City of Milwaukee to Fund COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines for Seniors and Low-Income People

The City of Milwaukee Public Safety and Health Committee Resolution approved funding for providing vaccinations, specifically for COVID-19 and flu, for seniors and low-income people on Nov. 9.

Aaron Szopinski, Budget and Administration Manager for the Milwaukee Health Department, spoke at the meeting.

Szopinski wore a white N95 mask and was wearing a suit and tie. 

The official title for this proposal is the USAging Senior Vaccination Grant.

Milwaukee County brought in money from USAging, a collaborator that helped fund this proposed grant.

No alderman or alderwoman opposed the proposal.

District 14 Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic asked if there were any updates on COVID-19.

Dimitrijevic said that she’s aware of how monetization for COVID-19 has changed over the years. She also asked how the City of Milwaukee is handling COVID-19 and influenza.

Szopinski answered by saying that he did not have that information on file, but that he could request the information with the disease team and give the information back to Ald. Dimitrijevic.

Dimitrijevic expressed how important it is for her to provide data to the public. She said she will have a town hall meeting next week in which she would like to show the people who attend the significance of vaccinating, especially with winter coming up, according to Ald. Dimitrijevic.

Regularly scheduled immunization centers are open to the public throughout the city. Everyone is encouraged to go, especially people who do not have health insurance. Szopinski also said people who qualify for Medicaid are also encouraged to visit.

In the words of District 13 Alderman Scott Spiker, Spiker said Szopinski’s reasons to speak at the meeting was “relating to acceptance and funding of the 2023-24 Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative grant from Milwaukee County.”

According to the city’s Equity Impact Statement that was signed on Dec. 20, 2022, by Lindsey Page, an Infectious Disease Epidemiologist for the City of Milwaukee, she described the proposed bill as “prioritiz[ing and] reaching older adults and people with disabilities who have been historically underserved and who face additional barriers to accessing vaccines, including but not limited to those who are from communities of color, LGBTQ+, Native American, and/or at risk of institutionalization; have low income and/or limited English proficiency; and/or live in rural areas. COVID and flu vaccine will be made available to these underserved populations via homebound vaccination services, mobile clinics, and drive thru clinics. This grant runs from Oct. 1 2023 – April 30 2024.”

Since winter is approaching, Szopinski focused on this aspect of public health. 

In the same document, Page wrote “Milwaukee Health Department will conduct thoughtful and inclusive outreach and culturally appropriate language to connect with diverse communities, inspiring them to prioritize health. MHD will utilize existing partnerships with organizations that serve these communities.”

Although Page was not present at the meeting, her work is visible to the public. 

The Grant Analysis Form states that the USAging Senior Vaccination Grant “is consistent with City-wide strategic goals and department outcomes to reduce illness and injury from communicable diseases in Milwaukee.”

The meeting was approximately an hour, and all the aldermen and alderwomen were in attendance. It took place in room 301-B in City Hall. The meeting did not have many people in the audience.

COVID-19 deaths in Milwaukee County have overall decreased since 2020, but there are COVID-19 deaths that still occur in 2023, according to the Milwaukee County COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard.