Michigan health officials urge fall COVID-19 vaccines: Where to find shots, free tests

More than four years after the first cases of COVID-19 were identified, the coronavirus continues to spread globally. Though the rate of severe disease and deaths from the virus aren't as high now in the U.S. as they were initially or in subsequent waves, coronavirus still causes infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, said the coronavirus “is not going anywhere."

“We are expecting it to, as time goes on, become more of a seasonal virus, … the same way that flu and RSV sort of have that seasonality," said Bagdasarian. "The benefit of getting a COVID vaccine in the fall is because even if you have prior immunity, even if you've received a vaccine in the past, or had COVID-19 in the past, it is boosting your immunity. It is allowing for greater protection during the months where we expect to see the … highest rates of COVID-19.

“We have generally seen the highest rates of COVID-19 in December, January, February. And if that happens again, getting that booster in September-October, ensures you have the best protection and the best levels of immunity over those winter months."

Resources for COVID vaccines and testing are still available in Michigan to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

More: COVID-19 cases on the rise: What to know about vaccines the FDA approved, latest CDC data

Where to get COVID vaccines

At the start of the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines were purchased by the federal government and offered at no cost to all Americans.

But once the coronavirus public health emergency ended last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped providing free vaccines to everyone, and instead made no-cost vaccines available only to those who couldn't afford to pay, were uninsured or under-insured. For adults, it was through the Bridge Access Program. For kids, it's through the federal Vaccines for Children Program.

Now, federal funding for the Bridge Access Program has run out.

Ryan Malosh, director of the MDHHS Division of Immunization, said the state has obtained about 12,000 doses of the COVID vaccine, which could cost as much as $201.99 without insurance, from the federal government for Michiganders who are uninsured or under insured now that the federal Bridge Access program has ended. He said they’ll be available through the Michigan Adult Vaccine Program at local health departments and some federally qualified health centers, tribal and migrant health centers who provide free or reduced-cost vaccines to adults.

“We are working to get those ordered and get those out to the providers,” Malosh said in late August. “And then we will also be looking to include a few other providers that haven't historically been included in our in this program going forward. So we have a bunch of free clinics in the state, and we've selected a few of those to serve as pilot programs to enroll in our adult vaccine program, so that they may provide these vaccines to the uninsured and underinsured adults.”

Visit michigan.gov/mdhhs to see the Local Health Department Maps and their latest vaccine and testing information or contact your local health department for more information.

More: COVID, RSV, flu: Here are all the vaccines recommended for you this year

For those with insurance, most health insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover vaccines for no out-of-pocket cost, but the CDC recommends reaching out to your provider to confirm coverage of vaccines. You can go to vaccines.gov to find the nearest pharmacy that offers vaccines.

Where to get free COVID tests

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has pop-up no-cost testing sites available across the state, often in partnership with schools, churches and community organizations. Visit michigan.gov/coronavirus/ to find the nearest neighborhood wellness center or community-based clinic near you.

MDHHS also partnered with libraries across the state to offer free at-home COVID test kits. Households can receive up to five COVID tests from participating libraries while supplies last. The full list of participating libraries can be found here.

While testing under the CDC Bridge Access program has ended, the CDC's Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program says that many of the 22,000 sites that participated in the Bridge Access program will continue to offer no-cost COVID testing to symptomatic or exposed people that are uninsured or underinsured through Dec. 31, 2024. Visit testinglocator.cdc.gov/search to search for no-cost COVID testing or visit your state, tribal, local or territorial health department website to look for the latest local information.

And starting again in late September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will offer at-home COVID tests shipped to households through COVIDTests.org, up to four tests per household while supplies last.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: COVID-19 in Michigan: Where to find vaccines, free tests