Governor Tony Evers announced Wisconsin expects its first shipment of Moderna's vaccine this week.
The state expects 100,000 doses of Moderna's vaccine, the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the Food and Drug Administration this month.
So far, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 10,358 doses of Pfizer's vaccine have been administered in nearly every Wisconsin county.
"Because Moderna only requires standard cooling, shipments are expected to arrive today," said DHS Deputy Security Julie Willems Van Dijk.
29,000 doses are reserved for residents and staff at long-term care facilities. As part of a federal partnership, CVS and Walgreens will be key in the effort focused on long-term care sites.
"Walgreens and CVS will essentially store the vaccine and administer the vaccine to residents and staff of long-term care facilities," said Mike Pochowski, CEO of Wisconsin Assisted Living Association.
"We'll just make sure to have our members prepared to have as many residents and staff there as possible so they can get the vaccine as quickly as possible," Pochowski said.
The virus has taken a toll on these communities.
The most recent state data shows out of 4,425 COVID-19 deaths 1,152 or 26 percent of them were at long-term care facilities.
A group representing skilled nursing long-term care sites says the physical toll is only part of it.
Rick Abrams, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Health Care Association and Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living, said the toll is not just physical.
"These are folks that are in great jeopardy so the sooner that our residents and our employees can be vaccinated the better. That’ll make a tremendous impact," said Abrams.
The federal program for vaccinations at long-term care facilities is expected to start on December 28. Abrams said this piece alone could last at least until the end of February.
"A lot of that is going to depend on the vaccine supplies that we received from the federal government. If things continue as anticipated yes the end of February I think is a very very reasonable date for having most if not all of these vaccinations done," said Abrams.