Latest news with #WesternMichiganUniversity
WebMD
28-05-2025
- Business
- WebMD
Your Doctor May Still Recommend COVID Vaccines – Here's Why
May 27, 2025 – The Trump administration announced today that the CDC will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for many children and pregnant people. No details were immediately published on the CDC website, but Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in video on X that the recommendation for "healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule." He cited lack of clinical data to support "a repeat booster strategy in children." Still, that may not change the advice you get from your doctor. Should Pregnant People Get the COVID Shot? Kennedy's announcement did not explain why the recommendation for pregnant women changed. Previously, the CDC advised pregnant people to get COVID vaccines every six months – just like others at high risk of severe illness. There have been about 70 studies of COVID vaccination in pregnant people, and the evidence shows the shots are safe and provide important protection to both mother and baby during pregnancy and after birth, according to Kevin Ault, MD, a practicing OB/GYN and former CDC COVID vaccine adviser. "I'm disappointed because there's no new data to support the change that I'm aware of, and if there is data, it should be discussed publicly," said Ault, a professor at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine in Kalamazoo. He said he will continue to advise his pregnant patients to get vaccinated. During an interview with WebMD, he became notably emotional and said he worried for his patients on Medicaid if the program stops covering vaccination. Ault was a member of the CDC expert panel that initially crafted the nation's COVID vaccine recommendations. "Most obstetricians in their lifetimes have had a bad experience with flu and now COVID," he said. "We don't want sick people in the ICU who are pregnant. And the best way to avoid that is having those vaccines that prevent severe maternal complications." The recommendation for pregnant women is also at odds with a plan put forward by federal officials last week in The New England Journal of Medicine, which listed pregnancy among the conditions for which COVID vaccination would be recommended. "As ob-gyns who treat patients every day, we have seen firsthand how dangerous COVID-19 infection can be during pregnancy and for newborns who depend on maternal antibodies from the vaccine for protection," Steven J. Fleischman, MD, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in a statement. "We also understand that despite the change in recommendations from HHS, the science has not changed. It is very clear that COVID infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and lead to major disability, and it can cause devastating consequences for families. The COVID vaccine is safe during pregnancy, and vaccination can protect our patients and their infants." When a pregnant person gets vaccinated, antibodies travel through the placenta and are passed to the fetus, protecting the newborn during the first critical months of life. That's important because babies from newborn to 6 months old (who are not yet eligible for vaccination) are among those most often hospitalized for severe COVID. COVID vaccination during pregnancy cuts hospitalization risk by 52%. What About Children? Public health experts continue to emphasize that COVID-19 vaccines offer significant benefits for children. While severe illness is less common in kids than in adults, COVID-19 can still cause serious outcomes. About 1% of U.S. children – equivalent to roughly 1 million – have had long COVID, according to CDC data. Research also shows that vaccination may reduce the risk of long COVID in children. Decisions about vaccinating healthy children have often been complex, in part because their risk of severe illness is lower than that of adults, making it harder to show clear benefits in large clinical trials. The relatively low uptake of pediatric COVID vaccines also means there's less real-world data compared to data for adults, which can complicate public messaging and policy. Experts say the decision often comes down to individual risk. For children with health conditions, vaccination is more strongly recommended due to a higher risk of complications. But for otherwise healthy kids – especially those who've already had COVID – the benefits can appear less clear-cut, even if vaccination remains safe and reasonable. Pediatric infectious disease expert Sean O'Leary, MD, MPH, said in a statement that research has demonstrated that children, babies, and pregnant people are "at higher risk of hospitalization from COVID, and the safety of the COVID vaccine has been widely demonstrated." Previously, the recommendation was for COVID vaccines to begin when a child turns 6 months old. "By removing the recommendation, the decision could strip families of choice. Those who want to vaccinate may no longer be able to, as the implications for insurance coverage remain unclear," said O'Leary, on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "It's also unclear whether health care workers would be eligible to be vaccinated." Just 13% of children ages 6 months old to 17 years old are up to date with COVID vaccination, and another 7% of parents said they definitely planned to get their child vaccinated. Just over 14% of pregnant women have received a COVID vaccine since the latest version came out last fall, according to CDC data.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge grants injunction protecting WMU international students' enrollment status
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — A judge granted a preliminary injunction to a number of international students, including three at Western Michigan University, saying the federal government must keep their information in a database that tracks their enrollment status. U.S. District Court Judge Jane Beckering issued the preliminary injunction in a written order Wednesday. She told Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that she may not terminate the students' records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System 'absent valid ground' as set forth by law. The judge also told the federal government it may not arrest, detain or move the students out of the jurisdictions they are already in without telling the court first. Beckering had already issued a temporary restraining order to keep the students' information in SEVIS ahead of a hearing on the matter. That was held Tuesday. 'At oral argument on May 6, 2025, Defendants argued that the general authority that Congress conferred under 8 U.S.C. § 1372 to 'develop and conduct a program to collect … information' about nonimmigrant students somehow provides them specific authority to terminate Plaintiffs' status,' Beckering wrote in part in the injunction. 'The Court finds the argument wholly unpersuasive and Defendants' reliance on § 1372 for this proposition misplaced.' Beckering told the government to provide proof by May 13 that the students' information is back in SEVIS. The injunction remains in effect indefinitely as the students' lawsuit against the federal government moves forward. The three WMU students are among 10 at various universities in Michigan and elsewhere who are suing the government, saying it unlawfully terminated their status in SEVIS. According to a redacted version of the original lawsuit previously sent to News 8, the reason government officials stated for terminating the students' SEVIS status in an email was 'OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS: Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked.' According to the suit, one WMU student is a 27-year-old man from India who is expected to graduate this year with a master's in industrial engineering. He completed probation in January and a misdemeanor retail fraud case was dismissed. A speeding violation was also dismissed. Attorneys in the complaint said that whether or not the dismissal is considered a 'conviction' in immigration law, it does not make the student removable or inadmissible form the U.S. The second student is a 27-year-old man from Nepal who previously graduated from WMU with a bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering. In his record is one traffic violation, which lawyers say was dismissed after he paid a fine. A third is a 31-year-old woman who is a Chinese citizen. The doctoral education student is married to a U.S. citizen, has a daughter who is a U.S. citizen and is expecting another child. In December 2020, she got a speeding ticket in Nebraska, which was later dismissed the following year. The government has until June 17 to file its response to the lawsuit. In April, WMU leaders shared that six students had their SEVIS status terminated, with one student's visa revoked that the university was aware of. —News 8 photojournalist Nick Ponton contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge orders WMU students' enrollment status reinstated
