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This April, Flint area residents have multiple ways to get vaccines and boosters

A person's arm with a bandaid, holding a heart that says "booster"

This story appeared on the Flint Courier News. Read more here

Spring is the most pleasurable time of year for many people, and it should be enjoyed.

Still, COVID-19 should not be taken lightly while we do so. Some coronaviruses cause the common cold. But COVID-19 can still be deadly!

COVID (or COVID-19) is a severe viral disease that can affect the lungs as well as the vascular (or blood vessel) system. It also affects other organs such as the heart, kidneys , liver and pancreas.

Risks of getting seriously ill, being hospitalized and dying are greatly reduced when the COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are administered.

Cases of adverse events occurring after vaccination are rare, and side effects typically go away in a few days.

Besides the risk of death, other severe complications from COVID can include:

  • pneumonia
  • injury to organs
  • Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
  • septic shock
  • blood clots
  • and chronic fatigue

So, the CDC continues to recommend people of all ages stay up to date with the COVID-19 vaccines for their age group.

According to the CDC, a person is considered up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines when they have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and the most recent booster dose recommended by them.

(Those who have completed their primary series but are not yet eligible for a booster are also considered up to date. In addition, those who become ill with COVID-19 after they received all COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended are also considered up to date and do not need to be revaccinated or receive an additional booster.)

Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) point out the updated boosters are called “updated” because they protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5.

Updated COVID-19 boosters are available from Pfizer or Moderna.

Updated COVID-19 boosters became available on: September 2, 2022, for people aged 12 years and older; October 12, 2022, for people aged 5–11 years old; December 9, 2022, for children aged 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine primary series and March 17, 2023, for children aged 6 months–4 years who completed their 3-dose primary series with the original Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Walk-in COVID-19 clinics are available for those wishing to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Information is listed below on when and where Flint area residents can walk into an upcoming Genesee Health Department (GCHD) clinic this month to help protect their health.

12-4 p.m. April 18, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, located at 2316 Coldwater Rd., in Flint.

3-5 p.m. April 6 and 20, at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church of Flint, located at 2120 Saginaw St., in Flint.

10 a.m.-12 p.m., April 12 and 26, at Flint Central Church of the Nazarene, located at 1261 Bristol Road.

First, second and booster shots are available at these clinics.

Alternatively, to schedule an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine through the health department, call 810-237-4569.

This spring is a great time to live life to the fullest. When you do, make sure your health is protected.

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I Vaccinate provides information and tools based on real medical science and research to help Michigan parents protect their kids. Support is provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Franny Strong Foundation.

You’ve got questions. That’s a good thing.

As parents, determining how best to protect our children can be overwhelming and confusing. We’re here to help.

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