LINDA VAIL

Flu vaccinations are more than 26% behind where they were last year, as of the end of October, according to the state’s Flu Vaccination Dashboard. As of Nov. 10, 2,069,527 Michigan residents have received a flu vaccine, far below the state’s goal of nearly 4 million vaccinations. Combined with relaxed relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, health officials say the low vaccination rates could lead to a much rougher flu season than last year’s nearly non-existent flu season. Getting the flu vaccine by Saturday, Nov. 20 is important for staying protected during Thanksgiving gatherings, Strasz said. “Getting vaccinated now gives you your best shot for getting together in a safe way this holiday season,” Bagdasarian said.

Last fall, there was an explosion of COVID-19 cases at Michigan universities and colleges — but not at K-12 schools. Last year, fewer K-12 students returned to in-person classes as districts embraced fully online or hybrid-learning. This year, as districts returned to in-person instruction, many K-12 students aren’t eligible for a vaccine yet and mask mandates across the state vary. Read more: See what Michigan public school districts have mask mandates - mlive.comMask mandates have been widely debated among parents and school boards in Michigan. Last September, GVSU was reported as having the highest number of active coronavirus cases among all universities in Michigan.

About 66% of the population 16 and older in Michigan have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. About 61% of eligible state residents are at least partially immunized against COVID-19 and the number slowly creeps upward every week. Most of the people who want to be vaccinated already are vaccinated. About 75% of people 50 and older are vaccinated in Michigan. “As you can see, the virus is anything but seasonal and every time people say this virus is a seasonal virus, that proves us wrong, because it is not a seasonal virus,” Sullivan said.

Despite the debate between health and safety vs. personal choice, Saline Area Schools Superintendent Steve Laatsch says it’s important to remember masks are a key component in helping Michigan students and staff accomplish the same goal this year. Instead, she has indicated local health and school leaders are best suited to create mask policies while continuing to “strongly encourage” the use of masks to lower coronavirus transmission rates. Laatsch and Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail spoke with MLive K-12 educaton reporter Martin Slagter about how school districts and health departments are workng together to shape and implement mask guidance for the coming school year. If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. Whitmer says local - not state - mask policies are ‘best way to move forward’One Kalamazoo County school district defies countywide mask mandateSaginaw Public Schools stand alone as other county districts waive mask mandates7 things parents should know about COVID risks for schoolchildrenMuskegon parents mostly supportive of district’s mask mandate as kids return to school

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, childhood vaccination rates declined. For children 12 years and older, she also recommended getting a COVID-19 vaccine before returning to school this fall. Some have fully eradicated illnesses, while others have significantly limited them, but declining vaccination rates could allow them to return. As of Monday, about 58.8% of Michigan residents 12 and older had gotten a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and about 54.3% were fully vaccinated. To find a COVID-19 vaccine near you, visit Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccine website or go to VaccineFinder.org.

The latest count of new and ongoing outbreaks marks a week-over-week decline of 42% from last week’s 340 total clusters. Long-term care facilities remain the most-common setting for ongoing outbreaks (55), though they also come with more clarity due to mandatory testing requirements. Outside of K-12 schools and colleges, MDHHS is not identifying specific locations or the number of coronavirus cases. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 13 clusters, with one new and 12 ongoing outbreaks. Region 5 (Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Branch, St. Joseph, Cass, Berrien, Van Buren and Kalamazoo counties): 21 clusters, all of which are ongoing outbreaks.

Michigan adults living in affluent neighborhoods are almost three times more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to residents of low-income neighborhoods, according to state data. That compares to 28% for Census tracts with a median household income below $25,000, the data shows. Below is a map of vaccination rates by Michigan’s 2,600-plus Census tracts. By race, the vaccination rate as of May 22 was 38% for communities where at least half of residents are Black. “I get concerned about my inner city census tracts that are lagging behind.”Likewise, Census tracts that include correctional facilities also have inaccurate vaccination rates.

Individuals who are fully vaccinated won’t have to wear a mask indoors or outdoors, while those who are not yet fully vaccinated will only have to wear a mask indoors. Health officials questioned how the state will enforce the new policy, with no real efficient way of determining who is and isn’t fully vaccinated. The governor’s office and state health department hadn’t provided any clear answers as of Friday afternoon. While businesses don’t have to require vaccinated people to wear masks, they still can if they want to. About 55.6% of residents 16 years and older have received at least one dose, and more than 43% are fully vaccinated.

