 May 26, 2021 I Watch the latest COVID-19 video update on YouTube and Facebook.
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
Watch the public health update at the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
 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.
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19.
You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that the body is building protection. Side effects after your second shot may be more intense than the ones you experienced after your first shot. These side effects should go away in a few days.
LEARN MORE
Click to watch the video and share on social media.
 READ MORE
Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I would like to have a baby one day?
Yes. If you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, you may get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to you. There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In addition, there is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines. Like all vaccines, scientists are studying COVID-19 vaccines carefully for side effects now and will continue to study them for many years. LEARN MORE
|
Parents: Please plan ahead with vaccinations
In the first 10 days of 12-15-year-olds being eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, about 1 in 5 (almost 2,800) Ottawa County kids received their first Pfizer dose. About 6,700, or 1 in 3, Ottawa County 16-17-year-olds had already received at least their first dose. As this school year wraps up, OCDPH is emphasizing with schools and families the importance of planning ahead for those who want to ensure their kids are vaccinated before school sports resume in August and classes in September. Two doses are needed at least three weeks apart, and another two weeks are needed after the last dose to be considered fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may now be administered without regard to timing. This means a student can receive a COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines on the same day, making it convenient to get the COVID-19 vaccine when kids may be due for other vaccinations during a visit to their healthcare provider. With masking and gathering restrictions being relaxed on June 1 and removed on July 1, the month in between is a good time to get vaccinated. Find COVID-19 vaccine locations.
"Vaccination allows us to go back to school, back to sports and our regular activities.” Watch Dr. Haney Assaad from North Ottawa Community Health system talk about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine for students.
Is it safe for my adolescent or teen to get the COVID-19 vaccine given the stories about myocarditis?
While a few cases of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, have been reported in teens after receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine, current data do not suggest that the rates are higher than would be expected in a non-vaccinated population. However, the CDC is continuing to look into this to make sure. READ MORE
MYTH: Researchers rushed the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, so its effectiveness and safety cannot be trusted.
FACT: Studies found that the two initial vaccines are both about 95% effective — and reported no serious or life-threatening side effects. There are many reasons why the COVID-19 vaccines could be developed so quickly.
Here are just a few:
- The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were created with a method that has been in development for years, so the companies could start the vaccine development process early in the pandemic.
- China isolated and shared genetic information about COVID-19 promptly, so scientists could start working on vaccines.
- The vaccine developers didn’t skip any testing steps, but conducted some of the steps on an overlapping schedule to gather data faster.
- Vaccine projects had plenty of resources, as governments invested in research and/or paid for vaccines in advance.
READ MORE
MYTH: If I’ve already had COVID-19, I don’t need a vaccine.
FACT: People who have gotten sick with COVID-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people may be advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before. READ MORE
#YourTurn
Did you get vaccinated or will you? Share your story and tell us why.
“I was vaccinated for my parents, my family and my community - for the health and safety of others. I recommend all people get the vaccine. Not only are you protecting yourself, but you are protecting your loved ones. The more people getting the vaccine the sooner we can end this pandemic." - Glorie
Glorie got vaccinated - #YourTurn
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.
Click to watch the latest and find more.
MIOSHA updates COVID-19 Emergency Rules
MIOSHA has updated other aspects of the emergency rules to reflect the May 14 order from MDHHS and guidance from the CDC. Those changes include:
- Employers may allow fully vaccinated employees to not wear face coverings and social distance provided they have a policy deemed effective to ensure non-vaccinated individuals continue to follow these requirements.
- The rules have been reformed focusing on performance, eliminating industry-specific requirements. Definitions have been updated to more clearly reflect changes in close contact and quarantining requirements for fully vaccinated employees.
- Cleaning requirements have been updated to reflect changes in CDC recommendations.
- Employers should continue to have and implement a written COVID-19 preparedness and response plan in accordance with the updated rules.
Read more
|
COVID-19 Vaccinations in Ottawa County
Click the image to open the MDHHS vaccine dashboard.
Coverage: 54.5% of all Ottawa County residents aged 12 years or older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of May 26, 2021. More vaccine data from MDHHS here.
COVID-19 Vaccines are Working!
Recent Ottawa County data show community transmission, case rates and test positivity are decreasing. View Data Hub
Click the image to enlarge. Source: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214_103272-547150--,00.html
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.
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 53% of all Michigan residents aged 12 years or older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of May 26, 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
Governor Whitmer Accelerates 'MI Vacc to Normal' Plan to Move Michigan Forward Towards Normalcy
The 'MI Vacc to Normal' Plan now features two steps to get the state back to normal by July 1, 2021
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced an updated ‘Vacc to Normal’ plan, which outlines steps Michiganders can take to emerge from this pandemic. As of June 1, capacity limits will lift for outdoor events. Additionally, indoor capacity limits will increase to 50%, allowing indoor social gatherings such as weddings and funerals to move closer to normalcy. As of July 1, the state will no longer limit capacity at indoor or outdoor gatherings.
READ MORE
MI Occupational Safety & Health Administration Updated Emergency Rules
On Monday, May 24, 2021, MIOSHA issued revised COVID-19 emergency rules for employers. They provided rules emphasizing employee safety. Among them:
- Allowing a return to in-person work for all employees.
- The employer must ensure that any employees, except fully vaccinated ones, remain at least six feet from one another to the maximum extent feasible while on worksite premises.
- The employer must require any employee, except fully vaccinated persons, to wear face coverings when employees cannot consistently maintain six feet of separation from other individuals indoors in the workplace. However, they stipulate that fully vaccinated individuals must continue to wear face coverings when in the healthcare setting where patients may be present.
- Compliance with these two sub rules for masks and distancing is the responsibility of the employer with several options that may include keeping records of whether employees are fully vaccinated persons.
- Quarantine is only required for unvaccinated close contacts of a COVID-19 case. This means fully vaccinated staff do not need to quarantine when a close contact to a COVID-19 case.
READ MORE
Click to enlarge and read more.
MDHHS Resources
Vaccine Information I MI Vaccine Locations I FAQs
COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States
Click for more data.
5/25/21: Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
Click to watch the latest briefing.
-
May 25, 2021
May 21, 2021
May 21, 2021
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
Alternative Languages: Arabic | Spanish | Korean | Russian | Simplified Chinese | Tagalog | Traditional Chinese | Vietnamese
Click to learn more from the CDC's COVID-19 Webinars and Partner Calls Videos
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.
|
