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.
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
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.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan doctors found a huge spike in eating disorders during COVID
At Michigan Medicine, hospitalizations of young people, nearly all female, more than doubled. Possible links to the pandemic were also noted at Beaumont Health in metro Detroit and at a children’s hospital in Grand Rapids.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Feds won’t probe Michigan nursing home COVID policy, despite initial query
Democrats, Republicans accuse the other of playing politics after President Joe Biden’s administration declines to investigate Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s rules.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Up to 400K COVID vaccines set to expire in Michigan. Few want them.
Just months ago, Michiganders clamored for vaccines, frustrated at waiting lists and line-cutters in a bid to secure precious shots. Now, health officials worry they will go to waste.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan flood waters, heat may have spiked Legionnaires’ disease
Health officials note an uptick in cases over two weeks, and are searching for a common source.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Latest effort to reform Michigan’s mental-health system finds critics
Two GOP lawmakers say their plans cut bureaucracy and save millions of dollars. Some worry, though, that any reform that shifts care to the private sector or distant agencies will compromise vulnerable patients.