Skip to content
NOWCAST WISN 12 News at 10 p.m.
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Restaurant, retail, factory workers among some not eligible for COVID-19 vaccine yet

Everyone will be eligible in May

Restaurant, retail, factory workers among some not eligible for COVID-19 vaccine yet

Everyone will be eligible in May

TO GETTING VACCINE. >> WE ARE ANNOUNCING MORE ELIGIBILITY GROUPS IN THE COMING MONTHS. TERRY: MORE WISCONSINITES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR COVID-19 VACCINE IN TWO WEEKS. BUT RESTAURANT SERVERS WILL NOT. EVEN THOUGH THEY’VE SERVED STRANGERS MONTH AFTER MONTH AND TAKEN PANDEMIC RISKS. >> WHEN WE REOPENED, WE REOPENED SAFELY. MASKS, FOR ALL OUR GUESTS, FOR ALL OUR EMPLOYEES. TERRY: CHRIS ADAMS HELPS LEAD THE GROUP THAT OWNS THE SMOKE SHACK RESTAURANTS AND OTHERS. AND SAYS EMPLOYEES ARE ASKING WHEN THEY CAN GET VACCINATED. >> ALTHOUGH WE’RE DISAPPOINTED THAT WE ARE NOT ON THE LIST YET WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE OUR , PLACE. SO EVENTUALLY, WE WILL BE ON THERE. AND IT’LL BE JUST ONE ADDITIONAL LAYER FOR OUR STAFF. >> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE RESTAURANT LEADERS -- RESTAURANT WORKERS INCLUDED. RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE INTERFACING A LOT WITH THE PUBLIC AND THEY DESERVE TO BE ON THE LIST. TERRY: RETAIL, CONSTRUCTION, AND FACTORY WORKERS ALSO HAVE TO WAIT LONGER TO GET COVID SHOTS. >> A WHOLE BUNCH OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT EXCLUDED. BECAUSE MANY OF THEM WOULD HAVE ONE OF THESE HEALTH CONDITIONS. TERRY: RESTAURANT CUSTOMER LAURA SUE MOSIER IS SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE VACCINE. >> I DON’T WANT TO BE A GUINEA PI PERSONALLY, I DON’T THINK COVID IS DEADLY. I THINK IT’S A FORM OF THE FLU. TERRY: BUT FOR THOSE WHO DO WA TO GET VACCINATED, THE STATE SAYS, WITH MORE VACCINE, THERE’S HOPE ON THE HORIZON. >> EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE IN MAY. AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST MESSAGE I WANT EVERYONE TO HEA PATRICK: TONIGHT, WE ARE EXPECTED TO HEAR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN OUTLINED HIS PLAN TO MAKE ALL ADULTS VACCINE ELIGIBLE BY MAY 1. AS FOR THE LATEST ELIGIBILITY GROUP AND WISCONSIN, FACTORY WORKERS ARE NOT ON THAT LIST. TERRY: THAT IS RIGHT. THEY MAY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MAY. WHAT IS FRUSTRATING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IS IN OTHER STATES, RESTAURANT WORKERS, FACTORY WORKERS ARE ON THE LIST OF PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE VACCINE. PATR
Advertisement
Restaurant, retail, factory workers among some not eligible for COVID-19 vaccine yet

Everyone will be eligible in May

The state expanded its list of people eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine Thursday to those 16 and older with certain medical conditions beginning March 29, but restaurant servers, those in retail and construction workers have to wait longer. Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin"We are announcing more eligibility groups in the coming months," Wisconsin Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said.More Wisconsinites, especially those with chronic health conditions, will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in two weeks. But restaurant servers will not even though they've served strangers month after month and taken pandemic risks."When we reopened. We reopened safely. Masks, for all our guests, for all our employees," said Chris Adams, vice president of hospitality democracy.Adams helps lead the group that owns the Smoke Shack restaurants and others and said employees are asking when they can get vaccinated."Although we're disappointed that we're not on the list yet, we understand that we have our place. So eventually we will be on there. And it'll be just one additional layer for our staff," Adams said.Retail, construction and factory workers also have to wait longer to get COVID-19 vaccines."A whole bunch of those people are not excluded. Because many of them would have one of these health conditions," Willems Van Dijk said. Restaurant customer Laura Sue Mosier is skeptical about the vaccine."I don't want to be a guinea pig. Personally, I don't think COVID is deadly. I think it's a form of the flu," she said. But for those who do want to get vaccinated, the state says with more vaccine there's hope on the horizon."Everyone is going to be eligible in May, and that is the biggest message I want everyone to hear," Willems Van Dijk said.Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISNGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

The state expanded its list of people eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine Thursday to those 16 and older with certain medical conditions beginning March 29, but restaurant servers, those in retail and construction workers have to wait longer.

Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin

Advertisement

"We are announcing more eligibility groups in the coming months," Wisconsin Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said.

More Wisconsinites, especially those with chronic health conditions, will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in two weeks.

But restaurant servers will not even though they've served strangers month after month and taken pandemic risks.

"When we reopened. We reopened safely. Masks, for all our guests, for all our employees," said Chris Adams, vice president of hospitality democracy.

Adams helps lead the group that owns the Smoke Shack restaurants and others and said employees are asking when they can get vaccinated.

"Although we're disappointed that we're not on the list yet, we understand that we have our place. So eventually we will be on there. And it'll be just one additional layer for our staff," Adams said.

Retail, construction and factory workers also have to wait longer to get COVID-19 vaccines.

"A whole bunch of those people are not excluded. Because many of them would have one of these health conditions," Willems Van Dijk said.

Restaurant customer Laura Sue Mosier is skeptical about the vaccine.

"I don't want to be a guinea pig. Personally, I don't think COVID is deadly. I think it's a form of the flu," she said.

But for those who do want to get vaccinated, the state says with more vaccine there's hope on the horizon.

"Everyone is going to be eligible in May, and that is the biggest message I want everyone to hear," Willems Van Dijk said.

Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISN

Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.
Follow us:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube