CORONAVIRUS VACCINES

Michigan’s newest chief medical executive has been on the job for just a few weeks.

The CDC is now recommending that children get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Michigan released a new set of COVID data this week that shows the delta surge is speeding up again and the state is heading into the winter months with higher case rates than last year.

A growing amount of deliberately false information about the COVID vaccine is being targeted specifically at women who are pregnant, according to experts.

A new poll from the Detroit Regional Chamber shows that Michigan residents are deeply divided when it comes to the idea of COVID vaccine mandates.

Dealing the White House a stinging setback, a government advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan Friday to give Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots across the board, and instead endorsed the extra dose only for those who are 65 or older or run a high risk of severe disease.

As children return to school, more and more health care professionals are seeing an increase in children getting sick with COVID.

A new study published by Beaumont Health finds that COVID-19 vaccines prevent serious illness and death among vaccinated individuals who become infected with the virus.

The TCF Center in Detroit is once again open as a COVID vaccination site.

With more than half of all Michiganders still not being fully vaccinated, Dr. Adnan Munkarah said his colleagues are now fearing the worst.

Medical leaders at the Henry Ford Health System are calling for all people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Beaumont Health provided an update to reinforce what other healthcare institutions and public health officials have said about using masks to protect against COVID as students prepare to head back into the classroom.

There has been encouraging new data released regarding the effectiveness of the Moderna COVID vaccine.

The stalled vaccination rates are causing great concern as the more contagious delta variant continues to spread across the United States.

Studies that looked at the efficacy of the COVID vaccines included tens of thousands of people each.

As COVID restrictions are dropped in Michigan, many adults are struggling to adapt to the change. Many children are struggling too.

Novavax said that its COVID vaccine is 90% effective overall and 100% effective at preventing moderate and severe disease.

April 16, 2021, was a critical point in the COVID-19 pandemic for the state of Michigan. Since then, a lot has happened, and we've come a long way.

DETROIT – Many people have been struggling to get an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Seniors have been struggling the most and a woman in Michigan noticed the need for help. She launched a volunteer group to take the burden away from the people looking to get vaccinated. Detroit Area Vaccine Hunters of Michigan is one of them, the other two are based out of West Michigan and Northern Michigan. Since the group launched, 1,700 people have signed up.

WAYNE COUNTY, mich. – Last week, Local 4 spoke with a Westland Family that was unable to schedule a vaccine appointment for their 81-year-old mother. Dorothy Bigalow, 81, is now set to receive the vaccine later this week. READ: Wayne County family frustrated over 81-year-old mother’s inability to get vaccinatedMany seniors have been left behind in state and local COVID-19 vaccination efforts. When Sue Woody spoke with Local 4 on Friday, there was an overwhelming response. The Administrator of Beaumont Dearborn personally spoke with Sue Woody on the phone on Saturday and scheduled a vaccine appointment for her for Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)LANSING, Mich. – Michigan health officials are urging residents to continue wearing face masks, even after receiving coronavirus vaccinations. Officials with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are encouraging people, even those who have been vaccinated against the virus, to wear face coverings to prevent COVID-19 spread and infection. The data shows the importance of wearing a mask correctly and making sure it fits snugly over the mouth and nose. Officials recommend doubling up by wearing a cloth mask over a medical procedure mask, a nylon covering over a mask or a mask fitter. AdMichigan residents in need of a face mask can contact their local Community Action Agency or local DHHS office for one.

Beyond getting the actual shot, getting signed up for a vaccination appointment can be a huge and confusing process for elderly residents -- especially since computers are needed to do so. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, from Michigan, had called on the state to set up a phone system to help simplify the appointment scheduling process for seniors. On Thursday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) held a virtual COVID vaccine information session, hearing from seniors who are beyond frustrated by the sign up process. Michigan health officials walked seniors through the state’s COVID vaccine website, where individuals are advised to seek information about vaccinations in their local communities. Officials then encouraged seniors to call 2-1-1 for assistance with scheduling a vaccination appointment, especially if they do not have access to the internet or a computer.

The Trump administration has ordered the head of the FDA to approve the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Friday -- or to submit his resignation, according to a report from the Washington Post. WaPo reports White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Friday told Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, to submit his resignation if the agency does not clear the nation’s first coronavirus vaccine by day’s end. On Thursday, an FDA advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans. Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert committee’s recommendation. In a 17-4 vote with one abstention, the government advisers concluded that the vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech appears safe and effective for emergency use in adults and teenagers 16 and over.

READ: Health officials testify science, integrity will guide COVID-19 vaccine process“My first thought was no, no, this is crazy. That was Brooks' reaction when her husband, Dave Gomez, told her he wanted to sign up for Phase 3 Moderna Vaccine Trial. “It was, I don’t want to say scary, or really nervous, but it’s, ‘You’re getting this injection,’ you don’t know,” Gomez said. The vaccine trails also need people of color to participate, communities that have been severely impacted by COVID-19. I don’t want my friends to get sick,” Brooks said.