Milwaukee COVID Vaccine Distribution Discussed by Health Department

The Milwaukee Public Health and Safety Committee met with the Milwaukee Health Department to discuss updates on COVID-19 case numbers and the plan for COVID vaccination distribution during a meeting on Dec. 8. The Health Department is placing a special emphasis on building trust with people who are hesitant to take the vaccine, according to Health Department Commissioner Marlaina Johnson. 

According to the Health Department’s data, which was presented by Johnson, shows that 14.4% of tested individuals were positive within the last seven days as of Dec. 8. This percentage is similar to the original peak earlier this summer.  

Johnson noted that the Southside of Milwaukee has higher numbers of COVID cases in comparison to other areas. The Health Department has increased testing at the Northwest testing center, Southside testing center, and Miller Park in an effort to make testing in Milwaukee more accessible. 

However, they have also seen a decrease in numbers of tests the past week, which Johnson said is concerning. 

“If people aren’t getting tested then the testing numbers are going down but the percentage positive has been increasing,” said Johnson. 

According to Johnson, Milwaukee has not seen the impact of Thanksgiving on case numbers. There has been a total of 47,630 cases from March to December 8^th. However, between just March and September, there was a total of 21,215 cases in the county. This data shows a significant spike. 

Johnson also brought up the developing plans for vaccination within the next couple of months. She said that the Milwaukee Health Department has applied to be a vaccinator through the CDC and they are optimistic that they will be a vaccinator. The department is working with their lab department on getting appropriate storage for the vaccines, as they have to be in cold temperatures. 

A topic that was discussed was the possibility of people being hesitant towards taking the vaccine in Milwaukee. 

 “There is underlying acknowledgement of marginalized populations and how vaccines are thought of and considered, particularly in black and brown communities, the trust factor and who might be best to provide vaccinations,” said Johnson. “We want there to be as many people vaccinated as we can. We know that there is a barrier to overcome there.” 

Alderman Chantia Lewis further discussed this as well, saying she felt it was important to “ease the minds of the people” in regard to the safety of the vaccine. 

“Even I have apprehensions on taking the vaccination,” said Alderman Lewis. “I’d want to wait.” 

Johnson responded saying they are working with good marketing companies to gain trust from more people in Milwaukee and that the plan is better than it was in the beginning. However, there is a lot more the Milwaukee Health Department has to do to build that trust. 

“That is something that is still in the process,” she said. “That is a heavy lift.” 

She also went over how the department plans on getting the vaccine out to different groups of people. The vaccine will first be going out to healthcare workers, essential workers, elderly populations and immunocompromised people. 

 Alderman Scott Spiker asked about what the department’s plans were for distributing the two doses of the vaccination that are required for immunity from Coronavirus. 

Dr. Heather Paradis, who has been working with the Health Department, responded to this question saying that most long-term care nursing facilities will be vaccinated by pharmacies, specifically CVS and Walgreens. 

“Although specific mechanisms to ensure both necessary doses into the one individual have not been elucidated, that is the way the doses are being referenced,” said Dr. Paradis. “Instead of saying that there are 100 doses coming, the expectation is that you get the first dose into 100 people, it’s more being framed that there are 100 doses going into 50 individuals.” 

Dr. Paradis said the details around ensuring that people will come back for a second dose after getting the first dose have not been specified yet. 

Commissioner Johnson concluded the meeting by saying the work of the Health Department would not have been possible if it weren’t for the help of the Common Council, the mayor’s office and administration, community partners, state and county leadership and the Milwaukee Health Department staff. 

“This has been the most trying year of my career and many others’,” said Johnson. “We’re almost there but we have a few months to go. Then I think we can all take a breather.”