Milwaukee residents 65+ can book appointment to get COVID-19 vaccine

MILWAUKEE - City of Milwaukee residents 65 and older can now book an appointment to get their COVID-19 vaccine through the Milwaukee Health Department.

A new online registration portal, milwaukee.gov/covidvax, launched on Wednesday, Feb. 3 -- and allows city residents to make an appointment.

Visitors to the site can scroll down and hit REGISTER NOW which takes them to a new appointment portal. There, you will fill out a questionnaire that determines your eligibility.

There is also a phone number you can call if you do not have access to a computer. That number is 414-286-6800.

Appointments fill fast, frustrating some

Registration is filling up. At last check, appointments for Wednesday and Thursday were completely booked; hundreds of slots filled in minutes.

Milwaukee plans to vaccinate 4,000 people at the Wisconsin Center this week -- not just seniors, but also second doses for health care workers and other groups. It's leaving some, like the Roundtree family, wondering when their turn will come.

For the last week, Chimere Roundtree has taken on a new job -- helping her aunt, Gwendolyn, who is 65, get signed up for her vaccine.

"She's not that savvy as far as internet and things like that, so I try to help out as much as I can," Roundtree said.

It's a task that's proven to be challenging. Gwendolyn's already on three pharmacy waiting lists. So, on Wednesday, Chimere logged into the new Milwaukee Health Department site. She got through the eligibility questions and was ready to make an appointment, but all available slots were full.

"It's just frustrating because there are people willing and eligible to get the shot, and it's just not available," said Roundtree.

Milwaukee's Interim Health Commissioner Marlaina Jackson said the city received 4,000 doses just this week. It's a combination of first and second doses, limiting the ability to reach new people.

"The reality of our supply and demand is shared, and the availability of vaccine makes all the difference in all of these numbers," Jackson said.

It means even those eligible, like Gwendolyn, just have to wait and hold onto hope that the shot at a shot will come soon.

The city said its next available appointments wouldn't be until Friday at the earliest when it receives updated numbers on vaccine allotment.

Organizations assist seniors

Melissa Meier's organization, East Side Senior Services, has already taken a call to help transport a senior to their vaccination appointment. The executive director anticipates the organization will get more calls like that now that the option is available.

"The folks that we serve don’t have access to a computer, or aren’t very internet savvy," said Meier. "They call us and then we help with that information."

The organization is also trying to answer questions if technology is a barrier.

"We could also use volunteers. So if anybody is interested in volunteering with us, it is really rewarding," Meier said.

Other groups, like Senior Helpers Milwaukee, are helping their clients navigate the vaccine rollout. 

"Making sure they have that second appointment and that they go to that second appointment," said Lisa Zampino, Client Service Manager for Senior Helpers.

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If needed, Senior Helpers will monitor clients through the entire vaccine process.

"Providing them with the transportation through their dose and even if it’s just for the ride, let's stay there afterwards for an hour or two and make sure they are safe after the dose," Zampino said.

They also remind clients that patience is key.

"Some people will have questions like, 'Why can't I get it now?' This is amazing how they are rolling it out and how fast we’re doing it, it’s going to take time," Zampino said.