MADISON, Wis. — Those over the age of 65 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Monday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).

Currently, frontline healthcare workers, residents in long-term care facilities, and police and fire personnel are eligible. There are approximately 700,000 Wisconsinites who are 65 and older. The DHS said prioritizing this population will help protect more Wisconsinites from serious illness and death.

The Badger State currently receives around 70,000 first-dose vaccines per week from the federal government. It will take time to vaccinate this population in Wisconsin, the DHS noted.

"Older adults have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and prioritizing this population will help save lives,” DHS secretary-designee Andrea Palm said. “Wisconsin systems and operations are ready to vaccinate more people. The amount of vaccine we get from the federal government will determine how quickly we can get these groups vaccinated. Our partners in health care, pharmacies and local public health are ready and up to the task.”

Adults 65 and older have been recommended by the federal government and discussed by the Wisconsin State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC). The full recommendations from SDMAC on the rest of 1B eligibility will be voted on later this week.