Weekly Ottawa County COVID-19 Vaccine Update - April 3, 2021

Ottawa County, Michigan sent this bulletin at 04/03/2021 08:01 PM EDT

April 3, 2021 I Ottawa County COVID-19 Update

The Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) sent this weekly update to those who signed up for vaccine notifications or COVID-19 updates. You may also sign up to receive information about other news topics from Ottawa County Parks, Sheriff’s Office and more. See the end of this email to make any changes to your subscription preferences.

The latest vaccine video update on Facebook and YouTube.

During the pandemic, community members and agencies across the county have worked together diligently to help people overcome the challenges many faced, provide resources and help share public health messages. An important part of this work now is aiding in the county's vaccination efforts. Dozens of agencies meet weekly to strategize the best outreach efforts to ensure vaccines are accessible to everyone when they are eligible. Through their collaborative work with the health department, people who have limited or no technology, non-English speaking people, minority populations and others encountering barriers have been able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. These organizations have been strong public health ambassadors, making vaccination efforts successful and creating greater health equity.

Panelists:

Lisa Uganski - OCDPH Health Educator and Ottawa Food Coordinator
Patrick Cisler - Executive Director with Community SPOKE & Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance
Mike Goorhouse - President/CEO of the Community Foundation Holland/Zeeland Area

Click to watch the briefing.

Wednesdays at noon we will provide the latest Ottawa County vaccine updates on Facebook.com/miOttawaHealth and YouTube.com/miOttawa.

Get a Reminder

COVID Vaccine Information for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals

Michigan Department of Civil Rights Division on Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing provided American Sign Language (ASL) videos with details on availability of vaccines. Beginning April 5, all Michiganders 16 and older will be eligible.

ASL video: Starting April 5

ASL video: What You Should Do When Eligible for Vaccine

Additional information can be found on the division’s website or on their Facebook page.

I haven't been vaccinated yet but want to travel for spring break. What should I do?

Planning a Spring holiday? Celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice right now. If you do travel or gather with people who don’t live with you, make a plan to stay healthy. Learn more at bit.ly/3ct5yQ3.

Find COVID-19 testing sites in Ottawa County here.

Click the image to learn more.

CDC Issues Updated Guidance on Travel for Fully Vaccinated People

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its travel guidance for fully vaccinated people to reflect the latest evidence and science. Given recent studies evaluating the real-world effects of vaccination, CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people can travel at low risk to themselves. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last recommended dose of vaccine.

Fully vaccinated people can travel within the United States and do not need COVID-19 testing or post-travel self-quarantine as long as they continue to take COVID-19 precautions while traveling – wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, socially distancing and washing hands frequently.

If I'm fully vaccinated and have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, do I need to quarantine?

No: You may refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic and are considered fully vaccinated. However, even if fully vaccinated, people should continue to take precautions in public and gathering with multiple unvaccinated households. Wear a well-fitted mask and physical distance from others. If you start experiencing symptoms, get tested.

CDC Real-World Study Confirms Protective Benefits of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines

Study involved health care personnel, first responders and essential workers in six states

This study is the first of many planned COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness studies CDC is conducting to evaluate the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines in various populations and across different outcomes, such as preventing infections, doctor’s visits, hospitalizations or deaths. Results from these studies assist the medical and public health experts on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and CDC to make important vaccine policy decisions aimed at saving lives.

Click the image to learn more.

More COVID-19 scientific information about the vaccines

The vaccines went through rigorous scientific review.
FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research works to ensure the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Vaccine Development – 101
FDA Emergency Use Authorization for vaccines explained.
Ensuring COVID-19 vaccines work.
Researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be effective.
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is made using fetal retinal cells. It does NOT contain these cells in the actual vaccines administered.
Find the latest COVID-19 Published Science and Research here.

A new poll of attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccinations shows Americans are growing more enthusiastic about being vaccinated

Click to expand and learn more.

Click the image to watch the video.

Click the image to watch the video.

Click the image to learn more.

Have you been vaccinated or will you when it's your turn? Why?

Roger Phimmasane “With having type 2
diabetes, kidney disease and dialysis three
times a week, my quality of life has suffered.
I’ve had limited time with my family and
friends because of the risk of infection. I was
able to finally get the Johnson & Johnson
shot, so I now feel comfortable, confident
and safe to see my grandkids and family more.”

Read more stories on page 2 or Hear stories from people in our community who've been vaccinated or plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it's available to them. To be featured in an Ottawa County bulletin, Facebook post or YouTube channel please send your quote, photo and/or video to kwieghmink@miottawa.org.

