Council file seeks Health Department information on Johnson & Johnson vaccinations

A Common Council file introduced by Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II will probe for information from Milwaukee Health Department officials on the use of the now paused Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The file is entitled “Communication from the Milwaukee Health Department relating to the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and its plans to follow up with those that have received it given the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to recommend a pause in its use.”

The file will be heard by the Steering and Rules Committee when it meets virtually at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 19.

On Tuesday (April 13) federal health officials recommended a temporary halt in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after a handful of reports about blood clots surfaced among the millions who have received the shot (including one death). Specifically, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases out of more than 6.8 million doses administered.

Alderwoman Coggs said it is important for those who may have received the J&J vaccine from the Health Department – as well as the public at large – to learn more about how it was used and who it was administered to. “In many communities of color, and especially in the African American community, there has been hesitancy for some to be vaccinated, because of concerns about safety and effectiveness,” she said.

“We need information directly from the Health Department to make sure we are being transparent about our vaccination rollout and what the public needs to know about the vaccine itself,” Alderwoman Coggs said.

Alderman Stamper said it is also incumbent upon the city to be open about how vaccine recipients are being contacted.

“We need to find out how the Health Department is following up with those who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine – what information is being shared and what those who have not yet been contacted should expect,” he said.

The Steering and Rules Committee meeting will be televised live on the City Channel (channel 25 on Spectrum Cable and channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse in the City of Milwaukee) and via streaming video on the city website at city.milwaukee.gov/Channel25.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.