Pfizer seeks full FDA approval for its COVID vaccine
Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, have submitted six months of data on the vaccineโs safety and efficacy. Over the next few weeks, they will submit additional information on manufacturing processes and facilities. The full FDA review is expected to take months.
Detroit expands COVID vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 and older
Robert Huguley, 74, receives Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, Jan. 27, 2021, at the TCF Center in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT โ All Detroiters 16 and older are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, the city announced Monday. Any Detroit resident age 16 or older can now call to schedule an appointment to be vaccinated at the TCF Center. Johnson & Johnson vaccine site opened at Northwest Activities Center 9-1 this Saturday. Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair also announced that the Detroit Health Department has been informed it will receive its first allocation of Johnson and Johnson vaccine this week.
30% of Michigan residents have received 1 COVID vaccine dose: Inside the data
DETROIT โ Michigan has crossed another COVID-19 vaccination milestone: 30% of residents have received at least one vaccine dose. According to MDHHS data, as of Thursday (March 25), 30.3% of Michigan residents have received at least one dose, while 17.4% are fully vaccinated. About 3.8 million doses have been administered in total. Nearly 2/3 of Michigan residents 65 and older have received at least one dose, while about 40% are fully vaccinated. As for specific vaccines, 1.9 million doses from Pfizer, 1.7 million from Moderna, and about 68,000 doses from Johnson and Johnson have been administered in Michigan.
Detroit expands COVID vaccine eligibility to all on-site workers who live or work in city
DETROIT โ The City of Detroit is expanded eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to include anyone who lives or works in the city and has to report to work. Now eligibility has been extended to all onsite employees provided they live or work in the city, such as bank branch staff and other officer workers. All others onsite workers now eligible should schedule their appointment by calling the cityโs central vaccine scheduling number at 313-230-0505. More: Michigan COVID vaccine eligibility expands Monday: What to knowโSenior Saturdaysโ expandsThe City of Detroit is expanding eligibility for its weekend Senior Saturday vaccination events, which will now be called Community Saturdays to reflect the broader eligibility. Call center staff will contact each scheduled person prior to their second appointment to remind them.
Michigan COVID vaccine eligibility expands Monday: What to know
Empty vials of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine are pictured at a vaccination site in Paris, Saturday, March 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)Michigan will see a big expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility starting on Monday, March 22. NOTE: Appointments are based on vaccine supply, and while supply is increasing, you can still expect some delays and backlogs, depending on where you live. What are considered eligible medical conditions? Certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.
Vaccine eligibility expands, Michiganders 50+, 16+ with medical conditions eligible
DETROIT โ The effort to get to get Michiganders vaccinated picks up steam Monday when hundreds of thousands of people will become eligible to get their shot. READ: Michigan COVID vaccine eligibility expands Monday: What to knowStarting Monday, those 50 and older and those 16 and older with preexisting conditions or disabilities will be eligible to get vaccinated everywhere in the state -- increasing the eligibility by more than half a million people. AdREAD: โHope is on the horizon,โ -- Ford Field begins scheduling COVID vaccinationsAbout 124 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the United States. The country is averaging 2.4 million doses daily. More info: Local 4โฒs Dr. Frank McGeorge answers COVID vaccine question
US House passes legislation to give COVID vaccine to all veterans through VA
The VA in Ann Arbor said that he makes too much money to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Now, at age 57, he asked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for a COVID-19 vaccine. The VA turned him down due to income limits set by Congress. AdโIt is just kind of ridiculous that you couldnโt go get a shot,โ Flynn said. The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the VA Vaccine Act, providing a COVID shot for any veteran, regardless of income.
Congressman says rule that led VA to deny COVID vaccine to veteran will be fixed
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ Don Schimmel, 93, is a Navy World War II veteran who is trying to get a coronavirus vaccine. The VA in Ann Arbor said that he makes too much money to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. READ: VA in Ann Arbor says veteran makes too much money to receive COVID-19 vaccineโYou are rejected, over the income limit to receive medical treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs,โ the rejection letter stated. Rep. Tim Walberg said that Congress should have seen that COVID shots were included in rules they gave the VA when it came to healthcare. AdWalberg said he saw Local 4โฒs report and reached out to the Ann Arbor VA.โThatโs how I became aware of it and talked to the Ann Arbor VA this morning,โ he said.
Westland seniors frustrated with wait times at COVID vaccination site
WESTLAND, Mich. โ The city of Westland kicked off its first COVID-19 vaccine clinic Monday by appointment only. READ: Meijer holds COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Ford Field in Detroit for educatorsMichigan expected to receive 82,700 doses of J&J vaccine this weekThe state of Michigan is expected to receive 82,700 doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine this week. The J&J vaccine doses are expected in Michigan by Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said Monday. Over the weekend, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Johnson & Johnsonโs COVID-19 vaccine for an emergency use authorization. Nearly 4 million doses of the J&J vaccine are expected to start shipping across the U.S. on Monday.
