Margaret Brooks, 86 of Plover, received the first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine from Family Nurse Practitioner Julie Hennes during a vaccination clinic held by Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin on the campus of Ascension St. Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point on Monday, Jan. 25. (Courtesy Ascension)

Ascension begins vaccinating patients 65 and older

January 25, 2021

By Patrick Lynn

Ascension Wisconsin began vaccinating patients ages 65 and older on Monday.

In Stevens Point, 86-year-old Margaret Brooks of Plover was among the first patients to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during the first community vaccine clinic conducted by Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin. She received her booster shot at St. Michael’s Hospital on Jan. 25.

In Merrill, members and staff of the Holy Cross Sisters, including Sister Patricia Cormack and Reverend Jim Bartelme, were among the first recipients courtesy of Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital.

Ascension Wisconsin has been reviewing medical records for all existing patients and identifying those who fit the eligibility criteria, according to a news release from the hospital system. System staff will be contacting eligible patients over the coming weeks by text, email, and phone.

Patients should not call Ascension Wisconsin hospitals or clinics regarding vaccinations.

“Our goal is to safely vaccinate as many individuals as quickly as possible. Our doctors, nurses, clinicians, and associates have worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited to begin this critical next phase of vaccinations,” said Dr. Gregory Brusko, Chief Clinical Officer, Ascension Wisconsin. “We continue to collaborate closely with local and state health officials to ensure we’re doing everything we can to get as many people vaccinated as safely and efficiently as possible. We encourage everyone to get vaccinated when it is made available to them.”

Appointments for the vaccine are scheduled in advance. No walk-in vaccinations are available at this time, but this may be adjusted in the future as additional vaccine doses become available.

Ascension Wisconsin continues to vaccinate frontline healthcare workers, first responders, police and fire personnel, community health centers and dental office staff, and Ascension affiliated and non-affiliated Group 1a individuals. As of Jan. 25, 2021, the hospital system has administered approximately 25,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses across the state.

“We are phasing the rollout to include additional Group 1B individuals based on CDC and DHS guidance and based on the availability of COVID-19 vaccine,” said Jonathon Matuszewski, Chief Administrative Officer at Ascension Good Samaritan. “We will continue to provide updates as additional vaccination opportunities through our health system become available.”

For additional information go to https://healthcare.ascension.org/COVID-19/vaccinations.