With many older residents still unable to get appointments, health officials are wrestling with the ethical gray areas of vaccine distribution.
Michigan Health Watch
In-depth reporting on the intersection between public policy and important health topics ‒ such as insurance coverage, hospital admissions, opioid abuse, access to care, medical research and the business of health care ‒ that impact nearly every Michigan resident.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Facts are stubborn things for Whitmer, Michigan GOP when it comes to COVID
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says the state is No. 6 in vaccines. Republicans say Michigan is locked down. Neither is quite true, but both sides are finding the best data to suit their arguments.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan Dominican Sisters find ‘grace to carry forth’ as 9 die of COVID
The vaccine was too late for the Adrian Dominican Sisters who died this month. Yet Sister Patricia Siemen, an attorney, activist and now Prioress of the order, said COVID can teach us about tenderness and love.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan getting better at vaccine distribution. It’s still not good enough.
After a rocky launch, Michigan now ranks 20th among states in vaccine distribution. But frustration remains because some counties appear to do better than others and demand far outpaces supply.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Amid the isolation of COVID, Michigan Alzheimer’s deaths soar
For more than 10 months, the families of nursing home residents have coalesced around a two-word phrase: “Isolation kills.” The death counts in 2020 suggest they may be right.
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Michigan expert depressed by COVID vaccine myths, government rollout
Dr. Arnold Monto, the U-M expert who led the vetting of U.S. COVID vaccines, weighs in on whether the vaccines will stand up to new variants. But he is exasperated by fears that the COVID vaccines cause infertility.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
COVID variant spreads in Michigan. Gretchen Whitmer mum on ex-health chief.
New COVID variants make it more important to observe safety protocols. Meanwhile, Michigan is improving on distribution of vaccines, as more arrive over the weekend. But the governor still won’t explain the abrupt departure of MDHHS director Robert Gordon last week.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Teaching in person, surrounded by outbreaks, unable to get vaccinated
For so many teachers right now, trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine can feel like a distilled version of everything that’s been so stressful and challenging about the last 10 months: Nothing’s working the way it’s supposed to. No one seems to be able to figure out what’s going on. And you’re basically on your own.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Robert Gordon out as Michigan health director, as COVID cases plummet
The former Obama official had taken a larger role in fighting the coronavirus after Michigan courts struck down Gov. Whitmer’s power to issue executive orders. He will be succeeded by Elizabeth Hertel.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan: 90 percent need COVID vaccine for herd immunity. That’s unlikely.
A new, faster-moving variant worries health officials and means more people need to become immune to stop it. But the state’s history on vaccines plus a shortage of doses doesn’t bode well for meeting that goal anytime soon.