Residents in Michigan long-term care facilities will be among the first to receive COVID-19 booster shots after the state’s top lawmaker pledged to fast-track additional doses for the population once ready.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) issued an executive order Friday directing state departments and agencies to “move as quickly as possible” to administer booster shots to those in long-term care facilities and correctional facilities. Earlier this month, the Healthcare Association of Michigan stressed that the state must prioritize long-term care facilities for future pandemic-related policies in order to help curb future outbreaks.
The move came after the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were amended to allow additional shots for people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems.
Approximately 3% of Americans fit that description, including individuals with solid organ transplants or who have an equivalent level of weakened immune response, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“When vaccines first became available, we ensured that 100% of residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities had first dibs at the safe and effective vaccines,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Now, it’s important that we continue to prioritize these Michiganders by rushing an additional dose to those who need it the most.”
Some experts have been skeptical about the need for COVID-19 boosters for long-term care residents, and that more data is needed before moving forward.
The executive order calls on state health officials to ensure the third dose of either vaccine is available to all eligible nursing home residents. Agency officials must also encourage providers to minimize barriers that would prevent residents from accessing a third dose.
