City Of Appleton Prepares For Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution

From the City of Appleton:

January 5, 2021

The Mayor has authorized the Appleton Health Department to hire a vaccine coordinator who will aid in community planning for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This is a limited-term, grant-funded position that will lead local efforts to assess, develop and coordinate community readiness to provide COVID-19 vaccinations. The coordinator will collaborate with the Fox Valley Public Health Preparedness Consortium, health care systems and other community partners.

Up to this point, the City of Appleton has not received any vaccines for distribution.

“As we have seen in the early goings of vaccination nationally, we have a daunting task in front of us,” said Mayor Jake Woodford. “A critical component of emergency management is ensuring you have the right resources and expertise in place ahead of time, which is why we are adding this position to our team.”

The Appleton Health Department has also been registered as a COVID-19 vaccine provider and will vaccinate Appleton Fire Department’s emergency medical service providers and Health Department nurses as part of the CDC and State Department of Health Services (DHS) phase 1A plan. Phase 1B will include certain frontline workers, such as police officers and others as identified by the state.

“We are pleased to welcome back to our department Julie Lederhaus, who served as our public health preparedness coordinator from 2003 to 2007,” Appleton Public Health Officer Kurt Eggebrecht said. “In this role she was instrumental in our mass vaccination clinic plan development and assisted with functional exercises engaging key community partners. This experience will be invaluable as we plan for COVID-19 vaccination of our community beyond the first priority groups.”

Widespread vaccination is likely months away as vaccine production ramps up and early phases of the CDC & DHS distribution plan are implemented. In the meantime, wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distance, avoiding gatherings and washing hands frequently need to continue.

“We are beginning to go on the offensive against COVID-19,” said Mayor Woodford. “But we need to keep up on mitigation practices while we do.”

This press release was produced by the City of Appleton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.