Henry Ford Allegiance Health Urges Booster Shots and Testing

JACKSON, MI – Henry Ford Allegiance Health advises community members to receive a COVID-19 booster shot and to get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Recent research confirms antibody protection from vaccination or a previous COVID-19 infection decreases over time, with serum from study participants showing virtually no ability to neutralize the Omicron variant after six months. However, mRNA vaccine booster shots (Pfizer or Moderna) have proven highly effective at preventing Omicron infection, hospitalization and death.

“The research is particularly concerning given Omicron is up to three times more infectious than the Delta variant,” said Courtland Keteyian, MD, Vice President, Population Health, Henry Ford Allegiance Health. “To make matters worse, the only effective monoclonal antibody treatment —GlaxoSmithKline’s sotrovimab—is in critically short supply.”

Booster shots are available at several community locations, including:

• Henry Ford Allegiance Health and most area primary care practices.
• Jackson County Health Department.
• Local pharmacies: CVS, Kroger, Meijer, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Walmart.

“We are very concerned for the members of our community who have not yet received their booster,” said Paula Autry, Senior Vice President and CEO, Henry Ford Allegiance Health. “Omicron is now the dominant variant, and community transmission is quickly accelerating. We urge all eligible community members to receive a booster shot and to take advantage of testing to help protect themselves and others.”

Henry Ford Allegiance Health encourages testing according to CDC guidelines. Community members can call (517) 205-6100 to schedule an appointment at the drive-thru testing site located at 2200 Springport Road in Jackson.