On Thursday, August 19, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Kent County and Ottawa County partnered together to provide an educational webinar for the community. Medical experts answered questions and concerns regarding masking, COVID-19, and school safety precautions.
To watch the recorded webinar click here.
On August 13th, 2021 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people who are immunocompromised. The additional dose is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Pfizer recipients ages 12 and older and Moderna recipients ages 18 and older.
According to the CDC, it is "recommended that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine."
Moderately to severely immunocompromised people includes those who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
An additional shot may help protect the vulnerable patient population, such as immunocompromised people, from the possibility of getting infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and its variants. The additional dose will give people with weakened immune systems more antibodies to fight off the virus. The vaccine is safe and effective and has been through rigorous testing and clinical trials for approval of the vaccines and the additional shot.
About 33% to 50% of immunocompromised patients developed an antibody response after receiving an additional dose.
Both the CDC and the FDA have not approved a booster shot for other fully vaccinated people or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients as of August 13th.
LEARN MORE
 Click here to register.
On August 20, 2021, Kent and Ottawa administrative health officers issued public health orders for their respective jurisdictions requiring masks be worn in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade educational settings. These Orders were issued to protect vulnerable individuals and those who are not yet vaccinated, to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in schools and the community, and to minimize interruptions to in-person learning.
The orders are issued pursuant to the Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.2451 and 333.2453, R. 325.175(4), and MCL 333.2226(d)) which authorizes public health officers to "take actions and make determinations necessary or appropriate to carry out the local health department's functions to protect the public health and prevent disease."
The Orders, which are identical but issued separately by jurisdiction, require the following:
- Educational institutions shall ensure that people in grades pre-kindergarten through six consistently and properly wear a facial covering (mask) while inside any closed building or structure.
- Educational institutions shall ensure that all persons, regardless of vaccination status, providing service to any persons in pre-kindergarten through grade six, properly and consistently wear a facial covering while inside any building or structure of the institution.
Exceptions to these orders include:
1. Persons in the act of eating or drinking
2. Persons under the age of four years; however, supervised masking is recommended for children who are at least two years of age.
3. Persons with developmental conditions of any age attending school for whom it has been demonstrated that the use of a face covering would inhibit the person's access to education. These are limited to persons with an Individualized Education Plan, Section 504 Plan, Individualized Healthcare Plan or equivalent.
4. Vaccinated teachers who are working with children who are hard of hearing or students with developmental conditions who benefit from facial cues.
5. Persons who have a medical reason confirmed in writing from a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) currently licensed to practice medicine in the State of Michigan.
While this order only pertains to mask use relative to the younger students and service providers, the Kent and Ottawa County health departments strongly recommend school administrators, teachers, parents closely adhere to the full guidelines from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local health departments.
Public health officials will continue to monitor the situation and will respond accordingly to best protect their communities.
Click here to find the full news release.
Kent County Public Health Order | More COVID-19 Info from Kent Co
Ottawa County Public Health Order | More COVID-19 Info from Ottawa Co
Vaccines: Vaccinatewestmi.com
Ottawa County's Interim COVID-19 School Guidance for the 2021-2022 School Year has been updated as of August 20, 2021.
This document provides COVID-19 prevention strategies for K-12 schools for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. OCDPH's goal is to return as many students as possible to in-person learning while prioritizing the health and safety needs of the school population and greater community.
The Interim COVID-19 School Guidance can be found here.
 The Administrative Health Officers of two local county health departments have partnered to issue ‘Public Health Orders’ addressing COVID-19 prevention in educational settings. The orders, which are identical for both counties but issued separately by jurisdiction, detail the requirements for isolation, quarantine and reporting for all educational institutions in Kent and Ottawa Counties. The order is effective August 6 expiring when rescinded by the respective health department.
The public health orders, based upon the most recent facts about the virus, protect vulnerable individuals and people who are not yet vaccinated, reduce transmission of COVID-19 in schools and minimize interruptions to in-person learning.
Highlights of the orders include:
- All persons identified as confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases must isolate for at least 10 days as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Household close contacts of confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases are required to quarantine as described by the CDC.
- All persons in an educational setting in close contact with a COVID-19 case involved in an outbreak are required to quarantine as described by the CDC.
The orders also require schools to outline and publish the school’s COVID-19 Prevention Strategy for the 2021-2022 school year. Schools must also notify the school community and their respective public health departments of any subsequent changes to the school’s prevention strategy.
The health departments also strongly recommend that schools follow the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services guidance for schools as well as the CDC guidelines that can be found here.
Public health officials will continue to monitor the situation and will respond accordingly to best protect their communities.
Click here to find the news release.
