Many more people became eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations this week, and a new, one-dose vaccine was approved for use nationally, but Door County public health officials said it's too soon to know how these events will affect the ability to administer shots to all those eligible.

A new demographic in the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout was made eligible as of Monday. First priority among the newly-eligible groups is given to school and child care workers, while others now eligible in order of priority are people in Medicaid long-term care programs, some essential workers who deal with the public (such as 911 operators, public transit and grocery/convenience store workers), non-frontline essential health care staff, and staff and residents of congregate living settings.

They join groups who have been eligible and receiving vaccines, such as frontline health care workers (including those in dental and eye clinics), frontline public safety personnel (law enforcement officers, fire fighters, first responders), residents in long-term or community-based residential facilities, and those ages 65 and older.

The Kewaunee County Public Health Department began administering doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week to staff at schools and childcare facilities, but it also noted in a press release that because of limited amounts of the vaccine being supplied by the state to the county, those who are eligible for it but have not yet scheduled an appointment are encouraged to contact their health care providers. 

Meanwhile, Door County Public Health announced in a press release issued Tuesday it is currently vaccinating the ages 65 and older group and continuing to prioritize them, planning to add other groups made eligible by the state later.

The release also said the state will provide a separate allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine to Door County for school and child care workers starting March 15, and the county health department is working with schools and child care agencies to schedule appointments.

A date hasn't been set for vaccinations to begin for those classified in Phase 1C, which is likely to include adults with chronic or underlying health conditions and essential workers who haven't yet been eligible for the shots.

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The Kewaunee County and Door County health departments also asked in press releases that people who signed up for vaccines through the health departments but receive their vaccines elsewhere (from a health care provider or participating pharmacy) should inform their health department they no longer need to be on a waiting list. 

Statistics as of Monday, March 1 (provided by the county and state health departments) are as follows:

Positive tests in past week (Feb. 23-March 1):

• Kewaunee County, 7
• Door County, 14

Negative tests in past week:

• Kewaunee, 99
• Door, 141

Seven-day percentage of positive tests (positivity rate):

• Kewaunee, 6.6% (4.5% the week before)
• Door, 8.9% (was 9.1%)
• Wisconsin, 2.2%

Cumulative positivity rate since testing began:

• Kewaunee, 22%
• Door, 15%

Positive tests per 100,000 residents over past week:

• Kewaunee, 9.8, 72nd among state's 72 counties
• Door, 51, tied for 52nd

Deaths from COVID-19 complications:

• Kewaunee, 34, none in past six weeks
• Door, 20, one in past week

Hospitalizations from the virus in past week:

• Kewaunee, 1
• Door, 1

Active cases:

• Kewaunee, 7 (was 10 as of Feb. 23);
• Door, 14 (was 15)

Recovered cases:

• Kewaunee, 2,489
• Door, 2,565

Vaccines given in past week:

• Kewaunee, not available
• Door, 347 first doses, 79 second doses

Total vaccines given:

• Kewaunee, 2,955 (14.5% of population) received at least one dose, 1,734 (8.5%) both doses
• Door (including other providers besides health department), 6,108 (22.1%) received at least one dose, 3,325 (12%) both doses
• Wisconsin, 928,958 (16%) at least one dose, 505,123 (8.7%) both

Vaccines requested and received for this week:

• Kewaunee, not available
• Door, 1,200 requested, 498 received (258 first doses, 240 second doses)

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-741-7952, 920-562-8900 or [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: COVID-19 update: Kewaunee County teachers getting vaccines, but not yet in Door County