Hi there,
The State of Michigan distributed 24,960 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Oakland County Health Division this week, including 2,340 Pfizer doses from FEMA. The Health Division administered the FEMA doses, provided as part of the establishment of Ford Field as a regional vaccination site, to residents in Pontiac who live in areas with a higher Social Vulnerability Index.
As reported on April 23, the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard reports 912,626 doses have been given to Oakland County residents by all providers including 269,284 doses administered by Oakland County. 54% of Oakland County residents 16 years of age or older have now received one dose of COVID vaccine and more than 36% have completed their vaccination series.
This is great progress, but there are still more vaccinations to give! We continue to administer all the vaccine we receive. We will conduct 12 COVID-19 vaccine clinics by appointment only through April 26 in the following communities: Farmington Hills, Madison Heights, Novi, Pontiac, Rochester, Southfield, Waterford. The county also redistributed vaccine to 35 health care providers this week.
Our weekly Vaccine Update video features a fellow Oakland County resident who was originally unsure about becoming vaccinated. Hear her story about how she felt getting the COVID-19 vaccine, how she learned more and why she decided to get vaccinated.
Accurate COVID-19 vaccine information is critical and can help stop common myths and rumors. Below we have included some current misconceptions. Learn the facts and share them with those you know. More facts can also be found at the Centers for Disease Control’s website.
In good health,
Leigh-Anne Stafford
Director, Health and Human Services
COVID-19 vaccination Busting the Myths
Is a COVID-19 booster shot really needed?
CDC states that the need for and timing of COVID-19 booster doses has not yet been established. No additional doses are recommended at this time. People are considered fully protected two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
Do I really need to get the second dose?
If you receive a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you will need 2 shots to get the most protection. You should get your second shot even if you have side effects after the first shot, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get it.
You are not fully vaccinated if:
- it has been less than 2 weeks since your 1-dose shot
- it has been less than 2 weeks since your second shot of a 2-dose vaccine
- you still need to get your second dose of a 2-dose vaccine
Will COVID-19 vaccines alter my DNA?
COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. Both types of COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for use in the United States (mRNA and viral vector) deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept.
Will I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?
None of the COVID-19 vaccines or those in development in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
Will I test positive for the virus if I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
None of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. If your body develops an immune response to vaccination, which is the goal, you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results.
Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine update
Last week, CDC and FDA recommended a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson’s (Janssen) vaccine in the United States out of an abundance of caution. Of the nearly 7 million doses administered so far in the U.S., a small number of reports of a rare type of blood clot have been reported.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will hold its second emergency meeting to discuss this pause on Friday, April 23.
This pause gives scientists a chance to review the data and decide if recommendations on who should get the vaccine need to change. CDC and FDA will share more information as soon as possible with healthcare providers, people who got the vaccine, and the public.
If you got this vaccine more than three weeks ago, your risk of developing a blood clot is very low. If you got this vaccine within the last three weeks, your risk of developing a blood clot is also very low. However, you should be on the lookout for possible symptoms of a blood clot: severe headache, blurred vision, fainting, seizures, pain in your abdomen (chest or stomach), leg pain or swelling, shortness of breath. Get medical care right away if you have any of these symptoms.
OaklandCountyVaccine.com is the best place to receive the latest information.
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