State hits 10 percent marker for youth vaccinations during latest wave of COVID-19 cases

GRAND RAPIDS — More than 10 percent of children aged 5-11 in the state have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday.  

The age group, which represents around 870,000 people in Michigan, is the latest demographic to be added to the state's vaccine-eligible population. A panel at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Nov. 2 that the age group be made eligible for a lower dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Over 70 percent of Michiganders 16-and-older have received at least one vaccine dose, an early goal set by state health leaders.  

Accounting for the total vaccine eligible population, however, around 60 percent of Michiganders have received their first dose. MDHHS officials are calling on parents to get eligible children vaccinated before the holidays begin to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

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"We know these vaccines work and protect our children and their families,” Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian said in a statement.  “Even healthy children can suffer serious affects from COVID-19. Being able to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 with the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as we go into the holidays can help protect family members and friends of all ages as we gather to celebrate.” 

Michigan is currently experiencing another rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, largely driven by the delta variant.  

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CDC data shows Michigan currently averaging 616 daily new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents. Under CDC metrics, Michigan is currently under the highest risk category for COVID-19 transmission.  

CDC data also shows Michigan currently averaging the most new cases per 100,000 residents in the U.S. 

Michigan is also facing rising hospitalizations throughout the state. Per a Monday, Nov. 22, report from MDHHS, there are currently 3,699 adults hospitalized who are confirmed to have COVID-19 in Michigan. There are also 42 confirmed pediatric hospitalizations, per MDHHS. 

Health officials at the state and local level are encouraging residents to take COVID-19 safety precautions, including getting vaccinated, receiving a booster dose of COVID-19 if it’s been six months since your second vaccine dose, wearing masks during indoor gatherings, frequently washing hands, social distancing and staying home if you’re sick. 

— Contact Arpan Lobo at alobo@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo.