City of Milwaukee Weekly COVID-19 Update

MILWAUKEE – The disease burden in the City of Milwaukee this week is 224.5 new positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over seven days and remains in the “extreme transmission” category. The percentage of positive COVID-19 test results is 15.4% and remains in the “extreme transmission” category. Additionally, based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, Milwaukee County moved back into the High COVID-19 Community Level.

Currently, 65.1% of city of Milwaukee adults 16 years and older are fully vaccinated, and 50% of fully vaccinated individuals have received a booster dose. Of children ages 5 to 11, 21.2% have completed their pediatric COVID-19 vaccine series and 25.5% have received at least one dose.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an expert panel that advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend the use of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is different than the Moderna or Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, and experts are hopeful having multiple types of vaccines available will offer more flexibility for the public to protect themselves against the COVID-19 virus. Novavax is similar to other traditional vaccines that individuals may have received, such as the Hepatitis B vaccine.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use mRNA to teach cells how to make a protein when injected, which triggers an immune response, which produces antibodies to protect against the virus in the future. The Novavax vaccine is a traditional subunit protein vaccine. Rather than using mRNA, the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine uses the premade coronavirus spike protein. When injected, immune systems produce antibodies against it, which provide future protection. Like other COVID-19 vaccines, Novavax does not cause COVID-19 infection. It can’t get you sick. This vaccine doesn’t contain either live or inactivated virus.

CDC Director Walensky says the Novavax vaccine will be available in the coming weeks as another primary series option for adults ages 18 and older. Once available for order, the Milwaukee Health Department plans to administer the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.

As Milwaukee remains in the High COVID-19 Community Level, the mask advisory issued on July 15 remains in place. All individuals over the age of two years who can medically tolerate wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status or past COVID-19 infection, should wear a mask at all times when indoors and in a public setting. While different types of masks provide different levels of protection, it is important to remember any mask, worn consistently and snugly, is better than no mask. Higher-quality masks, such as KN95 masks and N95 respirators, can offer an additional layer of protection.

Vaccination remains the strongest tool to protect oneself from COVID-19. In addition to the Milwaukee Health Department’s three COVID-19 sites, which are open six days a week, vaccinators will be available with both COVID-19 vaccines and all routine childhood immunizations at the 21^st Annual Back-to-School Health Fair next Friday, July 29 at Fiserv Forum and the Deer District. More information on this event at Milwaukee.gov/BTSHF.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.