Michigan has moved forward aggressively with vaccine rollout, with over 4.96 million Mighiganders fully vaccinated. This rate of vaccination has allowed the state to make great progress in reducing cases and hospitalizations, but important work remains. As we continue the effort to vaccinate all Michiganders medically able to receive the shots, covid and its variants continue to infect people across the globe. The Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, poses a grave new threat in North America. Evidence states getting infected with the Delta variant makes you twice as likely to end up in the hospital. People most at risk for this variant include those who are unvaccinated, over 50, and those who have only had one dose of vaccine.
If you still find yourself on the fence about the vaccine, let us reiterate what health officials nationwide say: the vaccine is safe, was created with the same processes that have been used to create vaccines for decades, and it is an essential tool to keep you and your community safe. Further, since kids under 12 can’t get the vaccine, we adults need to protect them. And variants like delta are far more likely to develop in areas with lower vaccination rates.
Fortunately, if you haven’t gotten fully vaccinated, you have more opportunities than ever to do so. The benefits make it worthwhile -- your employer may offer compensation, restaurants and businesses may offer discounts, and Oakland County residents can even receive a $50 gift card for getting the vaccine!
If you live in Oakland County, follow this link to find locations where you can get your shot. Wayne County residents click here. Many places offer walk-ins or same-day appointments. Providers such as CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid and Meijer also offer vaccines. Health officials have made it incredibly convenient to get the vaccine so that you can protect yourself, your family and our community.
Once you have your appointment set up, here’s how you can further prepare on the day of vaccination: Eat and drink as you would normally, wear clothing that has easy access to your upper arm, and make sure you have confirmation of your appointment if you scheduled it in advance. After the vaccine, you may experience side effects like soreness, tiredness, headache, and nausea, but these are short-lived and significantly better than actually catching covid!
While we’ve made great progress in the battle against covid-19, we still have a ways to go. Detroit has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the state. The virus still harms people who haven’t gotten the shot, as the majority of people hospitalized with covid this year are unvaccinated.
Do your part today. Get vaccinated so we can all get through this together!