More COVID-19 Vaccine Information Resources

Currently Eligible I VaccinateWestMi.com FAQs I Deaf & Hard of Hearing FAQ Videos
CDC COVID-19 FAQs Flyer I CDC FAQ Website

COVID-19 Vaccinations in Ottawa County

OCDPH last received a total of 4,640 first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Total Ottawa County To-date:

Received: 70,860 first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed to Ottawa County health care systems and the health department as of March 29, 2021.
Administered: 138,813 first and second doses have been administered to Ottawa County residents as of April 1, 2021.
Coverage: Nearly 38% of all Ottawa County residents have had at least their first vaccine dose, and nearly 74% of Ottawa County residents who are 65 years of age and older have had at least their first vaccine dose.

More vaccine data from MDHHS here.

Click the image to open the MDHHS vaccine dashboard.

ALERT: Ottawa County COVID-19 Cases Are Increasing

Weekly counts of COVID-19 cases have increased for the fourth week in a row, following seven weeks of decreasing case counts.
From a low of 2.9% at the end of February, the percentage of COVID-19 tests in Ottawa County that are positive has increased more than 5-fold in the past month to 16.6%.
Cases among youth have increased steeply in the past month, with over a 4-fold increase in ages 0-19, with the 10-19 year-old age group achieving the second highest rate of cases per 1,000,000 population among Ottawa County age groups for the first time since the pandemic began.

West MI Vaccine Clinic Expands Availability to All 16 and Older

Additional non-clinical volunteers are needed to support this effort.

The West Michigan Vaccine Clinic at DeVos Place, operated by Kent County, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health in collaboration with Vaccinate West Michigan is expanding vaccine availability to all 16 and older, immediately. The clinic operates by appointment only. Patients can now self-schedule online. To set up an appointment for someone ages 16 or 17 or for people who need special assistance, please call 833.755.0696. A parent or guardian must accompany minors.

Pfizer-BioNTech Announce Positive Topline Results of Pivotal COVID-19 Vaccine Study in Adolescents

In participants aged 12-15 years old, BNT162b2 demonstrated 100% efficacy and robust antibody responses, exceeding those reported in trial of vaccinated 16-25 year old participants in an earlier analysis, and was well tolerated.
The companies plan to submit these data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as soon as possible to request expansion of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and EU Conditional Marketing Authorization for BNT162b2.
The companies also provided an update on the Phase 1/2/3 study of BNT162b2 in children aged 6 months to 11 years

Find the latest Ottawa County COVID-19 response updates at www.miOttawa.org/covid19

Ottawa County COVID-19 Data Hub

COVID-19 Vaccinations in Michigan

MI Distributed: 5,009,205 first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses
Administered Statewide: 4,522,415 first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses
Coverage: 35% of all Michigan residents have had at least their first vaccine dose, and 67.5% of Michigan residents who are 65 years of age and older have had at least their first vaccine dose as of April 1, 2021.

More Vaccine Data from MDHHS here.

Gov. Increases Daily Vaccination Goal to 100,000 Shots Per Day

Governor Gretchen Whitmer raised Michigan's COVID-19 vaccination goal from 50,000 to 100,000 shots per day. The new goal is based on the state’s successful efforts to expand equitable and efficient vaccine administration by partnering with private and public organizations in communities across the state, and is made possible by continuous week-over-week increases in the number of vaccines allocated to the state of Michigan. For 38 days, the state has met or exceeded its original goal of administering 50,000 vaccinations per day. To date, Michigan has administered 4,207,102 vaccines, moving the state closer to its goal of equitably vaccinating at least 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older as soon as possible.

MDHHS Resources

Vaccine Information I Strategy I Distribution Guidance I MI Vaccine Locations I FAQs

COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States

CDC data as of April 2, 2021. Click to view more data.

Infections with ‘U.K Variant’ B.1.1.7 Have Greater Risk of Mortality

Since the genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, was first reported in January 2020, thousands of variants have been reported. In the vast majority of cases, these variants, which arise from random genomic changes as SARS-CoV-2 makes copies of itself in an infected person, haven’t raised any alarm among public health officials. But that’s now changed with the emergence of at least three variants carrying mutations that potentially make them even more dangerous.

Dr. Collins joins the Stetzer Leadership Podcast to discuss the role the faith community can play in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic

Dr. Collins has a conversation with Stetzer Leadership Podcast host Dr. Ed Stetzer about the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging the faith community to take the vaccine, and continuing mitigation practices.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST