Featured photo: Kathy Wolfe, RN, administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Jowanne Carrigan. Photo by L. M. Land
Written by L. M. Land
On August 11, 2023, Courier staff Jowanne Carrigan and L. M. Land went to Hasselbring Senior Center to update our COVID shots.
We were warmly greeted by four women from the Michigan United Coalition, who administered our vaccines. Dr. Latressa Gordon, public health nursing & navigator program director, shared with us what is happening with COVID lately.
“EG.5, a new variant of COVID, is causing 70% of new cases,” Gordon explained. “There is also a slight spike up nationally of 12% increase of hospitalizations.”
COVID numbers are higher than those reported due to home testing, and most states are showing a slight decrease in reported cases. Yet Louisiana has a 34% increase in COVID cases in the last 14 days. Healthcare workers are worried that trend will cover the nation again if people do not get boosters.
We asked Gordon the most important reasons to be immunized for COVID, which are:
- Decreases the risk of getting COVID
- Decreases your risk of hospitalization
- Decreases your risk of a severe illness or death
- Decreases your risk of Long COVID
This virus keeps evolving like other viruses do. The new EG.5 strain is a subgroup of variants designated as EG.5.1, which has been nicknamed “Eris.” EG.5 is one of the fastest-growing subvariants across the globe, quickly causing more infections in comparison to other variants and subvariants. Is this a more infectious mutation? Time will tell. EG.5 is a descendent of XBB strain that was a descendent itself of Omicron.
The symptoms of EG.5 are the same as other variants. Blood tests must be done to tell which variant you have.
An updated vaccine will be out in September 2023, which includes all XBB subvariants. This may become the norm, just like every year a new flu vaccine is created carrying the current strains in circulation.
The Michigan United Healthcare team was formed mid-pandemic in response to the COVID-19 crisis. As they were taking COVID awareness and education into communities, Gordon explained “We found out there was a need for more than just COVID education. We had our hands and boots on the ground, checking high blood pressures, teaching people how to take their blood pressure and providing cuffs.”
There were many other health issues they found and addressed as well. Some are concerns that measles is back and spreading, poor air quality (they hand out N95 masks), and about EpiPen® savings cards (https://www.epipen.com/hcp/about-epipen-and-generic/help-your-patients-save).
Battle added that they had to educate and “backtrack, to get people into their best health, which increases immunity.” Being honest and transparent in education is important to the Michigan United Coalition, and they deliberately create safe spaces for education to take place.
The Michigan United Coalition partners with agencies or any others who want COVID vaccine administration, or other health education services. Currently, they partner with Clio Pharmacy, Hamilton Community Health Network, Genesee Health Services, Hurley Medical Center, Greater Flint Coalition, Genesee Community Health Center and others.
To learn more about the wider range of services provided by The Michigan United Coalition, see https://www.miunited.org/.
If you are interested in a partnership with Michigan United, contact Dr. Latressa Gordon, public health nursing & navigator program director at lgordon@miunited.org
Michigan United is a coalition of labor, business, social service and civil rights members all across Michigan, fighting for the rights of homeowners, renters, immigrant families and students. Michigan United is a 501c(3). Donations are tax-deductible. Call Michigan United at: 1-877-507-7774.
Sources: https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a44775091/eris-eg-5-new-covid-variant/
https://www.prevention.com/health/a42637259/fda-covid-vaccine-annual-shot/
https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/updated-covid-19-vaccines-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2023
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html
Michigan United partners with other agencies in the community to do a lot more for health than giving COVID vaccines. Shown l to r: Tonya Battle, Lead Nurse navigator; Dr. Latressa Gordon, Public Health Nursing & Navigator Program Director, Tiara Murray, Public Health Navigator and Kathy Wolfe, RN. Photo by L. M. Land
