Bucks exec Alex Lasry gets COVID-19 shot early: 'I was vaccinated'

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry tweeted he received the COVID-19 vaccine this week.

In the tweet, Lasry said his "wife got a call from her uncle that works in a facility that had extra doses that were going to go to waste if not used right away." Lasry's wife is pregnant -- and he indicated "we wanted to ensure our home, and entire community is safe for everyone."

Right now, frontline health care works, residents of long-term care facilities, emergency personnel, and seniors 65 and older are eligible for the shots while the vaccine supply remains limited. 

This situation is not unique to Lasry. Whether it is being able to squeeze out more doses than anticipated from the vials, or having people cancel appointments, many vaccinators around the state end up with extra vaccine at the end of the day.

During an update on the pandemic from Gov. Evers and officials from the Department of Health Services on Friday, Jan. 29, the governor spoke about Lasry vaccination.

"We encourage people that are vaccinating other people that when it comes to the end of the day, rather than throwing out a dose of vaccine they should just get it in somebody's arm. Whether that happened in this case or not, I haven't the faintest idea," Evers said.

Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said vaccinators do sign an agreement to abide by the prioritization list. Those in violation run the risk of being denied future supply.

"We control the vaccine supply, so if there are perpetual violators of that, that is an option, but we have also said to them, as the governor said, get the vaccine into arms. There is no way we can police every single vaccine," Willems Van Dijk said.

Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, who has already joined the 2022 race for U.S. Senate, said the issue underscores the need for a better waitlist system.

"The priority absolutely, positively must be frontline workers," Nelson said.

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FOX6 News reached out to Lasry for comment, but we have not heard back.

Meanwhile, Gov. Evers said Friday neither he nor his wife has received his COVID-19 vaccine -- even though the shots are now open to everyone over age 65 in Wisconsin. The governor indicated he is waiting for his primary care physician to let him know when he is eligible to receive the shot.