Dunn, Jackson counties top 40% vaccinated

Chris Vetter, The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.
·2 min read

Jul. 18—CHIPPEWA FALLS — In the past week, both Dunn and Jackson counties reached 40% of their populations having at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

However, there are still six counties in the state that haven't reached that mark, including Clark, Rusk and Taylor counties.

Although the Delta variant is leading to another spike in coronavirus cases across all 50 states and around the world, the demand for vaccines in Wisconsin from those who haven't already gotten shots remains low. For the second consecutive week, 0.3% of Wisconsin residents got their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the past week, tied for the lowest mark since vaccinations began. It is down from a 0.5% increase from two weeks ago, and from a 0.4% increase four weeks ago.

Trempealeau County increased by 0.5% in the past week, being the only area county to top the state's rate. Another nine western Wisconsin counties matched the state's 0.3% increase in the past week. Trempealeau (53.7%) and Eau Claire (51.9%) are still the only counties in the area ahead of the state's 51.0% rate.

Wisconsin has now given the first dose of the vaccine to 2.96 million (51%) residents, up from 2.94 million residents (50.7%) last week, and up from 2.93 million people (50.4%) two weeks ago.

Roughly 2.83 million Wisconsinites (48.6%) have completed their vaccine series, up from 2.78 million (47.9%) a week ago.

About 61.8% of all adult Wisconsin residents (ages 18 and older) have now received at least one vaccine dose, up from 61.6% last week. Eau Claire (61.5%), Chippewa (57%) and Dunn (47.5%) counties all trail the state's rate for adult vaccinations.

Roughly 83.4% of Wisconsin's seniors (age 65 and up) have now received at least one dose, and 68.4% of those ages 55 to 64 have also received their first dose.

In a breakdown by race, 50.8% of Asian Americans have now received their first dose statewide, with the white population at 47.4%, American Indian population at 33.9%, and Black population at 27.5%. About 10.1% of people who have been vaccinated didn't report their race or selected "other."

Among 72 counties in the state, 22 have reached the 50% threshold of their populations receiving at least one dose; that number is unchanged from last week. Dane (69.5%), Door (66.3%) and Bayfield (62.8%) counties are the only counties to have reached the 60% mark.

However, the counties with the worst vaccination rates in the state have fallen further behind the state's average. Taylor (27.6%), Clark (28.5%) and Rusk (32.7%) saw minor increases in the past week. The other counties that haven't reached 40% with at least vaccination shot are Monroe, Shawano, and Waushara counties.