We’re so grateful to Lora and Amal, of LAM Style, for partnering with us to share their story. View their full blog post here.
2021 is already looking a little different than 2020, in a good way. With the COVID vaccine becoming more readily available nation wide, a light at the end of the tunnel is finally coming into view. Michigan restrictions are likely going to be lifted soon and for us to continue along this trajectory every eligible Michigan resident should sign up to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This is our best hope for ending this pandemic and reaching the end of this long dreadful tunnel. It is also fundamental to continue preventative measures such as wearing masks when appropriate, social distancing and hand washing to reduce the spread of COVID in our communities even as the vaccine is being administered. We have the power to stop the spread of COVID within our communities. We don’t
want to go back to a point where our economy and health systems are once again under the strain of uncontrolled spread!
There are many options and resources for those looking to get vaccinated. You can start with checking the website of your local health department or hospital to find out their process or for registration forms by clicking here. You can also check additional vaccination sites, such as local pharmacies like Meijer, RiteAid, Kroger, CVS, Walmart (Mid/Central and Northern MI), Snyder Drugs (U.P. residents), or the federal government’s vaccinefinder.org. To register for the West Michigan Vaccine Clinic at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids you can go to West Michigan Vaccine Clinic. To register for the Regional Community Vaccination Site at Ford Field in Detroit go to https://clinic.meijer.com/register/CL2021 or text EndCOVID to 75049. Residents who don’t have access to the internet or who need assistance navigating the vaccine scheduling process can call the COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 (press 1) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
As of March 15, 2021, three vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, have been authorized for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Additional vaccines are also being developed. The significant impact of COVID-19 has led to unprecedented, worldwide collaboration among scientists, medical doctors, health and government officials and manufacturers. For more than a decade, scientists have been studying messenger RNA (mRNA) technology for use in SARS-related vaccines. Building on this research, scientists were able to develop a COVID-19 vaccine which protects against the virus that causes COVID:SARS-CoV-2. Some people question the seemingly short period if time in which this vaccine was developed but past research on vaccines has identified potential successful approaches which has reduced the development time for a COVID-19 vaccine.
There’s a lot of misinformation going around in regard to the COVID vaccine and it is of utmost importance to make sure sources with vaccine information are both reliable and of proven medical scientific backing. Some good resources are ivaccinate.org , Michigan Department of Health & Human Services and the CDC. All COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and effective in preventing COVID-related hospitalization and death in thousands of clinical trial participants. Individuals who receive the vaccine may experience mild side effects such as low-grade fever, sore arm and fatigue…this is all expected and actually indicate that the vaccine is working. It is important to note that there is a robust state and national process for tracking vaccines and reporting side effects. VAERS, the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System is a surveillance system that monitors adverse events associated with vaccines. Furthermore, if you have questions about the vaccine, talk to your health care provider about the benefits and potential risks of getting the vaccine and your medical history.
To date, a vaccine has not yet been authorized for children under the age 12, but Pfizer-BioNTech has a vaccine that has received authorization for adolescents ages 12 to 15. A vaccine for younger populations is expected to be authorized for emergency use in the coming months.This provides the opportunity to further protect your child from COVID-19. The sooner all eligible Michiganders are vaccinated, the sooner we can get our state —and our kids’ lives —back to normal.
Stay safe!