Monday, March 22, 2021
Starting today, expanded vaccine eligibility means more Wisconsinites have access to this lifesaving immunization
MADISON, Wis.— Opportunity Wisconsin released the following statement as millions of Wisconsinites are today eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, one week earlier than anticipated. On Friday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services also announced four additional organizations will be administering vaccines through the federal retail pharmacy program. The American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Biden, includes $20 billion for vaccine distribution, including $7.5 billion to set up vaccination sites across the country.
Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director:
“Today is a day of celebration for so many across the Badger State, thanks to modern medicine, our frontline healthcare workers, and state and federal elected officials who have made significant investments in the development and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Over the past year, Wisconsin has seen an unbelievable amount of loss, but today there is hope. We’ve also seen Senator Ron Johnson constantly amplifying dangerous and debunked pandemic conspiracy theories, in addition to voting against the critical vaccine investments included in the American Rescue Plan. Unfortunately he’s not alone. Wisconsin Congressmen Bryan Steil, Scott Fitzgerald, Glenn Grothman, Tom Tiffany, and Mike Gallagher also voted against the urgent relief provided by this law. Wisconsin workers and families deserve elected representatives who will prioritize people over political conjecture.”
In a recent profile, the New York Times detailed Senator Johnson’s long history of promoting conspiracy theories stating, “In recent months, Mr. Johnson has sown doubts about President Biden’s victory, argued that the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was not an armed insurrection, promoted discredited Covid-19 treatments, said he saw no need to get the coronavirus vaccine himself and claimed that the United States could have ended the pandemic a year ago with the development of a generic drug if the government had wanted that to happen.”
Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin sat down with Senator Tammy Baldwin and Wisconsin parents to discuss the historic impact the American Rescue Plan will have on children and families across the state.