Seniors in Highland Park, Hamtramck line up to receive dose of COVID-19 vaccine
WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. โ Wayne County is now vaccinating people 65 years old and older against the coronavirus. They are only for seniors who live in those particular communities and people must make appointments to get a vaccine. Seniors in Highland Park and Hamtramck have had to wait a long time to be able to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. There is a note included in the list if that particular clinic is already completely booked. More information can be found on the official Wayne County website here.
Wayne Countyโs new COVID vaccine clinics fill quickly -- What to know
WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. โ Wayne County is now vaccinating people 65 years old and older against the coronavirus. They are only for seniors who live in those particular communities and people must make appointments to get a vaccine. โIโm pleased Wayne County is now in a position to begin vaccinating seniors,โ Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said. Our team is working hard to ensure all of our residents can get their COVID shot as quickly as the vaccine is available.โThe full list of clinics and how to register can be found below. More information can be found on the official Wayne County website here.
Meijer launches COVID-19 vaccine clinics at Michigan stores: What to know
DETROIT โ Meijer is launching a series of COVID-19 vaccination clinics at stores across Michigan this week, with plans to administer up to 25,000 doses in its first week. During the last few weeks, Meijer says it has conducted vaccine clinics in numerous counties throughout the state, administering up to 1,200 vaccines in a single day at some stores. Gretchen Whitmer revealed that more than 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the state. By the end of Wednesday, the state had administered exactly 1,076,545 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the governor. AdRegistration infoThe vaccine clinics conducted by Meijer are not open to walk-ups.
Answering COVID-19 vaccine questions: If you donโt have a reaction to the vaccine was it still effective?
If you do not have any reaction to the second dose, is the vaccine still effective? Regardless of whether you have a reaction to your first or second dose itโs equally effective. READ: COVID-19 response team pushes to increase tracking of variants in US, discusses vaccinating seniorsAdWhat is the data on the seasonal flu? The seasonal flu vaccine is developed based on strains that have recently circulated in other parts of the world. I know someone that when she got her second vaccine shot, was sick for four days with flu-like symptoms.
Michigan officials release preliminary timeline for COVID vaccinations
DETROIT โ Michigan has released a preliminary timeline to show a projection of when other phases can expect to begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. RELATED: COVID-19 vaccine questions? Ask the doctorAs of Jan. 15, people over the age of 65, frontline essential workers, child care, school staff and congregate care facilities are able to get vaccinated. People between 16-64 with health conditions that put them at high risk for COVID complications and remaining essential workers are expected to be vaccinated between May-September. As the first vaccine shipments sat in freezers, some areas wasted time trying to identify who to give the vaccine to once health care workers were vaccinated.
LIVE STREAM: Biden delivers remarks on plan for COVID-19 vaccinations
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.) Watch live coverage as President-elect Joe Biden delivers remarks on his plan to distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccinations on Friday. The live stream for this event has ended. The latest: Biden uses Defense Production Act for vaccines
Michigan releases preliminary COVID vaccination timeline for other phases
FILE - In this Dec. 16, 2020, file photo, a registered nurse prepares a syringe with the first round of the Pfizer COVID vaccination in Ridgeland, Miss., as state medical leaders received inoculations. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)DETROIT โ Michigan has released a preliminary timeline to show a projection of when other phases can expect to begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phasesThe preliminary timeline is fluid. But hereโs where things stand as of Jan. 15:Michigan COVID vaccination timeline as of Jan. 15, 2021. Be patient: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine might take some time, persistenceVaccine supply should increase in the next few weeks after the Trump administration approved a request from several governors, including Michigan Gov.
Frustrations mount over Michigan vaccine distribution confusion
DETROIT โ Seniors across Wayne County are struggling to get their doses of the coronavirus vaccine. Anita and Dan Siefer said theyโre prisoners in their Wayne County home. โMy wife and I are anxious,โ said former Wayne County Commissioner Gary Woronchak. โWe have been hunkered down for months.โWoronchak has also been struggling trying to schedule a vaccine appointment. They will start with four stores in Wayne County, but they havenโt revealed which ones.
Oakland County launches website to get residents on vaccine list
ROCHESTER, Mich. โ The Oakland County Health Division said the demand for the COVID vaccine is far greater than the countyโs supply. Oakland County is getting 1,950 doses of the vaccine each week. There are more than 215,000 people in Oakland County who are 65 and older. READ: How Oakland County residents can schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointmentThe Oakland County Health Division set up a drive-thru vaccination clinic at Rochester Fire Station No. Faust said as the county works to get more vaccine doses delivered, residents should reach out to their personal health care system, which should be receiving more doses.
