DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and the city's Chief Health Officer have outlined a plan to offer an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The city will start giving out a third shot as soon as Tuesday, August 17 at the TCF Center, and are encouraging those with weakened immune systems to get the booster.
Duggan says the decision comes as the latest information from Pfizer shows the effectiveness of the first vaccines fade over time.
“Pfizer did a study that showed that -- while they started off at 96% -- the antibodies start to drop over time,” Duggan said. “Didn’t know that until we started to get into June, July, August, and you could see over six, seven, eight months how it was working.”
Currently, only 42% of residents in Detroit have gotten vaccinated.
Late Friday, the CDC approved the use of third vaccinations of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for immunocompromised Americans, allowing vulnerable patients to maintain a high-level immunity to the coronavirus.
Nearly 3,130 COVID-19 cases and 29 more deaths from the virus were reported Friday in Michigan over a two day period.
Starting on Tuesday, appointments to get the third shot at the TCF Center in Detroit can be made by calling 313-230-0505.
Duggan notes the process will be similar to previous testing and vaccine procedures that were held at the building over the past several months, and that the city has 30,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available to distribute.
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