So you’re uncertain about getting the COVID-19 vaccine because you’re worried about health risks. In other words, if the COVID-19 vaccines were problematic from a safety standpoint, we would know by now. Health experts say there is an extensive monitoring system in place with the COVID-19 vaccines to see if there are unusual side effects. If you’re infected with COVID, “you’re going to shed virus for at least five to 10 days, but the virus isn’t gone after you stop shedding. No, COVID-19 vaccines do not impact fertility

“A lot if it is probably a natural pattern of the virus.” said Linda Vail, health officer for Ingham County. 10-19: Up 157% from 360 daily cases to 924. 20-29: Up 44% from 758 daily cases to 1,089. 30-39: Up 40% from 663 daily cases to 929. “The COVID vaccinations are effective at preventing COVID disease and reducing the spread of the virus.

Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail says post-infection immunity is short-lived and will do little to stop COVID-19's continued spread.

Michigan’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines has begun to catch up with, and in some cases surpass, the demand for shots. It was still the second-highest average to date, but the decline indicates a reduced demand as health officials were noting continued increases in supply. “It’s not that there isn’t demand, we’re just concerned there’s a diminishing demand,” said Linda Vail, health officer for Ingham County. As of Wednesday, April 22, Michigan had administered nearly 6.17 million doses of the three available COVID-19 vaccines. Too soon to tell, experts sayMichigan coronavirus data for Wednesday, April 21: 56 counties trending down in case counts15.6% of U.S. adults are COVID-19 vaccine hesitant, how does Michigan stack up?

Michigan State University said it will be opening a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for registered students beginning Friday.

Lawmakers have passed six such bills since the weight of setting statewide coronavirus precautions shifted to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in October. A 1978 authorizes the state health director, when “control of an epidemic is necessary to protect the public health,” to issue emergency orders prohibiting gatherings and establish procedures to protect public health services. SB 1253, sponsored by Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, sought to limit MDHHS’s public health orders to 28 days before the executive department must ask the legislative branchesfor an extension. “Public health experts have the ability to discern that. Vail said public health officers are concerned that without statewide regulation, local public health orders could be influenced by partisanship.

The Ingham County Health Department is urging some schools within the county to avoid in-person learning for one week as coronavirus spread worsens throughout the state.

Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine works. “They looked at cases among healthcare workers who are vaccinated and it’s very low,” he said. Officials at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw told MLive they have seen multiple hospitalizations from patients that had already received their first vaccinations. That would track with reporting in other states, said Jim Lee, vice president of data analysis for Michigan Health & Hospital Association during a March 26 press conference. Vaccines don’t eliminate the chance of transmission, said Dr. Christine Nefcy, chief medical officer for Munson Healthcare in Traverse City.

RELATED: 9 things to know about Michigan’s expansion of vaccine eligibility to all agesVail weighs in on what you need to know. If you don’t have insurance, it’s OK.Be sure you have not had another vaccine two weeks prior to your coronavirus vaccine. If you are getting a two dose coronavirus vaccine, do not plan to get a different vaccine in between your coronavirus doses, Vail said. This will help you feel better after your vaccine, Vail said. You do not need to avoid any activities before or after your vaccine, Vail said.

News that all Michigan adults would be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine beginning next month came as a shock to many across the state Friday, March 12, including the local health departments. But the significant expansion announced by the governor’s office Friday morning came as a surprise to many of the departments handling the vaccinations themselves. “To be honest, we’re still digesting a lot of it,” said Steve Kelso, communications manager for the Kent County Health Department. In Bay County, Health Officer Joel Strasz said the expansion will “present challenges” in some areas, but added “I’m optimistic and as long as the vaccine supply is there it’s a good thing. Through Wednesday evening, about 22% of Michigan adults and 57% of the state’s senior citizens have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to state health department data.

Michigan will soon allow residents 50 to 64 years old to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. And for already eligible residents still struggling to get an appointment, the move only furthers their concern that they won’t get a shot before the increased competition. “I got such a feeling that they all felt forgotten, that they didn’t have anyone to help them, especially since everything is online.”As of Wednesday, Michigan has administered 2,351,125 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. That includes 1,495,021 residents who have gotten their first dose, and 856,104 who have gotten their second of two recommended doses. “But it’s a little distressing because, with the increase in supplies recently, many counties were finally just feeling like we’re making progress with their current eligible groups.

Michigan is altering its process for determining how many COVID-19 vaccines to allocate across the state’s various communities. The new system, which went into effect last week, uses a population-based approach, combined with a formula that evaluates social vulnerability in order to get vaccines to communities at the greatest risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Michigan communities that rate highly on the social vulnerability index were also the areas of the state hit hardest by COVID-19 in the spring. Beginning next week, Detroit is expecting to get 15,000 doses per week -- triple the 5,000 doses they’ve previously received. Nearly 700,000 Michigan residents had received at least one dose, while 158,894 had received the second of two recommended doses for maximum efficacy.

