Michigan doesn’t plan a vaccine mandate, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s chief medical executive, as she joined the mother of a dead child and others to call on Michiganders to think of others when it comes to safety practices and vaccines.
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
Protesters gather at Michigan Capitol to protest COVID vaccine mandates
As pressure increases on businesses, schools and universities and governments to take stronger action, Friday’s crowd in Lansing said vaccine mandates go too far.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
CDC raises Michigan COVID risk level: Why it matters, and why it may not
Cases remain low compared to pandemic peaks, but their uptick has returned many counties to higher risk levels and placed most Michigan residents under indoor masking recommendations and an eviction moratorium.
Posted inTalent & Education
Gov. Whitmer urges Michigan schools to mask up, stops short of mandate
Decisions on whether masks will be required in classrooms this fall will be left up to local districts, despite CDC and state pleas for them to mask up.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Vaccine mandates increase among Michigan employers. What you need to know.
Yes, they can ask. They can even require shots. You can refuse. But don’t be surprised if you’re fired.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Youngsters key to Michigan herd immunity. But less than half have had shots
Vaccine manufacturers expand trials for those younger than 12, but overall vaccine rates are slow for adults, and worse for teens. Now, a new poll shows 1 in 2 parents of young children won’t vaccinate them.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
CDC recommends masks in 11 Michigan counties. Most have low inoculation rates
Most of Michigan has been spared the COVID surge sweeping nation. The counties deemed to have high or significant rates also tend to lag in vaccinations.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
CDC recommends indoor mask use. But don’t expect mandates in Michigan
As COVID rates increase, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s time again to wear masks in areas with high transmission rates. Any orders likely would come from employers, though, not government.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
After limiting Whitmer powers, Unlock Michigan now targets local health orders
An advocacy group will soon begin collecting signatures to limit health emergencies to 28 days, then require lawmakers to sign off on orders. Health officials say that’s reckless.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Some caution over rising Michigan COVID cases and positive tests
More than 400 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the past couple days, raising some worry that the Delta variant may be finding its footing in Michigan. Positive test results are also up, but hospitalizations remain low.