Do you still need a COVID-19 vaccine? What Michigan officials say

The2023-2024COVID-19vaccinesignificantlyreducedERandurgentcarevisitsforchildren.AnewCOVID-19variant,NB.1.8.1,isspreadingintheU.S.MichiganhealthofficialssaynearlyeveryoneshouldgetgetupdatedCOVID-19vaccines,despitefederalofficialssayingthatmaynotbethecase. TheMichiganDepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesthisweekrecommendedtheCOVID-19vaccineduringpregnancy,andforeveryperson6monthsandolder.U.S.HealthandHumanServices(HHS)SecretaryRobertF.KennedyJr.issuedguidancechangingfederalCOVID-19 vaccinerecommendationstoexcludepregnantwomenandchildren. Thedecisiontorecommendvaccines,theMichigandepartmentsays,isinalignmentwiththe AmericanAcademyofPediatrics andthe AmericanCollegeofObstetricians andGynecologists. HealthofficialssaythevaccineissafeforpregnantwomenandinfantsafterbirthandcanreducetheriskofCOVID-19relatedhospitalizationforinfantsbymorethanhalfduringthefirstthreemonthsoflife. “ThereisstrongevidencethatsupportsCOVID-19vaccinatio