But “vaccine hesitancy” among some of those eligible was one of several factors contributing to a slow rollout of the vaccine program. By Jan. 1, Michigan health-care providers had received 525,575 doses of vaccine but only 135,382 -- 26% -- had actually been administered. Subtracting vaccine doses already administered and those allocated to the vaccination program for long-term care residents and staff, Michigan had a little less than 300,000 vaccine doses available as of Monday, according to the MDHHS vaccine dashboard online. At any rate, she and other health providers predict whatever unused vaccine exists right now will go quickly. Nefcy said that providers and patients can expect more changes as the vaccine program progresses.

Michigan’s older residents are among the newly eligible groups for COVID-19 vaccination, though limited vaccine supplies and varying capabilities across the state’s 45 local health departments have made scheduling appointments difficult. Light grey boxes mean the health department has at least built up a system for scheduling appointments. You can click on the name of the health department to be directed to its website, or follow the associated contact instructions. District Health Department #10, which includes 10 counties in northwest Michigan, recently ordered 3,900 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines but received just 975. They included District Health Department #2, District Health Department #4, and health departments in Bay, Branch, Hillsdale, St. Joseph, Dickinson, Iron, Genesee, Huron, Jackson, Lapeer, Marquette, Midland, Monroe, Shiawassee, Tuscola, and Wayne counties.

INGHAM COUNTY, Mich. – Hundreds of thousands of the COVID-19 vaccine sit idle in freezers around the state, but not in Ingham County. “We are vaccinating roughly 350 a day,” County Health Officer Linda Vail. As for the numbers showing that Michigan overall is struggling to vaccinate, Vail thinks there could be a discrepancy. “If you look at the dashboards and things like that, it’ll show you that we’ve administered a couple 1,000 doses in Ingham County, and that number is closer to 7,500 as of yesterday. READ: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 vaccine data

“When I got my shot, I was teary-eyed and they were tears of joy.”For many, 2020 was a year of despair. The pandemic ravaged the state’s economy, deepened the political divide, and laid bare racial inequities in health care. “I’d be amazed if, if we truly are thinking pandemic beyond 2021,” said Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, president of Spectrum Health West Michigan. “But I think the next couple of months in particular are going to be really, really hard because we’re not going to have anywhere near herd immunity,” he said. You still should get a vaccine, experts sayMichigan coronavirus vaccine mandates unlikely amid shortage and legal, ethical questions

The Michigan House has canceled session dates and committee hearings for the remainder of the week due to a staffer testing positive for COVID-19, House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, announced Tuesday. Chatfield said the staffer was not involved with last week’s House Oversight Committee hearing, where President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani testified for hours without a mask. Giuliani tested positive for COVID-19 a few days after his Michigan visit and is currently being treated for the disease. “Those who have been in contact with the staffer have already been informed and are currently isolating and getting tested,” Chatfield said in a statement. The last scheduled session day for the year is Dec. 17.

Some people who attended the Michigan House Oversight Committee featuring President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday must quarantine through at least Dec. 12 after Guiliani tested positive for coronavirus. His hospitalization comes only days after being in a confined conference room in Lansing for several hours without a mask,” Vail said. Those who were present without a mask and those who were within 6 feet of Mayor Giuliani must quarantine for the safety of others. Typically, close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of a COVID-19 positive person for 15 minutes“It’s a highly unlikely scenario,” Vail said. Read more:Michigan House sessions still on schedule after Rudy Giuliani tests positive for COVID-19Armed protesters rally outside Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s homeGiuliani’s pitch to upend electoral process isn’t convincing Michigan legislative Republicans

Michigan college and high school students are barred from attending classes in-person, but for younger kids, health officials have deemed elementary and middle schools -- with rigorous precautions in place -- relatively safe for K-8 students. The restrictions took effect Nov. 18, prompted by a surge in COVID-19 cases that started in October. What often happens with elementary and middle school cases is a student gets sick with COVID-19 outside of school. About 2% of Ottawa County’s 1,316 school-related COVID-19 cases have involved elementary or middle school students. About 4% were high school students and staff, and 94% were college-aged, according to state data last updated Nov. 23.

