Prosecutors, public defenders, judges now eligible for vaccine

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers’ administration clarified on Tuesday that all judges, prosecutors, public defenders and other essential criminal-court personnel can now receive the coronavirus vaccine, as can members of the clergy.

People age 16 and up with certain preexisting conditions in Wisconsin can also starting receiving the vaccine this Monday, a week earlier than previously announced, Evers said Tuesday.

Last week, the state said people in that eligibility group who are at a higher health risk would be able to get vaccinated starting March 29.

“Our vaccinators across the state are doing great work to get folks vaccinated,” Evers said in a statement. “Moving up eligibility for this critical group will help us get over the finish line and sooner, and get us back to our Wisconsin way of life.”

Qualifying conditions include moderate to severe asthma; cancer; diabetes; high blood pressure, Down syndrome; and being overweight with a body mass index of 25 or above. Women who are pregnant are also eligible.

The general public will become eligible on May 1 and it’s possible that could happen sooner, Evers said during a virtual event hosted by Wisconsin Health News.

“We will always look at pushing it up,” Evers said. “We want to get shots into people’s arms.”

The news came just as the Legislature was scheduled to vote Tuesday on a bill that would allow dentists to administer the vaccine as well as the flu shot, once they undergo eight hours of training.

Another virus-related proposal up for approval would allow landlords to charge fees for late rent, a rule Evers’ administration wants to suspend due to the pandemic. And a Republican-supported bill would forbid limited term employees from taking leave without pay, which the Evers administration also opposes.

About 20 states have expanded who can administer the COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to speed vaccinations and slow the spread of the virus. Dentists in neighboring Minnesota and Illinois are already permitted to give the vaccine.

There are about 3,500 dentists in Wisconsin who could be enlisted to help vaccinate.

Another bill up for an Assembly vote Tuesday would allow some out-of-state health care providers, including doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists, to practice in Wisconsin during the pandemic.

As of Monday, 23.1% of people in Wisconsin had received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 69% of people over age 65 had received at least one dose, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.