COVID-19 vaccination clinic at UW-Milwaukee helps underserved communities

MILWAUKEE _ Gov. Tony Evers and UW System President Tommy Thompson visited a community vaccination clinic at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Monday, saying it provides much-needed access to vaccine for communities hardest hit by COVID-19.

“Wisconsin continues to lead the country in using available vaccine doses, and sites like this are going to continue playing a critical role in the weeks and months ahead in our continued success to get our families, neighbors and communities vaccinated,” Evers said. “I’m grateful for the partnership with UWM, which is uniquely positioned to serve those in the Milwaukee area who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and by historic, persistent disparities in health care access.”

The clinic at UW-Milwaukee is operated through a partnership with Advocate Aurora Health and the City of Milwaukee Health Department. It is one of four on UW System campuses. The others are at UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh and UW-La Crosse.

“UW System is proud to partner with the state and federal governments to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to the Milwaukee community – another illustration that the new Wisconsin Idea is about our universities solving problems,” Thompson said. “Vaccines are working to prevent the spread of this insidious disease, and I encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated as soon as they are able.”

Anyone who meets Wisconsin’s vaccination criteria can make an appointment at the UWM clinic by visiting uwm.edu/vaccination. Currently eligible groups include those age 65 and older, restaurant and grocery workers, people with certain medical conditions, K-12 educators and more. In addition, all adults living in the 10 Milwaukee County ZIP codes ranked highest on the CDC’s social vulnerability index can get vaccinated at the clinic. Those ZIP codes are: 53204, 53206, 53205, 53209, 53215, 53216, 53218, 53223, 53224 and 53233.

“UW-Milwaukee is a perfect place to serve as a vaccination site,” UWM Provost Johannes Britz said. “As the most diverse campus in the University of Wisconsin System, we have a long history of providing access to educational- and health-related programs to the people of Milwaukee. Today, many of our graduates are working on the frontline, battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Advocate Aurora hospitals and clinics, as well as other health care facilities.”

UWM has one of the largest arrays of health care programs in Wisconsin, with more than 3,300 students enrolled in its College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences and the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health. Faculty members and students working at the Silver Spring and House of Peace Community Nursing Centers have provided health care to underserved populations for more than 40 years.

Hundreds of community members have made appointments in the past week to get vaccinated at UWM.

“I continue to be encouraged that so many people are eager to get the vaccine – we know that it is safe and effective,” said Dr. Nkem Iroegbu, chief medical officer at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center. “We are proud to partner with UWM and the Milwaukee Health Department to ensure we are reaching those communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. We want everyone who has the opportunity to be vaccinated because we know it’s the only way out of the pandemic.”

People who complete the vaccination interest form at uwm.edu/vaccination will receive an email with a personalized code that allows them to make an appointment through Advocate Aurora Health. Once they receive their first shot, they will be automatically scheduled for their second shot. Vaccination is by appointment only; the clinic will not accept walk-ins.
The clinic is located in the UWM Student Union at 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd. Free parking for those getting vaccinated is available in the garage under the Student Union.

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.