Friday, August 13 Update

Hi there,

I think we all agree on the importance of returning students to school campuses for in-person instruction while protecting the health and safety of our students, school staff, and broader community from COVID-19.

Layered prevention strategies to reduce transmission will offer the best protection against COVID-19, especially as we target the influx of Delta variant cases and with flu season beginning soon.  School is an environment where contagious diseases can spread quickly. Vaccination is the best tool we have to protect against these preventable illnesses.

Our clinic locations in Pontiac and Southfield are offering all required back-to-school vaccines for students. In addition, the COVID-19 vaccine is available to those who are eligible. Visit our website to make an appointment for back-to-school immunizations at OakGov.com/Health. If you’d prefer to walk in, visit either clinic location during the hours of 5 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday in August.

This week’s COVID-19 update video, features Public Health Nursing Administrator Calendra Green providing an update and talking about the importance of back-to-school Immunizations:

71.4% of our residents 16 years or older have received at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard and the Oakland County Vaccine Hub for even more vaccination data.

In good health,

Leigh-Anne Stafford Director, Health and Human Services

Delta variant infections and children

A common question parents and guardians are wondering is if kids get infected with the COVID-19 Delta variant, are they at risk of serious illness? CDC posted that children don’t often get very sick from COVID-19. But because the Delta variant is more contagious than past versions of the virus, more kids will get the virus, increasing risk for adverse complications, especially those who are unvaccinated or under age 12 and not yet eligible for vaccination.  In addition, children can spread COVID-19, including the Delta variant, even when they have mild or no symptoms at all.

Further, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association collaborate to collect and share all publicly available data from states on child COVID-19 cases.  Their latest report (August 5) indicate that after declining in early summer, child cases have steadily increased since the beginning of July. 

Researchers continue to work to determine whether the delta variant causes more severe disease in children.

New study finds vaccination reduces COVID-19 reinfection

A new CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) finds that people who did not receive COVID-19 vaccine after their COVID-19 infection had more than twice the likelihood of getting COVID-19 again compared to those who were fully vaccinated. The study examined Kentucky residents infected with COVID-19 in 2020 and the vaccination status of those reinfected during May-June 2021 compared to residents who were not reinfected.  This data indicate that COVID-19 vaccines offer better protection than natural immunity alone and that vaccines, even after prior infection, help prevent reinfections.

Vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19. Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.

If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

If you or your child has a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults or children (MIS-A or MIS-C), consider delaying vaccination until you or your child have recovered from being sick and for 90 days after the date of diagnosis of MIS-A or MIS-C. Learn more about the clinical considerations people with a history of multisystem MIS-C or MIS-A.

Week at a Glance-Health Division upcoming vaccination sites

The following locations will offer first dose COVID-19 vaccinations in August for individuals 12 years and older (unless otherwise indicated):

• Monday-Friday- 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m; every Wednesday in August open until 7 p.m.
  
  
  • Oakland County North Oakland Health Center (Pontiac)
  • Oakland County South Oakland Health Center (Southfield)
• Friday, Aug. 13
  
  
  • Milford Memories, noon to 4 p.m.
    
    
• Saturday, Aug. 14
  
  
  • Milford Memories, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    
    
• Tuesday, Aug. 17
  
  
  • Welcome Missionary Baptist Church (Pontiac), 8 a.m.-noon
    
    
  • Trinity Missionary Baptist Church (Pontiac), 2-6 p.m.
    
    
• Thursday, Aug. 19
  
  
  • Best Western Premier Hotel (Southfield), 12-5:30 p.m.
    
    
• Friday, Aug. 20
  
  
  • Berkley CruiseFest (Berkley), 4-6 p.m.
    
    
  • Rochester Schools Admin Building (Rochester), 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Saturday, Aug. 21
  
  
  • Ferndale Dream Cruise, 10 a.m.-noon

• Sunday, Aug. 22
  
  
  • Festival of Hope (Novi Civic Center), noon-4 p.m.
    

• Tuesday, Aug. 24
  
  
  • Welcome Missionary Baptist Church (Pontiac), 8 a.m.-noon
    
    
  • Trinity Missionary Baptist Church (Pontiac), 2-6 p.m.
    
    
• Saturday, Aug. 28
  
  
  • Believers Community Outreach Back to School Event (Pontiac),
    
    2-6 p.m.
    
    
  • Prospect Missionary Baptist Church (Pontiac), 12-4 p.m.
    
    
• Monday, Aug. 30
  
  
  • Hazel Park Community Center, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
    
    
• Tuesday, Aug. 31
  
  
  • Best Western Premier Hotel (Southfield), 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
    
    
  • Carnival Market (Pontiac), 12-3 p.m.
    
    
  • Welcome Missionary Baptist Church (Pontiac), 8 a.m.-noon
    
    
  • Trinity Missionary Baptist Church (Pontiac), 2-6 p.m.

For more details about these locations, click on our Get Vaccinated page.  You can also call 800-848-5533, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for more assistance. COVID-19 vaccinations are provided at no cost.

OaklandCountyVaccine.com is the best place to receive the latest information.