Gov. Whitmer signs executive directive expediting additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine to protect vulnerable residents | The County Press -…

LANSING Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday issued an executive directive to state departments and agencies to move as quickly as possible to administeran additional doseto vulnerable individuals in long-term care facilities within the state, andsheencourages all eligible Michiganders to get an additional dose to protect themselves. The directive comes after the Centers for Disease Controls Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices approved an additional doseof the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for people ages 12 and older who have compromised immune systems.

The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is working with local providers to make available toMichigan residents with compromised immune systems an additional doseof the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.Theadditionaldoseswill provide additional protectionsfor those with compromised immune systems who may not have had a robust immune response to the first two doses of vaccine.This will help protect against the delta variant and other variants.

Michigan has an ample supply of the COVID-19 vaccine to meet the demand.An additional dosewill be available for anyone who is eligible effectivetoday (Saturday, Aug. 14).

MDHHS is communicating guidance on the additional dose to vaccine providers. Health care providers will decide who is at-risk and eligible foran additional dose.This could include individuals who have received organ or stem cell transplants, have advanced or untreated HIV infection, or are in active treatment for cancer or taking high-dose corticosteroids.

Additional doses are available to eligible individuals who have received two doses of mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). The additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine should be received at a minimum interval of 28 days after completion of the two dose primary vaccination series.Anyone who has received Pfizer or Moderna previouslyshould attempt to receive an additionaldose of the same vaccine, but you may receive either type of vaccine if the one you previously received is not available.Booster doses are not currently recommended for the general population.

The CDC panel did not make a recommendation for an additional dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

MDHHS is communicating with long-term care facilities regarding third dose vaccines for residents. A plan to provide the additional doses for congregate settings that include long-term-care, skilled nursing and adult foster care facilities; Michigan state hospitals; and state prisons has been activated now that the recommendation has been issued.

The MDHHS on Friday issued updated recommendations for schools designed to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 within school buildings, reduce disruptions to in-person learning and help protect vulnerable individuals and individuals who are not fully vaccinated. Because many students have yet to be vaccinated and students under age 12 are not yet eligible, layered prevention measures, including universal masking, must be put in place for consistent in-person learning to keep kids, staff and families safe.

The guidance has been updated to reflect the most current recommendations by the CDC on masking and prevention strategies to help operate schools more safely. Mask use has been proven to substantially reduce transmission in school settings.

We are committed to ensuring Michigan students and educators are safe in the classroom, including those who may not yet be vaccinated, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS. MDHHS is issuing this guidance to help protect Michiganders of all ages. We continue to urge all eligible residents to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible as it is our best defense against the virus and the way we are going to end this pandemic.

MDHHS recommends that all schools adopt policies to:

Editors note: The Sunday, Aug. 15 edition of The County Press includes reporting on countywide COVID-19 cases, local school directives, mask (and vaccine) requirements for colleges and universities and what the State of Michigan has recommended businesses do to protect workers and their customers.

See the original post:

Gov. Whitmer signs executive directive expediting additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine to protect vulnerable residents | The County Press -...