Pfizer says COVID booster offers protection against omicron
DETROIT – Pfizer said Wednesday that a booster of its COVID-19 vaccine may offer important protection against the new omicron variant even though the initial two doses appear significantly less effective.
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Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said that while two doses may not be strong enough to prevent infection, lab tests showed a booster increased by 25-fold people’s levels of antibodies capable of fighting off omicron. For people who haven’t yet had a booster, the companies said two doses still should prevent severe disease or death.
🏥Michigan reports 15,385 new COVID cases, 351 deaths -- average of 7,693 cases per day
How Nightlock door stops may have saved lives at Oxford High School
Security devices that were installed at Oxford High School just a few years ago may have prevented the shooter from taking even more lives.
The shooting left four students dead and injured seven other people. Ethan Crumbley, 15, is facing four counts of first-degree murder. He has been charged as an adult. His parents, James Crumbley and Jennifer Crumbley are facing involuntary manslaughter charges. All three are in custody.
🌨️ Metro Detroit weather: Light snow turns to rain as warm front passes through this week
Detroit police brought suspected serial package thief into custody just in time for Christmas
Police recovered 41 packages from an apparent thief in Detroit just two weeks before Christmas.
Police said the an crash near Greenfield Road and Margareta Avenue helped them discover the stolen packages. The person who was arrested has not yet been charged so their identity is not public.
Police are working to return the recovered packages to their rightful owners.
COVID surge is putting major strain on hospital systems across Michigan
Leadership from the Henry Ford Health System and Beaumont Health have warned the COVID surge is having serious effects on hospital operation and the ability of everyone to get care. On Wednesday, Michigan Medicine added its voice to the growing chorus of concern.
There are staff shortages that didn’t exist before COVID, an absence of any meaningful state-mandated public health requirements -- like the ones we saw at the start of the pandemic -- and an overall attempt by hospital systems to maintain care for non-COVID illnesses. All of that means the current surge is putting a major strain on the healthcare system.