REMINDER: Tune in today at 4 p.m.
Michigan Dept of Health & Human Services sent this bulletin at 03/25/2021 02:05 PM EDT
Recognizing that Michigan residents have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, the State of Michigan is hosting the next in a series of community town halls. Today's discussion will focus on older adults, and will begin at 4 p.m. live at Facebook.com/MichiganHHS.
Moderated by Dr. Alexis Travis, PhD, senior deputy director of the Aging and Adult Services Agency within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the panel also will feature:
- Zaneta Adams, Director, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency
- Maureen Taylor, Chair, Michigan Welfare Rights Organization
- Rev. Horace Sheffield, Pastor, Detroit's New Destiny Christian Fellowship
- Dr. Brenda Surae Eaton, MD
- Mark Hornbeck, AARP Michigan
- Dr. Herbert Smitherman, MD, Detroit Receiving Hospital
- Wanda Bowman, Director of Finance, Detroit Area Agency on Aging
The goal of the town hall series is to address the safety and efficacy of the vaccine by answering questions within vulnerable communities. The vaccine distribution plan has prioritized older adults as the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age. This is why vaccine distribution guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that adults 65 years and older be one of the first groups to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
This builds upon the previous town halls with faith-based leaders and communities of color, about the safety, efficacy and importance of the COVID-19 vaccines for safely reopening Michigan. In the coming months, Michigan will host additional town halls in partnership with public health and community leaders.
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