Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County Health Division has begun administering third doses of COVID-19 vaccine to immunocompromised residents at its North Oakland Health Center in Pontiac and South Oakland Health Center in Southfield. In addition, the Health Division will host third dose clinics in Novi, Pontiac, Rochester, and Southfield next week. An appointment is recommended but walk-ups are welcome.

“If you are moderately to severely immunocompromised due to a medical condition or you are on immunosuppressive medications or treatments, you may receive a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days after your second dose,” Oakland County Health Division Medical Director Dr. Russell Faust said. “The additional vaccine dose should be the same as the first two doses you received, but you do not have to visit the same provider. Individuals should not receive more than three vaccine doses.”

Those who should consider a third dose include those who have:

• Received an organ or stem cell transplant
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

People with chronic health conditions should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition to determine if getting an additional dose is appropriate.

Federal health officials announced today that anyone who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines will be able to get a booster eight months after their second dose. The Health Division is developing plans to roll out the booster to Oakland County residents beginning late September or early October contingent upon guidance from the CDC. The county will release further details in the coming weeks.

Oakland County Health Division will release its guidance for Oakland County schools to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 in the classroom and at school-related activities this week. The goal is to keep kids in school for in person learning. The guidance will recognize that each school district may not be able to implement every prevention strategy. The Health Division will strongly encourage all students, teachers and staff wear masks, physical distancing, and hand washing as among the key strategies to reduce Covid-19 transmission in schools. These strategies may also reduce disruption of in person learning by eliminating close contact exposures resulting in quarantine.

“Each school district in Oakland County has its own unique set of circumstances, student and staff demographics, and environmental conditions. We’re not expecting schools to integrate every single mitigation strategy in our guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but to implement the ones they can,” Oakland County Health and Human Services Director Leigh-Anne Stafford said. “We also are reminding parents that they are the first line of defense when it comes to preventing the spread of the virus. So, please have your children wear masks regardless of vaccine status and keep them home if they have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19.”

The Health Division’s guidance to schools will affirm the best practices and recommendations of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC. The document will reflect previous guidance issued when classes resumed in the spring with a few adjustments for the coming school year.

Of the 1,960 new COVID-19 cases in Oakland County from July 28-August 10, 17 percent were 18 years old or younger and 23 percent were 19-29 years old. The data underscore the importance of mitigating the spread of the virus among school-age and college-age students. Oakland County’s seven-day case average stands at 164 cases per day or 1,148 new cases per week as of August 17. Over 53,000 Oakland County residents 12-19 years old remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 while nearly 69,000 residents 20-29 years old have not received a COVID-19 immunization.

The Oakland County Health Division is holding daily vaccine clinics from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at both its North Oakland Health Center in Pontiac and South Oakland Health Center in Southfield in addition to pop-up clinics in the community. Click on OaklandCountyVaccine.com to locate the nearest Health Division vaccine clinic. Those who do not have access to the Internet may call the Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. for more information.

The following is an update on progress vaccinating Oakland County residents, according to the State of Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard as of August 13, 2021:

Total eligible residents 16 and older: 1,029,737

• Number of residents 16 and older who have received first dose: 737,236
• Number of residents 16 and older who have completed vaccination: 683,683
• Vaccine coverage for residents 16 and older: 71.6 percent

Total eligible residents 12 and older: 1,091,389

• Number of residents 12 and older who have received first dose: 768,061
• Number of residents 12 years and older who have completed vaccination: 709,986
• Vaccine coverage for residents 12 and older: 70.4 percent

Total eligible senior residents 65 and older: 217,676

• Number of senior residents who have received first dose: 186,192
• Number of senior residents who have completed vaccination: 178,022
• Vaccine coverage for senior residents: 85.5 percent

Total doses distributed within Oakland County: 1,429,045

• Total doses administered within Oakland County: 1,425,413
• Percentage of doses administered within Oakland County: 99.7%