Vaccines for young children and more problems in the city attorney's office

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·4 min read
Nahum Martinez, 5, reacts to getting a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine dose from Laura Berrueta, a paramedic, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, at Escuela Fratney in Milwaukee.

Wisconsin health officials recommend children 6 months and older get vaccinated against COVID-19

  • The vaccines are expected to arrive in Wisconsin early next week, where they will be available at no cost to parents and guardians. “This is a milestone in the fight against COVID-19,” said Karen Timberlake, the DHS’ secretary-designee, in a statement.

  • As of June 2022, more than 123,000 Wisconsin children 5 and older have completed their initial series of doses, according to the statement. This new recommendation will make COVID-19 vaccines available to nearly 295,000 additional Wisconsin children. “When more people in Wisconsin are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, more people are protected against severe health outcomes associated with COVID-19,” Timberlake said. “This reduces strain on hospitals, slows the spread of disease and saves lives.”

  • The Moderna vaccine was authorized for children ages 6 months up to 6 years, at a dose of 25 micrograms, one-quarter of the dose given to adolescents and adults. It was approved as a two-dose vaccine, given four to eight weeks apart, though the company and officials believe a third dose will be necessary to provide full protection, probably about 12 weeks after the second dose. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be used in children ages 6 months up to 5 years old, at a 3-microgram dose, one-tenth the size of the adult and adolescent dose. Three doses were needed to provide the same level of immune response as seen in young adults after two doses, so it is considered a three-dose vaccine. The second dose is to be given three to eight weeks after the first, and a third will be given at least eight weeks later.

  • Vaccines will not be available to babies younger than 6 months because they are believed to get protection from vaccination during pregnancy.

Departures have cost Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer's office 245 years worth of experience

  • In recent weeks, one departing assistant city attorney made it clear that she believes the agency continues to have a "toxic" environment, an allegation that first surfaced soon after Spencer took office in April 2020. In a resignation document dated May 31, then-Assistant City Attorney Elleny Christopoulos said she was leaving because of the "toxic work environment with unethical, incompetent, and sexist management." She added: "The city has utterly failed to protect the brave women who spoke out against illegal discrimination. Do. Better. For. Women."

  • The loss of institutional knowledge is a "great disadvantage" to the city and demoralizing to attorneys who don't have mentors to learn from, said former Deputy City Attorney Miriam Horwitz, who left the office in 2020 after more than 20 years. "On both the client side, the interest of the city, ... and on the professionalism side for the members of the office, it's very, very detrimental," said Horwitz, who has urged the Common Council to consider ousting Spencer.

  • Christopoulos, who is taking a federal job, is among 30 attorneys who have exited Spencer's agency, including two who are expected to leave soon. These lawyers have taken other jobs, left in protest, retired or were fired since he took office after beating incumbent Grant Langley in the April 2020 election. Spencer, who did not respond to requests for comment, has blamed staff shortages on factors including critical media coverage and poor pay. Spencer, who is Black, also mentioned racism as a factor in an April radio show.

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The Money

NAVY: The U.S. Navy has awarded a $536 million contract to a Marinette shipyard for a third Constellation-class frigate tied to a $5.5 billion shipbuilding program. Fincantieri Marinette Marine will design and build the 7,300-ton frigate that’s expected to be a key part of the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare and one of 10 frigates built in Marinette. The work will support thousands of jobs at the shipyard for many years to come.

MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL: Delta Air Lines has begun nonstop service between Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and New York – JFK.

The Fun Stuff

SUMMERFEST: It starts this week. Here's your guide.

The Games

BREWERS: The Brewers ended a stretch in which they played three three-city road trips and played 29 of 42 games on the road with a 3-game sweep of the Reds. They struggled during the stretch but head home with a 38-30 record and in a tie for first place in the NL Central with St. Louis. The Cardinals arrive in Milwaukee today for a 4-game set.

CAIN: Lorenzo Cain's future is unclear, but he has reason to relish reaching a big milestone in 'the show'.

Today's Weather

After a near-perfect weekend, the heat returns: High of 92 today and 95 tomorrow.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Vaccines for young children and more problems with city attorney