Health Officials Address New Vaccine, Coronavirus In Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI— Health officials from across Milwaukee County brief the media on the latest vaccine rollout and the status of the cases of the coronavirus Thursday.

One of the questions Dr. Ben Weston said Milwaukee County is hearing pertains to the need to continue testing as the vaccine rollout is underway. Dr. Weston said Thursday testing continues to be an important tool to manage the pandemic. He said in part that’s because we need to better understand the disease burden and focus resources. He also said testing helps connect the sick with services they may need.

As for when additional groups of people can get vaccinated, another question vexing residents of Milwaukee County, Dr. Weston said the timing is unclear.

The rollout from the federal level has been slower than expected, Dr. Weston said.

He said those with underlying health issues and older than 65, Group 1C, may get the vaccine in March. It will be late Spring when the vaccine is offered to everyone, though that timeline is subject to change.

Health officials said they would use a variety of media, including traditional media outlets and social media, to alert people when it’s their turn to get a vaccine.

“I understand that being patient during a pandemic is difficult,” Dr. Darren Rausch, of the Greenfield Health Department, said.

Addressing concerns about reactions to the vaccine, Dr. Mary Beth Graham said people who have severe allergies or who have a history of reactions to vaccines should consult a doctor before taking the vaccine. She said reactions are very uncommon.

The transmission rate is only slightly higher in the City of Milwaukee than in the surrounding communities, Dr. Rausch said.

The City of Milwaukee is rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine. Already dozens of doses have been given to healthcare workers in the city.

Monday the city expects to receive an additional 800 doses, according to the mayor during the media briefing Thursday. Freezers were delivered to the Milwaukee Center Wednesday to accommodate the vaccines.