Rural healthcare workers manage COVID-19 vaccine distribution

SPARTA, Wis. (WXOW) - Emergency use COVID-19 vaccine distribution is going well despite new staffing challenges at the Monroe County Health Department.

In addition to contact tracing and coordinating vaccinations, public information officer Kayleigh Day said the health department needed to hire a new health officer after the previous one retired.

Day asked for the community's patience and also acknowledged that a lot of people are wondering when they can take the vaccine.

"We want people to know that everyone who wants a vaccine will get one," Day said. "It just will take time because we don't have the supply right now to vaccinate everybody so that's why there's this phased approach."

They know that non-EMT firefighters and police officers are included in the next vaccine phase, but not who else is eligible.