|
Note from Erika Positive COVID-19 cases are still on the rise in Michigan and across the country. The Omicron BA.5 variant spreads quickly and can even infect those who have recently contracted COVID or have “natural immunity”. This is a reminder to wear your mask in public settings, wash your hands, and get vaccinated or boosted as soon as possible. Please see below for more information on how to get a vaccine or booster. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office by email at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at 517-373-7800. |
|
Erika Geiss
In This Edition
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE The battle for bodily autonomy and the right for people to make their own health care decisions continues. Recently, there have been efforts from the Republican Majority in the Michigan Legislature to protect the outdated and extreme 1931 abortion ban and allow county prosecutors in Michigan to go after health professionals that perform abortion services. However, Gov. Whitmer acted quickly and issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent county-level decisions on abortion access. Abortion remains protected in Michigan. It means people can still access the important and necessary health care they need. The courts ping-pong with abortion access, however, shows how imperative it is that we make sure reproductive health care for all is protected. Click here to read more about this ongoing battle.
COVID VACCINE UPDATE Children aged six months and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines and parents/guardians can begin making appointments today. For children aged six months to five years, the Pfizer-BioNTech is delivered in a series of three doses, whereas the Moderna vaccine is delivered in a series of two doses. More information on COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites is available on the Wayne County website*. The following people meet the criteria for eligibility for a second booster of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines:
You received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for both your primary dose and booster. Children aged 5-11 are eligible for a single booster if they received their second Pfizer-BioNtech vaccination shot at least five months ago. If you have not already received your primary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or booster, now is the time to do so. Information on vaccines, vaccine boosters, and testing locations are available on the Wayne County website. With both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revising guidelines for masking, getting vaccinated and boosted now is more critical than ever to help protect ourselves and our communities — especially for those among us who are immunocompromised or otherwise cannot take the vaccine. *The Wayne County Health Department handles the 42 Wayne County communities outside of Detroit, which has its own separate health department.
COVID EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE The Wayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program is still open for applications at Wayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) | Economic Development if you have not already applied for CERA and need rental assistance. Please be aware that you cannot receive assistance from both CERA and Wayne County’s program for the same time period. In
UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE Senate Bill 445, signed into law by Governor Whitmer, now turns off the “able and available” requirement for federal unemployment claims filed during the pandemic. Part-time workers who could not work full-time will not have to pay back the benefits they received and/or may be eligible to claim benefits they were denied. To know if your claim was affected by this “able and available” requirement, your Notice of Determination, or Notice of Redetermination will list the “Issue” as either “Ability” or “Availability”. It will look similar to the one below:
|
|
If your claim was denied, you had your benefits halted, or your eligibility was re-determined because of the “able and available” requirement, please fill out the issue form on our website and our office will assist you. As always, if you or someone you know who lives in Senate District 6 is having trouble receiving their Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), please fill out this unemployment assistance form and our office will reach out to assist you with your issue as soon as possible. You can also visit the Michigan LEO (Labor and Economic Opportunity) FAQs page for answers to questions you may have regarding eligibility for unemployment or for issues you may have with your current claim. |
|
COMMUNITY UPDATE There was a recent contamination in the Huron River from Wixom auto supplier. The containment is hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen that can cause adverse health effects through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation. The Department of Health and Human Services is advising people to avoid contact with the water between North Wixom Road in Oakland County and Kensington Road in Livingston County. For more information and risk factors, visit the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy website. |
|
As an elected representative, I believe in being readily available and transparent because my office is your office. To be removed from list, please respond to email.
|