinwatch — or emailing us: tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
New CDC guidance on masks cites UW-Madison invention, research — Cap Times
#ShareMyCheck: Stimulus checks being donated to those who may need them more — TMJ4 News
New AARP analysis shows COVID-19 cases declining in Wisconsin nursing homes — AARP
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The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
