How To Get a COVID-19 Vaccine If You’re 65 Or Older in Milwaukee

Starting January 25th, Wisconsin residents 65 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The announcement was made Tuesday morning by the state. “Not surprisingly, there have been a lot of calls to health departments,” said Mayor Tom Barrett in a Tuesday evening press briefing.

Eligible Milwaukee County residents are to use the HealthyMKE.com website to register to get a COVID-19 vaccine. “The purpose of this tool is to match people with vaccinators,” said Barrett, noting that after registering individuals would receive a follow-up to schedule an appointment.

There are expected to be delays in the process. Over 700,000 people are estimated to be 65 or older in Wisconsin and the state currently expects to receive approximately 70,000 vaccine doses a week. Seniors are not the only eligible group, more population subsections including healthcare workers, firefighters and police officers can also receive the vaccine.

“Don’t expect to go in there and get a match immediately,” said Barrett. “I know it’s difficult to be patient.”

Individuals will eventually be matched with a location and timeslot to receive their vaccine. Many of those slots are likely to come at the Wisconsin Center where the Milwaukee Health Department is administering the vaccine. But area healthcare providers and Milwaukee County are also receiving vaccine doses. The HealthyMKE.com platform will provide matches with any organization receiving vaccine doses in the county.

“We realize that not everyone has access to a computer,” said Barrett. He said a telephone hotline is coming. “We are committed to doing as much as we can as fast as we can.”

For more details on the vaccine distribution process and the phase 1B group, see our coverage from earlier Tuesday.