Hamilton Community Health Network hosts ‘Family Vaccination Day

COVID-19 and Flu vaccines for adults and children 

FLINT, MI – On Saturday, March 5th, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Hamilton Community Health Network will be hosting a free COVID and flu vaccine event. The Family Vaccine Day will be held at Hamilton’s ‘Main Clinic’ at 2900 N. Saginaw St. in Flint. No appointment is necessary, and the event is open to the public for anyone who needs a vaccine or booster. 

Even with declining number of cases currently in Michigan, Hamilton’s Pediatrician and Board-Certified Internist, Shaheen Sheikh, MD, explained that it’ still important to get your vaccine. “With the virus’ continual mutations, we must continue to be vigilant in protecting each other, especially our children.” 

Sheikh continued explaining that we should not kid ourselves into thinking we are out of the woods when it comes to COVID. The virus is still here and active. The vaccines have been out over a year now with millions of people in the United States having received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. Side-effects have been minimal when you look at the data: According to the CDC: 

1. Anaphylaxis occurred in approximately 5 people per one million vaccinated in the United States. 
2. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) occurred with the Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. 18.3 million doses of the J&J vaccine were given in the US which led to the CDC and FDA identifying 57 confirmed reports of TTS, which led to 9 deaths. 
3. Myocarditis and pericarditis occurred in about 1300 cases responded well to medicine and rest and felt better quickly.
4. Reports of death. More than 550 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through February 22, 2022. During this time, VAERS received 12,612 preliminary reports of death (0.0023%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. A review of the reports by CDC and FDA clinicians indicated a causal relationship between the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and TTS which resulted in 9 deaths mentioned above.

“Though there has been much fear around these vaccines, the larger fear should be not protecting yourself. Vaccines reduce the chances of developing a serious illness and help prevent death,” explained Sheikh.