Updates About COVID-19

On October 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorizations of the two bivalent COVID-19 vaccines authorizing their use in younger age groups. Children as young as five years are now eligible to receive the bivalent boosters two months following completion of any FDA-approved or authorized monovalent primary series or monovalent booster vaccination.

The primary series vaccine or initial booster dose previously administered does not impact the effectiveness of either bivalent booster. Additionally, the FDA has authorized the mix-and-match of COVID-19 boosters with the primary series vaccine.

In related news, on October 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued another 90-day public health emergency declaration. This will be the eleventh time since the first declaration in January 2020. The current extension ends on January 11, 2023. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number of new COVID-19 cases daily is more than 38,000, with 328 deaths daily.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is launching a Test to Treat program at thirteen locations across the state. These sites will offer no-cost COVID-19 testing and oral medications in an effort to reduce hospitalizations and support faster recoveries, as well as on-site telehealth services for those that are positive for COVID-19.

Specific criteria were used in selecting communities offering telehealth services. Communities with a High Social Vulnerability Index, a high percentage of people over the age of fifty having tested at the site, limited access to health care sites outside of emergency departments, and high testing rates were considered when identifying the neighborhood sites.

Michigan is the first state nationwide to implement this federal initiative at neighborhood testing sites. Locations can be found here.

On Tuesday, August 9, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced she tested positive for COVID-19 – the Governor’s first known infection. Whitmer is vaccinated and twice boosted. She reported mild symptoms.

Two days before the positive result, Whitmer attended a campaign rally in Benton Harbor where approximately 300 people were in attendance.