As CDC Says Vaccinated Wisconsinites Can Travel More Freely, New Report Finds WI to Receive $59M for Vaccine Distribution within Community Health Centers Alone

MADISON, Wis.— Opportunity Wisconsin released a new report today on how the American Rescue Plan is helping Wisconsinites get vaccinated. This week the Biden-Harris Administration announced that Wisconsin community health centers will receive more than $59 million to expand vaccine distribution, part of a $10 billion nationwide investment “to expand access to vaccines and better serve communities of color, rural areas, low-income populations, and other underserved communities in the COVID-19 response.”

In addition, today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced new guidelines for vaccinated Americans looking to travel. The CDC guidelines now say that Americans, as long as they wear a mask, can travel domestically and internationally without first receiving a negative COVID test or imposing a self-quarantine.

“The surge in vaccines and new guidelines from the CDC only underscore the continuing success of the American Rescue Plan,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Tens of thousands of Wisconsinites have gotten vaccinated and thousands more are scheduling appointments soon. The American Rescue Plan is working, even after Senator Ron Johnson and Republicans in Congress tried to stop it.”

A copy of Opportunity Wisconsin’s new report is posted below.

Report: How the American Rescue Plan Helps Wisconsinites Get Vaccinated

Shots in arms. That’s how America is going to get out of this pandemic. That is why the American Rescue Plan provides crucial resources to speed up Wisconsin’s vaccine deployment process and reach our goal of herd immunity by July 4th.

National Vaccination Program

Instead of leaving states to fend for themselves, the American Rescue Plan establishes a national program to rapidly distribute vaccines while also providing funding for testing and public health initiatives. In total, the bill spends $160 billion to continue our fight against the virus.

Impact on Wisconsin

• 31.3 percent of Wisconsinites have received at least one vaccine dose, which makes them 10th in the nation on this measure. New federal money will help Wisconsin get to herd immunity even faster.
• Wisconsin will be receiving $5.7 billion in state and local aid that can be used for vaccine distribution, as well as preventing essential worker layoffs. Public employees are crucial for ensuring that the vaccine rollout continues smoothly.
• Starting April 5, every Wisconsin who is 16 or older will be eligible to receive a vaccine, weeks ahead of the federal goal of May 1.

Funding for Community Health Centers

The ARP provides $59,126,375 in funding to Community Health Centers across Wisconsin to help them distribute more vaccines at a faster rate. The overwhelming majority of CHC patients are racial or ethnic minorities living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, so this money is guaranteed to help underserved communities get vaccinated. Here is the exact amount of money each CHC in Wisconsin will receive:

Name	City	State	Award Amount
PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC.	APPLETON	WI	$3,338,750
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC	BELOIT	WI	$2,437,750
SCENIC BLUFFS HEALTH CENTER, INC	CASHTON	WI	$1,828,000
NEW COMMUNITY CLINIC INC LTD	GREEN BAY	WI	$1,459,875
LAKES COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC., THE	IRON RIVER	WI	$4,672,500
KENOSHA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER INC	KENOSHA	WI	$2,949,750
ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC.	MADISON	WI	$5,476,625
FAMILY HEALTH CENTER OF MARSHFIELD, INC.	MARSHFIELD	WI	$11,549,000
GERALD L. IGNACE INDIAN HEALTH CENTER, INC.	MILWAUKEE	WI	$858,125
MILWAUKEE HEALTH SERVICES, INC.	MILWAUKEE	WI	$3,463,500
OUTREACH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC.	MILWAUKEE	WI	$2,147,625
PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC.	MILWAUKEE	WI	$2,609,750
SIXTEENTH STREET COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC.	MILWAUKEE	WI	$8,451,500
LAKESHORE COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE, INC	SHEBOYGAN	WI	$2,553,875
PRIMARY CONNECTION HEALTHCARE, INC	WAUSAU	WI	$1,715,250
LA CLINICA DE LOS CAMPESINOS, INC.	WAUTOMA	WI	$3,614,500

 

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.