New Guidance on Eligibility for Vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed to Wisconsin residents in a phased approach. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has provided clarification about who is considered “direct care personnel” and is eligible to receive the COVID vaccine now as part of the first phase, called “1a”. This updated definition includes paid and unpaid caregivers of children and adults enrolled in long term care programs.
This is the updated definition for Direct Care Personnel also on the DHS website.
Direct care personnel, for example, people who provide direct care to patients, including in their homes (for example, personal care assistant; home health worker; adult day service providers; paid and unpaid caregivers in Family Care, Family Care Partnership, and IRIS; paid and unpaid caregivers of children in special needs programs, including Children’s Waivers, CCOP, B3, Children with Medical Complexity, CCF WAM and Katie Beckett Medicaid)
Plain Language Fact Sheets
BPDD’s Living Well project has created some plain language information about how paid and unpaid caregivers can get the COVID vaccine. They include when, where and how people in long-term care programs and their paid and unpaid supporters can get the vaccine.
- Vaccine information for Family Care participants and their caregivers: Family Care Vaccine Fact Sheet
- Vaccine information for IRIS participants and their caregivers: IRIS Vaccine Fact Sheet
- Vaccine information for Children’s Disability Programs participants and their caregivers: Children’s Long Term Care Programs Vaccine Fact Sheet
- BPDD’s Living Well COVID-19 vaccine guide: COVID-19 Vaccine Facts and Myths Fact Sheet
B.P.D.D Living Well Project: Busting COVID-19 Vaccine Myths
Living Well Project: Busting COVID-19 Vaccine Myths – YouTube
This Living Well Wednesday video shares updated information about the COVID-19 vaccine and who is eligible to get the vaccine. The speakers are Marcia Stickel, a retired nurse working as a member on the State Medical Disaster Committee, and Mitch Hagopian, an attorney from Disability Rights Wisconsin.