Michigan’s public health code is the law, and so are the emergency orders coming from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon. The legal authority of public health codes and subsequent emergency orders exists in states across the country, Vail said. “Challenges that have happened in the 100 years since have pointed back to this case to support the health code and its constitutionality.”In Michigan, the public health code was first ratified in 1919, after the outbreak of the Spanish Flu. Ultimately, the courts will determine the constitutionality of the state’s orders, Kallman said, and the laws and orders stand until such a ruling. “It’s still supported, still cited, still used by courts in this country to uphold and reiterate the power and the authority ... to protect public health.

DETROIT – With COVID-19 affecting long-term care facilities in the spring, the City of Detroit Health Department is gearing up for testing this week. “We’re going to support nursing homes with onsite COVID-19 testing at all of the nursing homes over the next two weeks,” said Detroit Health Department Director Denise Fair. READ: Michigan health director explains need for expanded COVID-19 restrictionsREAD: Gov. Our COVID-19 Data section tracks many of the key data points health officials are watching closely every single day. Track key COVID-19 data points in Michigan:

Gretchen Whitmer is expected to announce additional statewide COVID-19 restrictions Sunday night. Michigan has seen skyrocketing growth in COVID-19 cases, with a total of 7,072 new cases Saturday. The state now has 251,813 COVID-19 cases recorded since the pandemic began in March and 7,994 deaths. Michigan reports 7,072 new coronavirus cases and 65 deaths for Saturday, Nov. 14The state data shows that 71,170 coronavirus tests were processed Friday, with 13.9% positive. In addition to the statewide surge, multiple Republican state lawmakers have tested positive for the disease in the last week.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Health officials are searching for answers after coronavirus cases linked to Michigan State University students and staff rose to more than 1,200. I’ll find some more,” said Linda Vail, Ingham County health officer. Vail could further restrict indoor gatherings and put more large apartments and housing complexes on quarantine, the Lansing State Journal reported. MSU cases are 40% of cases reported in Ingham County since March. Students living on and off campus at Grand Valley State University in Allendale are under a stay-in-place order until Oct. 1.

Meanwhile, it was two weeks ago today the Michigan Supreme Court revoked the coronavirus mitigation orders issued by Gov. Marcus Cheatham, who heads the Mid-Michigan Health Department, which serves Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties, agreed that the health code gives local health departments considerable authority. We are small and don’t have a lot of resources, and we can’t manage very many court cases, if any at all. So if people refuse to comply with public health orders and want to litigate them, it’s just not clear that we’ll get anywhere." Michigan needs ‘an element of herd immunity’ to recover from coronavirus, Senate leader saysNorthern Michigan casino identified as possible coronavirus exposure site

As of early October, the state health department reported 506,234 flu doses being administered this flu season. The high dose flu vaccine and adjuvanted flu vaccine have reportedly resulted in fewer influenza cases and significantly higher immune responses than the standard vaccine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Companies that manufacture the high dose flu vaccines are seeing heightened demand across the country, according to data provided by MDHHS. Michigan health officials are worried about the potential strain that a bad flu season, combined with COVID-19, could have on the state’s health care system. Michigan’s statewide “Facing the Flu Together” campaign aims to get at least 4.2 million residents to get this year’s flu vaccine.

LANSING, Mich. – New emergency orders issued Sunday will require Ingham County residents to continue following coronavirus safety requirements, regardless of the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling on Gov. Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail issued four new emergency orders on Sunday to “keep several COVID-19 protections in place” just after the state Supreme Court struck down Gov. “Protecting Ingham County residents is a responsibility that I take very seriously. Ingham County’s four new emergency orders can be viewed at the following links: Ingham2020-21, Ingham2020-22, Ingham2020-23, Ingham2020-24. The Ingham County Health Department said Sunday that Vail has the authority to issue the orders under Michigan Law MCL 333.2453.

EAST LANSING, MI — Michigan State University has updated its COVID-19 dashboard to reflect the Ingham County Health Department’s number of positive cases in the MSU community, after the university and health department previously had very different data. Earlier this week, MSU was reporting on its COVID-19 dashboard that the university had less than 600 positive coronavirus cases since July 27 — less than half of what the Ingham County Health Department was reporting for the university. The university originally wasn’t taking the health department’s numbers because officials said they had to verify the cases were indeed MSU students, Linda Vail, Ingham County Health Department health officer, said. Vail said she told the university she couldn’t give them a list of names just to make sure their data is correct. READ MORE:Breaking down Michigan State football’s new scheduleCollege coronavirus outbreaks ‘gravely concern’ Michigan public-health officialsMel Tucker embracing more uncertainty as Michigan State moves into potentially bumpy season

The Best & Worst Places To Drive in AmericaMetro Detroit doesn't fair well when it comes to driving. Niche Rates UofM As Top Public University In The U.S.The website Niche.com has named the University of Michigan the top public university in the U.S. The Henry Ford Returns Expands Regular Hours Monday with Marvel ExhibitionThanks to the new Marvel exhibition, The Henry Museum of American Innovation is expanding its hours to seven days a week. The Henry Ford Set To Reopen With Marvel Universe ExhibitThe Henry Ford is reopening finally and kicking things off with an exhibition called Marvel Universe of Super Heroes. Detroit's Top 4 Bars To Visit NowLooking to check out the best bars in town?