Spanish News Release
Kent County Public Health Order | More COVID-19 Info from Kent Co
Ottawa County Public Health Order | More COVID-19 Info from Ottawa Co
Vaccines: Vaccinatewestmi.com
As of August 10, about 6,200 or 38% of the 12-15-year-olds in Ottawa County received their first Pfizer dose. About 7,913, or 40% of Ottawa County's 16-19-year-olds had already received at least their first dose. As the start of the school year approaches, OCDPH is reminding schools and families of the importance of planning ahead for those who want to ensure their kids are vaccinated before classes start 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.
Find COVID-19 vaccine locations.
Ottawa County publishes recent COVID-19 data relating to community transmission, case rates and test positivity. The data hub is updated three times a week - every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon. View Data Hub
Ottawa County Case Rates
As of August 18th, 41 new cases of COVID-19 were reported each day on average over the previous 7 days.
Since, February 25, 2021, several variants of concern have been reported in Ottawa County. Of the 492 total confirmed variant cases reported in Ottawa County, 430 (87.4%) were the Alpha variant, 30 (6.1%) were Delta, 18 (3.7%) were Epsilon, and 14 (2.9%) were the Gamma variant (percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding). However, similar to statewide and national trends with the evolving variants, the Delta variant appears to be the most predominant variant in Ottawa County at this time, making up 90% of the variant cases reported July 1, 2021 to date.
Please note that whole genome sequencing for the SARS-CoV-2 is not as widely available like diagnostic tests, therefore only a subset of COVID-19 cases are further sequenced for variants.
Anyone who is eligible should get vaccinated. Non-pharmaceutical intervention strategies such as distancing, hand-washing, ventilation, proper and consistent masking are still effective in preventing disease transmission.
Delta Variant
The delta variant is a natural mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19. The delta variant is more contagious and can spread faster than the original COVID-19 virus. The delta is more dangerous and accounts for the growing proportion of reported COVID-19 cases across the U.S.
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 Coverage: 61.3% of all Ottawa County residents aged 12 years or older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of August 19, 2021. More vaccine data from MDHHS can be found here.
Ottawa County COVID-19 Data Hub
  Coverage: 59.5 % of all Michigan residents aged 12 years or older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of August 19th, 2021. More Vaccine Data from MDHHS can be found 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
Interim Public Health Recommendations For Fully Vaccinated People
Summary of Changes as of July 27, 2021:
- Updated information for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States.
- Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission.
- Added information that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease or not fully vaccinated.
- Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people who have come into close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to be tested 3-5 days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
- CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.
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Due to a surge in reported cases of the COVID-19 delta variant, the CDC revised their guidance as of July 27th, 2021. The guidance recommended that in communities with high COVID-19 transmission rates, everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor settings to help prevent the spread of Delta and protect others.
- Vaccination is the best path to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The CDC bases its recommendations on the latest data. New data = new guidance.
- The vaccines work. New data are showing that a small number of vaccinated people can get delta and may be contagious, but these cases represent a very small amount of transmission occurring around the country.
Read to the updated Tough Q&A to answer some of your questions.
You may have some temporary 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.
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Are the COVID-19 vaccines effective against the delta variant?
Data show that the COVID-19 vaccines have been effective in protecting fully vaccinated people from catching and spreading the original SAR-CoV-2 virus. But it is critical that people are fully vaccinated to be protected.
Research suggests that COVID-19 vaccines are slightly less effective against infection from the delta variant. However, vaccines are still encouraged and they still appear to provide very good protection against severe COVID-19.
- Early research from the U.K. suggests that, after full vaccination, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 88% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 virus caused by the delta variant. The vaccine is 96% effective at preventing severe disease with the COVID-19 virus caused by the delta variant. The research also showed that the vaccine is 93% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 virus caused by the alpha variant.
- Early research from Canada suggests that, after one dose, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is 72% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 virus caused by the delta variant. One dose of the vaccine is also 96% effective at preventing severe disease with the COVID-19 virus caused by the delta variant.
- The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is 85% effective at preventing severe disease with the COVID-19 virus caused by the delta variant, according to data released by Johnson & Johnson.
More about COVID-19 variants and vaccines
A small number of vaccinated people can be infected by the delta variant and may be contagious, but these cases represent a very small amount of transmission occurring around the country. The best way to reduce the spread of the delta variant in schools and communities is for all eligible adolescents and adults to get vaccinated, while following COVID-19 prevention and mitigation strategies informed by local trends.
LEARN MORE
 Click here to watch this video for more information about the variants.
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
The OCDPH is 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.
 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.
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
MDHHS Resources
Vaccine Information I MI Vaccine Locations I FAQs
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.
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