Here & Now

COVID-19 Vaccination Inequalities in Wisconsin

Frederica Freyberg:

The COVID-19 vaccination rate in Wisconsin for people who have now had their first dose stands at 47.5%. But there remain large disparities in who is getting them. Of all people in Wisconsin who have had their first dose, Black residents have the lowest rate of vaccination in the state at 23.6%. Trying to get more shots in arms, a new project run by the Urban League of Madison is doing just that. Bringing opportunities for vaccinations deeper into the community. Murv Seymour reports.

Bonnie Margulis:

Everybody needs to get vaccinated.

Murv Seymour:

On this day outside the Urban League headquarters on Madison’s south side, it’s a party atmosphere. The neighborhood has been peppered with signs and fliers in the words of organizers to do.

Bonnie Margulis:

Everything we can to reach as many people as we can, as many different ways as we can.

Murv Seymour:

It’s an invitation for anyone to come inside for an all-out effort to help protect this community, especially its black and brown people.

Man:

Glad you came in today.

Bonnie Margulis:

We have only been open for a couple of hours. We’ve had already had tons of traffic.

Ruben Anthony:

The whole point of this event today is to bring the vaccine into the community.

Woman:

Looks like a great turnout.

Ruben Anthony:

Many of us have people in our families that have been infected, you know, and died.

Murv Seymour:

The four letters of this small word means anyone who shows up can get the shot. The only cost, time. Urban League of Greater Madison has partnered with SSM Health and almost a dozen other community organizations to bring the vaccine a foot step closer to people like Bruce Tate, who says three people in his family have the virus. For him and so many others, getting vaccinated has been tougher because of a lack of transportation and clinics close to home.

Bruce Tate:

I think it’s kind of fun. It almost doesn’t look like you are coming to get a shot, it looks like almost like a meet and greet of some sort.

Murv Seymour:

This critical vaccine drive run from this mid-sized room also targets people like 13-year-old Marcus Allen.

Marcus Allen:

Now they’ve made it for the 12 plus, I’m like I could travel more.

Karen Timberlake:

We’re doing a lot of outreach with pediatricians and healthcare providers all across our state because we know parents are looking to their pediatricians.

Murv Seymour:

Marcus proudly takes a post vaccine photo with his dad for a social media campaign run by Rabbi Bonnie Margulis. The campaign encourages others to get the picture black and brown people face across the state with COVID-19.

Bonnie Margulis:

We’re trying to get as many folks from all different walks of life, different ages, different ethnicities because the more people see people who look like them, oh, they got the shot and this is why, and that really resonates with me, maybe that will make me think about maybe I should go get vaccinated as well.

Murv Seymour:

Midway through this five-hour effort, a surprise visit from Governor Tony Evers.

Tony Evers:

This isn’t a Black or white issue or brown issue or Indigenous people issue, it’s a Wisconsin issue.

Murv Seymour:

Organizers of this pop-up vaccination clinic say its success is all about partnerships.

Bonnie Margulis:

We just have so much greater reach. My organization in particular reaches out to the faith community, the Urban League reaches out to the African-American community. We also partner with Centro Hispano and Voces de La Frontera which has their outreach to the Latinx community.

Ruben Anthony:

People trust us. One of the young women today taking a shot, she whispered in my ear, she says, “I took the shot because I saw the promotion that you did.”

Man:

This isn’t going to go away if we don’t get our shots.

Bonnie Margulis:

Everybody needs to get vaccinated to keep themselves safe. Keep their loved ones safe and so that we all can get back to normal life.

Murv Seymour:

Reporting for “Here & Now,” I’m Murv Seymour.

Frederica Freyberg:

Seventy-six people came out to receive the Pfizer vaccine during the event. The second dose will be provided on June 15th.