First 400 Detroit residents vaccinated Wednesday
DETROIT โ Wednesday was a big day for residents of Detroit -- a day Detroiters have been waiting nearly 10 months for. READ: โThis is the first step to getting our lives backโ -- Detroit begins vaccinating residentsMeda Chapman, a 77-year-old Detroit resident, was the first of 400 people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the TCF Center. READ: How Detroit residents can schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointmentEarly on, Detroit was a coronavirus hotspot. More than 1,700 people have died from coronavirus in Detroit, a little less than half of the roughly 3,600 that have died in Wayne County. โI think that the seniors especially should step forward and take the shot,โ Chapman said.
โThis is the first step to getting our lives backโ -- Detroit begins vaccinating residents
DETROIT โ Wednesday was a big day for residents of Detroit -- a day Detroiters have been waiting nearly 10 months for. 400 people will receive the COVID-19 vaccine on the cityโs first day of administering treatment at the TCF Center. Detroit is offering 20,000 COVID-19 appointments through Feb. 5 as the city moves into the next phase. The first Detroit residents -- seniors over 75 and older; Good Neighbors 65 and up who drove a senior and teachers set up appointments and became the first citizens in Detroit to get the first vaccine shot. READ: How Detroit residents can schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointmentMayor Mike Duggan knows a lot is riding on this and had police officers and volunteers help direct people to the vaccinations.
Michigan governor makes request to purchase 100K doses of COVID-19 vaccine
According to Whitmer, since she and eight other governors sent a letter to the Trump Administration requesting that it distribute the millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses that are being held back, there has been no response. Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar requesting permission to purchase up to 100,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines for the state. According to Whitmer, since she and eight other governors sent a letter to the Trump Administration requesting that it distribute the millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses that are being held back, there has been no response. โWe remain ready to accelerate distribution to get doses into arms,โ said Whitmer. After the governors sent the letter, the incoming Biden administration announced that they will release all of the available vaccine doses that the Trump Administration is holding back,โ read a statement from Whitmerโs office.
Michigan health departments urge patience on COVID vaccines: โDemand is overwhelmingโ
โThe demand for the vaccine is overwhelming,โ said Ingham County Health Officer Linda S. Vail. I ask the public to please be patient with health department staff as we try to assist everyone. It depends on where you live: You have to You have to check with your local health department because they will have different capacities and workflows. You can figure out the name of the local health department for your county using this map. If there is no link for your local health department, you can check back tomorrow, as this page will be updated regularly.
Michigan enters new vaccine phase today: What to know
DETROIT โ Michigan will move into the next phase of vaccinations Monday, which includes teachers, first responders, childcare providers and residents 65 years of age and older. Eligible essential workers, teachers and childcare workers will be notified by their employers about vaccine clinic dates and locations, Gov. Michigan Medicine announced it will pause phase 1B vaccinations due to a lower-than-expected supply. U of M will make sure there are enough vaccines for people from the first phase to get their second dose. โThere still is not a national strategy.โBecause supply of the vaccine is limited, residents are required to get an appointment.
US officials say pace of COVID vaccinations moving slower than theyโd hoped
The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines around the country is not meeting the goal of what has been originally expected, officials said. However, Michiganโs numbers will be increasing even more, as 486 facilities in the state are currently offering the vaccine. Veterans have now been added to the list of those allowed to receive the vaccine in the state. On Wednesday, vaccinations for veterans were given out at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center for the first time. Thankfully, under the Biden-Harris administration, itโs clear that we will have officials that listen to science, data, and subject matter experts.โ Gov.
Fact vs. fiction on COVID-19 vaccines
A look at some important information and myths about incoming COVID-19 vaccines. The process used to approve the COVID-19 vaccines is the same proven process that was used to create safe and effective vaccines for the flu, polio, measles, whooping cough and more. Messenger RNA vaccines work by instructing cells in the body how to make a protein that triggers an immune response, according to the CDC. โก๏ธ Can women who are pregnant get the COVID-19 vaccine? โก๏ธ Myth: COVID-19 vaccines were developed using fetal tissueThese messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccines were not created with and do not require the use of fetal cell cultures in the production process, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Couple in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial share experience
READ: Health officials testify science, integrity will guide COVID-19 vaccine processโMy 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. โIt was, I donโt want to say scary, or really nervous, but itโs, โYouโre getting this injection,โ you donโt know,โ Gomez said. The vaccine trails also need people of color to participate, communities that have been severely impacted by COVID-19. I donโt want my friends to get sick,โ Brooks said.
First drug proves able to improve survival from COVID-19
Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: A steroid called dexamethasone reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients. The study is a large, strict test that randomly assigned 2,104 patients to get the drug and compared them with 4,321 patients getting only usual care. It reduced deaths by 35% in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen. "The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education.