Up to 10,000 older Americans die per year from the RSV virus, which made the approval of the first vaccine a breakthrough. But a new U-M survey shows many either don’t know or don’t care about the vaccine.
Robin Erb
Robin Erb covers a range of health issues in Michigan, including the industry of aging and the issues facing older residents in Michigan, a state that is aging faster than most others. She joined Bridge in 2019 and has led investigations that tracked millions of dollars in opioid settlement money and explored severe worker shortages in health care that threaten lives and the state's economy. She chronicled the shock and grief of Michigan families in COVID’s wake, as well as state policy decisions and the triumphs of medical breakthroughs. Robin previously spent six years covering health at the Detroit Free Press, documenting the battle over, and the eventual passage of, the Affordable Care Act and Michigan's Medicaid expansion. She studied communications and political science at Miami University and has a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Lourdes University (Toledo, Ohio). She and her husband raised two wonderful children — but have failed miserably at training their Beagle-Bassets — in southeast Michigan. Reach her at rerb@bridgemi.com.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
New COVID variant confirmed in Michigan. What to know about BA.2.86
A Washtenaw County resident is the first in Michigan with a confirmed case of BA.2.86, a variant that worries doctors because of mutations that possibly could make it resistant to existing vaccines.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Will raffles, pig roasts and same-day pay ease the health worker shortage?
A critical shortage of Michigan workers is forcing health care employers to rethink recruitment and retention, moving beyond paychecks to consider the benefits different workers value most.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan kindergarten vaccinations plunge. What’s the rate in your school?
The number of children attending school in buildings with vaccination rates less than 90 percent has doubled since 2015. Check out the rate of elementary schools statewide.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Despite court ruling, abortion drug in Michigan remains accessible for now
A federal appeals court upheld a lower court decision that places limits on the prescription of mifepristone, the so-called abortion drug. But those restrictions remain on hold as the case heads to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan back-to-school COVID, flu vaccine requirements, and RSV too
A flurry of news about vaccines and boosters adds to family to-do lists as schools prepare to reopen for a new year. Bridge turned to four medical experts to help parents (and college students) sort through it.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan ambulance workers still in short supply despite state grants
It’s a high-stress job with middling pay. With other jobs aplenty, ambulance services are struggling to find, train and hire paramedics and EMTs, with the gap expected to grow this decade.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Nearly 23K Michiganders have lost Medicaid, another 123,000 remain at risk
States must reassess eligibility for everyone on Medicaid — more than 3 million people in Michigan, alone. Two months into the state’s year-long process, state health leaders still struggle to get word out to fill out paperwork.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Report: Michigan is older and sicker, and that spells trouble for future
Two Michigan research nonprofits have compiled an updated health measurement for the state, and it’s grim. Michigan has fallen to 39th of 50 states in overall health, but policy changes can make a difference.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan’s new anti-poverty effort: $7,500 for Flint moms, no strings attached
The state is experimenting with guaranteed income, investing $16.5M in a program launched by a foundation. Studies say such programs can lift people out of poverty, but others question state expense.