State DHS Secretary Would Not Mandate COVID Vaccines or Mask Wearing

Monday, October 2nd, 2023 -- 1:01 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) Wisconsin’s top health official says we’ve learned a lot since COVID’s early days.

Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Kirtsen Johnson noted the toll of the pandemic. “Almost 17,000 people have died in Wisconsin from COVID since 2020.”

Johnson, who was Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department director at the time, was questioned last week during a confirmation hearing. “We certainly made mistakes. Part of this is it was a novel virus, we didn't know what we didn't know. And we were making the best decisions we could out of a host of bad decisions. Would I make some of those same decisions today? Absolutely not.”

During a confirmation hearing at the Capitol last week, Johnson said she would not support a vaccine mandate; however, “People need to evaluate their own risk. I'm personally vaccinated, my children are vaccinated, my parents are vaccinated, I would highly recommend everyone gets vaccinated."

Johnson was questioned in the state Senate Health Committee last week. “Do you still feel that that is essential and needed to be required and placed in the state of Wisconsin or you can't utilize stores and facilities? Medical offices? Would you still require that if that was recommended today?
No, I recommend people wear masks if they are vulnerable, if they've been exposed. But not mandated? Not mandated, no.”

Johnson also said she wouldn’t support future mask mandates, but that at-risk individuals should continue to wear them.

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