Weekly Ottawa County COVID-19 Update - May 17, 2021

Ottawa County, Michigan sent this bulletin at 05/17/2021 10:55 AM EDT

May 17, 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.

NEW COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC CALENDAR

The OCDPH is now listing all of its COVID-19 vaccination clinics on the VaccinateWestMi.com/clinics website. Click on the calendar to find scheduling and walk-in opportunities in Ottawa County and the surrounding area.

The Pfizer two-dose vaccine is available for individuals aged 12 years or older.
The Moderna two-dose vaccine is available for individuals aged 18 years or older.
The Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine is available for individuals aged 18 years or older.
Date of birth proof is required (driver’s license, state ID or birth certificate). Parental consent is required for minors. Find more details and requirements on each clinic's page.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens.

CDC Director Statement on Pfizer’s Use of COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescents Age 12 and Older

The CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky adopted CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that endorsed the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and its use in 12- through 15-year-old adolescents. CDC now recommends that this vaccine be used among this population, and providers may begin vaccinating them right away.

Though most children with COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms, some children can get severely ill and require hospitalization. There have also been rare, tragic cases of children dying from COVID-19 and its effects, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C.

This official CDC recommendation follows last Monday’s FDA decision to authorize emergency use of this vaccine in 12- through 15-year-old adolescents, and is another important step to getting out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and closer to normalcy.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens

Although fewer children have been infected with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can:

Be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
Get sick from COVID-19.
Spread COVID-19 to others.

CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination to help protect against COVID-19. Widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic. Getting your child or teen vaccinated can bring you one step closer to enjoying the activities you miss. Children 12 years and older are able to get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

Find a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in your area. Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you. You can also check local pharmacy's, your child's healthcare provider or your state health department.
Understand your child may have some side effects from the vaccine. These are normal signs that the body is building up protection. Side effects include pain on the arm where you got the shot, headache and fever.
Remember COVID-19 vaccines are 100% free for every individual living in the United States. Even if you do not have insurance, understand what the Department of Health and Human Services recommends uninsured individuals should do to access tests and vaccines.

Gov. Whitmer lifts mask requirement for fully vaccinated

On May 13, 2021, the CDC released guidance indicating that fully vaccinated people need not wear a mask in most settings, regardless of whether indoors or outdoors. The CDC indicated that fully vaccinated people are at low risk of experiencing symptomatic or severe COVID-19 infection, and pose a reduced risk of transmitting COVID-19 to others. Additionally, recent studies confirm that transmission of COVID-19 outdoors is exceedingly rare.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued the revised Gatherings and Face Mask Order, effective as of Saturday, May 15, 2021, at 9 a.m. This order remains in effect through May 31, 2021, at 11:59 PM.

What's changed?

Fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a face mask at indoor gatherings. All others* are required to wear a face mask at indoor gatherings. *View the full list of exceptions on page 9.
A person responsible for an establishment, or an agent of such person, must prohibit gatherings of any kind at their establishment unless the person makes a good-faith effort to ensure everyone at their establishment (including employees) comply. A good-faith effort may include any of the following: posting a sign notifying people that wearing a mask is required unless a person falls into a specified exception; asking patrons not wearing masks whether they fall into a specified exception; requiring face masks of all patrons and employees or any other policy designed to ensure compliance.
The outdoor face mask requirement. People who are vaccinated or unvaccinated need not wear a mask when outdoors.

What has not changed?

Gathering restrictions and capacity limits.
Contact tracing requirements for particular gatherings.

Ottawa County is following mask requirements

The OCDPH is implementing the Gatherings and Face Mask Order under MCL 333.2235(1): local health departments are authorized to carry out and enforce the terms of this order. However, local conditions could result in additional Ottawa County orders. For employers, additional guidance from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also expected soon.

The scientific research for COVID-19 vaccination efficacy is supported by Ottawa County data:

Ottawa County data, as of May 10, 2021, show 92 percent of cases reported since February 1, 2021, have no evidence of any vaccination, and many of the remaining eight percent have evidence of partial vaccination. However, only a minority of cases have true breakthroughs--1.26 percent of cases. Framed another way, 98.7 percent of Ottawa County cases reported since February 1 are not completely vaccinated.
Indoor and outdoor activities and gatherings pose minimal risk to fully vaccinated people.
Fully vaccinated people have minimal risk of transmitting the virus that causes COVID-19 to others.
We still need to learn more about how long COVID-19 immunity lasts and the risk of COVID-19 infection in fully vaccinated people with immune system suppressing conditions.

“This is indeed great news,” said Health Officer Lisa Stefanovsky with the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. “The Ottawa County community has been vigilant in following important preventative measures to protect the health and safety of others, and I want to say thank you—it hasn’t always been easy! I am happy we can finally take this step of fully vaccinated people removing their masks. The first COVID-19 vaccine administered in Ottawa County last December gave us hope. Now with more than half of Ottawa County residents receiving at least one dose, we realize how important the vaccine is for bringing our lives closer to normal.”

