Vaccines: The Food and Drug Administration narrowed who can get 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines, sparking confusion about eligibility. Plus, local news articles promoting flu vaccines prompted false claims about flu vaccine safety on social media.
Gun violence: A school shooting in Minneapolis fueled discussion among Michigan social media users about gun violence prevention.
STIs/STDs, family planning: Social media users celebrated declining infectious syphilis cases in Michigan and noted that congenital syphilis cases in babies continue to rise.
Scroll down to read more.
Plus, check out the Download Center for free, ready-made content to share with your communities. Content is available in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Vaccines
Changing COVID-19 vaccine guidelines cause confusion
What’s happening:
On August 27, the FDA approved updated COVID-19 vaccines only for adults 65 and older and for younger people with high-risk health conditions, limiting eligibility compared to previous years.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services continues recommending updated COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older. However, Michigan media outlets reported that it could be “more complicated” for healthy people under 65 to get vaccinated this year, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet issued its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.
Michigan social media users expressed confusion about vaccine eligibility, and some repeated false claims that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe and unnecessary.
Why this matters:
COVID-19 vaccine access is a complicated, changing situation, and many community members have questions about who can get vaccinated and where. Providing up-to-date messaging is crucial ahead of respiratory virus season.
Helpful messaging to share right now:
COVID-19 vaccines are safe, and staying up to date on vaccines helps prevent severe illness, hospitalization, long-term health problems, and death.
In Michigan, people 65 and older—and many younger adults with high-risk health conditions—can now get an updated COVID-19 vaccine based on FDA guidance.
Most people don’t realize they may be considered high risk according to the CDC’s lengthy list. Conditions like asthma, diabetes, obesity, cancer, disabilities, mental health issues, physical inactivity, or being pregnant can all increase your risk for serious illness from COVID-19. Others may have to request the vaccine “off label.”
At certain pharmacies, patients may only need to check a box saying that they qualify—though rules could change, and insurance coverage remains unclear.
Check with your health care provider, pharmacy, or local health department to find where to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Share this in response
Suggested caption:
Right now, people 65+ and many younger adults with high-risk conditions—like asthma, diabetes, obesity, cancer, pregnancy, disabilities, or mental health issues—can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. The list of conditions is longer than you might think, and many people may not realize they qualify.
Some pharmacies only ask you to confirm eligibility, though rules and insurance coverage may vary. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and help prevent severe illness, long COVID, and death. Check with your health care provider, pharmacy, or local health department about where to get vaccinated.
Many Michigan social media users expressed feelings of dismay and helplessness in response. Some called for stricter gun regulations, while others argued that greater access to mental health treatment would help prevent violence.
Why this matters:
Online conversations about mass shootings provide an opportunity to remind Michigan residents about local gun violence prevention resources.
Helpful messaging to share right now:
Michigan’s efforts to prevent gun violence are ongoing and include secure storage laws, safety tip lines, and “red flag” laws.
Michigan requires gun owners to store their guns in a locked container or unloaded and locked with a locking device when children may be in the home. Get a free gun safety kit and trigger lock from Project ChildSafe.
If you learn about a potential threat to student safety, contact Michigan’s confidential OK2SAY tip line by calling 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729) or texting 652729 (OK2SAY). You can also leave a tip through an online form, via email at OK2SAY@MI.Gov, or on the OK2SAY mobile app.
If you have a family or household member who could be at risk of hurting themself or others, you can request an Extreme Risk Protection Order, which temporarily removes a person’s access to guns and prevents them from purchasing one.
If you’re in immediate danger, call 911.
Share this in response
Suggested caption:
There are many ways you can help keep your community safe from gun violence. Michigan law requires gun owners to keep firearms in a locked container or unloaded and locked with a locking device when children may be in the home. Anyone who learns about a potential threat to student safety can contact the confidential OK2SAY tip line. And if you’re worried about a loved one who’s at risk of hurting themselves or others, you can file an Extreme Risk Protection Order, or ERPO, to temporarily remove their access to guns at firearminjury.umich.edu/mi-erpo-filing.
Posts highlight rising congenital syphilis rates in Michigan
What’s happening:
Several recent articles reported that cases of infectious syphilis in Michigan are declining, but cases of congenital syphilis, which is passed from pregnant people to their babies, continue to rise.
Some social media users celebrated the decline in infectious syphilis cases and promoted comprehensive sex education, while others expressed concern about rising congenital syphilis rates.
Why this matters:
Conversations about syphilis provide an opportunity to educate the public about how the disease spreads and where to get tested and treated.
Helpful messaging to share right now:
Syphilis is a potentially dangerous bacterial infection that spreads through sexual contact. It can also be passed from pregnant people to their babies during birth.
Antibiotics treat syphilis. Without treatment, the disease can cause organ damage and other serious health problems.
You can lower your risk of contracting or spreading syphilis by using safer sex barriers like condoms and getting tested regularly. Pregnant people should get tested for syphilis to prevent them from spreading the disease to their babies.
Syphilis testing is a routine part of prenatal care, just like checking your blood pressure or doing an ultrasound. It’s safe and important, and it helps protect your baby’s health. When syphilis goes untreated during pregnancy, it can pass to the baby and cause serious complications like miscarriage or stillbirth.
The good news? Early testing and treatment work. That’s why syphilis testing is part of the care every pregnant person gets. It’s one more way to keep you and your baby healthy. If you have questions, talk to your health care provider or call the Michigan HIV/STI Hotline at 1-800-872-2437 to find local clinics that offer STI testing.
Articles about FluMist and flu shots prompt debate about vaccine safety
What’s happening:
Michigan news outlets recently reported that FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine, is now available for home use. Other outlets reported that flu vaccines are available now at pharmacies and local health departments.
Some Michigan social media users promoted flu vaccines, while others falsely claimed that flu vaccines are unsafe and cause the flu.
Why this matters:
About a quarter of Michigan residents received last season’s flu vaccine, and many may be unaware that getting a flu vaccine each year is important for health.
Helpful messaging to share right now:
Flu vaccines are updated each year because the flu virus changes each season. All flu vaccines are thoroughly tested to ensure that they’re safe.
The flu vaccine is available as either a shot or a nasal spray. This season’s flu vaccine is approved and recommended for everyone 6 months and older.
In Michigan, flu vaccines are available at many pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and local health departments. You can also order FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine, online to use at home.
Share this in response
Suggested caption:
Flu season is just around the corner, and flu vaccines are available now at many pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and local health departments. You can also order FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine, online to use at home. All flu vaccines are thoroughly tested to ensure that they’re safe, and getting vaccinated every year reduces the risk of severe illness and death from the flu.
The FDA recently narrowed who can get updated COVID-19 vaccines. Share this story to inform your community about how they can access COVID-19 vaccines now.
Public Good News is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to community health. We partner with trusted local voices throughout the U.S. to distribute accurate, accessible, and inclusive health news in English and Spanish.