"It’s social gathering, social gathering, social gathering, social gathering. But it did.”Role of college officialsFor the most part, public-health officials credit university and college officials with taking the proper precautions to minimize coronavirus outbreaks. Then in August, there were 10 deaths in Ingham, which followed a spike in coronavirus cases linked to Harper’s Bar in East Lansing. But Susan Ringler-Cerniglia, spokeswoman for the Washtenaw County Health Department, said it may be just a matter of luck and timing. How that’s going to go?”Vail said she’s sympathetic to the plight of college students.

EAST LANSING, MI – Eleven additional houses are now required to quarantine for the next two weeks for known coronavirus exposure, the Ingham County Health Department announced Thursday. This comes as the city, home to Michigan State University, has seen a 315% increase in total case count since Sept. 1, health officials said. As of Thursday, 25 Greek life houses and 14 large rental houses are under the mandatory quarantine. Ingham County has the highest COVID-19 risk in the entire state of Michigan. MSU students living locally but not in the mandatory quarantine houses have still been asked to self-quarantine in the next several weeks to prevent further spread.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Ingham County Health Department is taking action after seeing a spike in cases since Michigan State University students headed back to East Lansing. Action involved placing students living in 23 fraternity and sorority houses and seven rental homes under a mandatory quarantine. The Ingham County Health Department made the decision to quarantine the entire buildings after a spike in positive cases in East Lansing this month. The majority of all new cases are MSU students. This mandatory quarantine for specific off-campus houses is another helpful tool to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Sept. 12, 2020: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 111,524; Death toll now at 6,591Several signs were displayed across Michigan State campus Saturday reminding students that face masks are mandatory, but that’s not all -- health and school leaders are now asking students to self quarantine for 14 days, due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. I’m just going by the protocols and doing what I have to do to keep it safe. The self-quarantine comes after the university announced 124 new COVID-19 cases among MSU students during the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 8. “Right now, we’re looking at numbers that are even higher than that.”Vail said most of the cases are coming from large social gatherings. Michigan State University provides a weekly report on new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases on campus online right hereMore News

EAST LANSING, Mich. Ingham County Health Officer Linda S. Vail signed an emergency order on Tuesday that restricts outdoor gatherings to no more than 25 people in the city of East Lansing amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Vails new emergency order is specific to East Lansing -- which is home to thousands of college students who attend Michigan State University (MSU). The emergency order also includes properties adjacent to those streets. East Lansing residents must still comply with the states 10-person capacity limit for indoor gatherings. Those who defy East Lansings new emergency order may face a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison and/or a $200 fine, officials said.

Young people have less severe illness, so they may be infected and able to infect others inadvertently, Dean said, noting outbreaks in Japan and South Korea associated with restaurants, bars and karaoke parties. Bars and restaurants near the University of Iowa and Iowa State University closed only weeks after the governor allowed them to reopen. As of last week, 90% of cases in the county that is home to Kansas State University involved people ages 18 to 24. "We really have got to stop that.Texas, Arizona, Los Angeles and some Pennsylvania counties are closing bars to slow the spread of the virus. Even sitting at a table with friends at a bar involves loud talking and laughing that could spread virus.

LANSING, Mich. – The Ingham County Health Department ordered the legal occupancy load at licensed food service establishments to be reduced by 50 percent effective 5 p.m. March 16 through 5 p.m. April 5. Whitmer’s executive order to ban events and gatherings exceeding 250 people amid the growing coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns in the state. Whitmer: 12 new COVID-19 cases, 45 total cases in MichiganIngham County law enforcement already committed to enforcing the ban, but Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail takes it a step further by issuing the order of a 50% decrease in occupancy load. We need proactive actions including reductions in occupancy load to stop the spread of COVID-19.”Ingham County food service establishments affected by this order include but are not limited to: restaurants, bars, church dining halls, schools, country clubs, banquet halls, catering and carry out, according to officials. Click here to download a sign from the health department to notify your customers of the new occupancy restriction.