Health and Wellness

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is now offering booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children ages 5-11 years who have completed their primary series at least 5 months ago. Pfizer-BioNTech is the only COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized for those ages. COVID-19 booster doses may be given at the same time as other vaccines. Health officer Rebecca Burns said vaccination …

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the first influenza-related child death in Michigan for the 2021-2022 flu season, the agency announced. The reported death involves a child from Kalamazoo County who contracted flu strain known as A/H3, the agency said Friday. It did not reveal the age of the child. A/H3 was first identified in U.S. …

Michigan insurers that require health providers to get pre-approval to cover treatment would have to promptly respond to doctors’ requests or those requests would be automatically granted under a bill headed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her expected signature. The legislation received final, unanimous Senate approval on Thursday. Advocates said the measure would speed delays in care and provide more transparency around …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is reporting that on Feb. 25, the CDC updated guidance for the general population regarding wearing masks indoors, as well as the requirement for facemasks on school buses and vans. These changes come as a result of the drop in COVID-19 cases in the country. Masks are no longer required on buses or vans …

On February 25th the CDC updated their guidance for the general population regarding wearing masks indoors, as well as the requirement for face masks on school buses and vans.  These changes come as a result of the drop in COVID-19 cases in the country and moves us towards a system that asks the individual to assess risk and determine the …

Masks are mandatory in a southwestern Michigan school district after officials set the policy in an unusual way: They took a vote of the people. Parents, guardians and staff in the Pennfield district voted for masks, starting Monday and lasting through Feb. 18. There were 1,041 votes, and about 58% were in favor. Masks to reduce the risk of COVID-19 …

Michigan’s record high COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations could peak in late January or early February before beginning to drop, state health officials said Tuesday, while urging residents to help control the height of the crest. “We have a choice to make: Do we want to work on bringing that peak down or do we just want to let this omicron …

Michigan hospitals reported a record number of COVID-19 patients Monday, surpassing the peak from nearly a month ago before the state’s daily already-high infection counts surged to new heights due to the more contagious omicron variant. Roughly 4,900 people were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of the virus, including 4,580 adults with a positive test. The previous pandemic high …

Michigan has received an initial, small federal shipment of COVID-19 pills that can be taken at home, state health officials announced Friday. The arrival of the newly authorized oral medications comes as the state confronts record high coronavirus cases and near-peak hospitalizations amid a surge fueled by the omicron variant. The pills cleared federal approvals over two weeks ago and can only be …

Michigan’s health and education departments on Thursday urged schools to postpone or make virtual large gatherings, including sporting events, if they are not “essential” — as COVID-19 cases spike across the state. The recommendation, intended to keep schools open when classes resume after the winter break next week, was included in a letter to K-12 superintendents and charter school directors. Large events …