Watch the latest COVID-19 video update on YouTube and Facebook - includes an interview with County Administrator Al Vanderberg, Health Officer Lisa Stefanovsky and Deputy Health Officer Marcia Mansaray. Hear the county leaders talk more about the latest COVID-19 vaccination strategies, local data showing vaccines are working, newly issued Quarantine Order in Educational Settings, Pfizer vaccine for 12-15-year-olds, the 'Ottawa Way' and more! The interview starts here.

Additional updates from public health at the May 11, 2021, Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting here.

Click to watch the briefing.

Wednesdays at noon we will provide the latest Ottawa County COVID-19 updates on YouTube.com/miOttawa and Facebook.com/miOttawaHealth. Get a Reminder

Choosing Safer Activities

Fully vaccinated people can resume many activities without wearing a mask or social distancing, exceptions exist as required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations; including local business and workplace guidance that remain in effect.

Click to enlarge the image.

#YourTurn

Did you get vaccinated or will you? Share your story and tell us why.

Send us a photo or video, your name, why you got vaccinated and your Facebook handle if you have one. We will share your story on Facebook, Twitter and weekly bulletins for people to share. Previous bulletins found at www.miOttawa.org/COVID19 in the Latest Updates from Ottawa County section.

Shannon Felgner shares why she got vaccinated.

West Michigan Vaccine Clinic Event Calendar

The www.vaccinatewestmi.com site now features a vaccine clinic events calendar detailing all upcoming vaccine clinics in West Michigan. People can now filter vaccine clinics by location, date and county.

Click the image to learn more.

More COVID-19 Vaccine Information Resources

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

Click the image to open the MDHHS vaccine dashboard.

Coverage: 51% of all Ottawa County residents aged 12 years or older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of May 15, 2021. More vaccine data from MDHHS here.

Progress is based on the CDC data tracker, which includes MI residents vaccinated by providers not currently reporting to the state dashboard below: Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Bureau of Prisons, and most out-of-state providers. Data provided in the Michigan COVID-19 Dashboard below slightly undercounts the true number of doses administered to MI residents. LEARN MORE

As of 5/13/2021, the Michigan COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard includes the population 12 years and older. This increases the population denominator by 497,961 people (from 8,096,917 to 8,594,878) and explains the decrease in initiation coverage (52.7% among Michiganders 16 and older and 49.7% among Michiganders 12 and older). In any figure where age group is a drop-down option, 12-15 year olds may be removed in order to view coverage as displayed previously (16 years and older). The Vacc to Normal gauge will continue to reflect coverage based on the population 16 years and older.

The Macatawa Area Express (MAX) and Allegan County Transportation are offering free rides for residents to vaccination appointments. To schedule a trip, call MAX at 616-355-1010. LEARN MORE - Kent County Vaccine Transportation Access Information HERE.

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

Ottawa County COVID-19 Data Hub

Need Testing? No-Cost Community Sites. Rapid antigen testing for anyone with or without symptoms (parental consent required for minors). Samples are taken by nasal swab. Results within 15-30 min. No appointment needed • No doctor’s order needed • No insurance needed • No Fee • Please bring a form of ID • No pets allowed • Wear a face covering. Find locations, dates and times at www.miOttawa.org/covid19

Coverage: Nearly 50% of all Michigan residents aged 12 years or older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of May 15, 2021. More Vaccine Data from MDHHS here.

Click to hear Gov. Whitmer's comments about the updated mask order.

May 15, 2021 Gatherings and Face Mask Order

More Michigan households are eligible for additional food assistance in response to COVID-19

The number of Michigan families eligible for additional food assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be increasing in May with everyone who is eligible now receiving an increased amount, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced.

An additional 350,000 families will receive the extra food assistance under approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, bringing the total in Michigan receiving extra benefits due to the pandemic to more than 700,000.

MDHHS Resources

Vaccine Information I MI Vaccine Locations I FAQs

COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States

Click for more data.

Click to watch the latest White House COVID-19 Response briefings.

How Severe COVID-19 Can Tragically Lead to Lung Failure and Death

More than 3 million people around the world, now tragically including thousands every day in India, have lost their lives to severe COVID-19. Though incredible progress has been made in a little more than a year to develop effective vaccines, diagnostic tests, and treatments, there’s still much we don't know.

LEARN MORE

Click to Read the Latest COVID-19 Research

Largest CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Study in Health Workers Shows mRNA Vaccines 94% Effective

Geographically diverse population included across 33 sites in 25 U.S. states

A new CDC study adds to the growing body of real-world evidence (outside of a clinical trial setting) showing that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protect health care personnel (HCP) against COVID-19. mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) reduced the risk of getting sick with COVID-19 by 94% among HCP who were fully vaccinated. This assessment, conducted in a different study network with a larger sample size from across a broader geographic area than in the clinical trials, independently confirms U.S. vaccine effectiveness findings among health care workers that were first reported March 29.

Click to learn more from the CDC's COVID-19 Webinars and Partner Calls Videos

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