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — A judge has told the federal government to put three Western Michigan University international students back into a database that tracks their enrollment status. U.S. District Court Judge Jane Beckering issued a temporary restraining order dated Wednesday telling Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to put the students' information back in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and keep it there 'absent a valid ground for termination of nonimmigrant status' as set forth by law. The order also told the federal government it may not arrest, detain or move the students out of the jurisdictions they are already in without telling the court first. The judge said the students may not be deported based on their SEVIS status. WMU international students file lawsuit over status change The three WMU students are among 10 at various universities in Michigan and elsewhere that filed the federal lawsuit, saying the government unlawfully terminated their status in SEVIS. According to a redacted complaint sent to News 8, the reason government officials stated for terminating that status in an email was 'OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS: Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked.' Last week, WMU leaders shared that six students so far had their SEVIS status terminated, with one student's visa revoked that the university is aware of. Student status change worries WMU students, organizations According to the complaint, one WMU student is a 27-year-old man from India who is expected to graduate this year with a master's in industrial engineering. He completed probation in January and a misdemeanor retail fraud case was dismissed. A speeding violation was also dismissed. Attorneys in the complaint said that whether or not the dismissal is considered a 'conviction' in immigration law, it does not make the student removable or inadmissible form the U.S. The second student is a 27-year-old man from Nepal who previously graduated from WMU with a bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering. In his record is one traffic violation, which lawyers say was dismissed after he paid a fine. A third is a 31-year-old woman who is a Chinese citizen. The doctoral education student is married to a U.S. citizen, has a daughter who is a U.S. citizen and is expecting another child. In December 2020, she got a speeding ticket in Nebraska, which was later dismissed the following year. The judge wrote in her order that the students have shown they could win their claim and that they would suffer irreparable injury without the injunction. 'In sum, this Court … determines that the balance of factors weighs in favor of granting temporary injunctive relief,' Beckering wrote. 'Granting emergency relief will merely maintain the status quo that has been in place for the several years that Plaintiffs have been in the United States.' The temporary restraining order is in effect for 14 days, though it could be extended. A hearing in the case has been set for May 6 in federal court in Grand Rapids. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
WMU international students file lawsuit over status change
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Three Western Michigan University international students are part of a growing lawsuit coming in the wake of federal officials terminating records in a system that tracks their enrollment status. Students from Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan schools are part of a federal lawsuit filed in the Western District of Michigan on April 14 against the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Immigration Enforcement. They claim the termination of their status in the Student and Exchange Visitor System was unlawful. Attorneys say more than 50 other students could be added to the case. In a redacted complaint sent to News 8, the student SEVIS status was terminated earlier this month. The reason government officials stated in an email was 'OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS: Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked. SEVIS record has been terminated.' Protesters call on WMU to 'protect students' Some students were notified by federal officials; others were only told after university staff checked on SEVIS status. Attorneys believe federal officials looked for any instance participating students interacted with law enforcement. Then, their SEVIS status was changed. 'They never told universities that they were terminating the records, and they never informed the university that this termination reason meant they are not eligible to continue classes,' said Adriana Kemish, an associate attorney for the Law Office of Amy Maldonado. Last week, WMU leaders shared that six students so far had their SEVIS status terminated, with one student's visa revoked that the university is aware of. Student interactions with police noted in the lawsuit ranged from dismissed traffic tickets to a wrongful accusation. According to the complaint, one WMU student is a 27-year-old man from India who is expected to graduate this year with a master's in industrial engineering. He completed probation in January and a misdemeanor retail fraud case was dismissed. A speeding violation was also dismissed. Attorneys in the complaint said that whether or not the dismissal is considered a 'conviction' in immigration law, it does not make the student removeable or inadmissible form the U.S. Student status change worries WMU students, organizations The second student is a 27-year-old man from Nepal who previously graduated from WMU with a bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering. In his record is one traffic violation, which lawyers say was dismissed after he paid a fine. A third student is a 31-year-old woman who is a Chinese citizen. The doctoral education student is married to a US citizen, has a daughter who is a US citizen daughter, and is expecting another child. In December 2020, she got a speeding ticket in Nebraska, which was later dismissed the following year. 'She's terrified that her entire family is going to be torn apart. We have individuals just finishing up their doctorates on how to safely land humans on the moon and Mars. Like this is their entire future,' said Kemish. 'It's at stake, they are at stake of being removed. They are at stake of not being able to continue their work authorization and finding employment opportunities in the United States. I mean, these are these individuals' whole entire lives.' Federal officials have already pushed back on the complaint in a filing submitted Friday. Attorneys said staff with DHS and ICE did not delete the students from SEVIS or terminate their nonimmigrant status. One of the reasonings given to denying the temporary restraining order is that the students fail to show the action caused any 'immediate irreparable harm.' International students file legal challenges over widespread US visa revocations 'Being granted a visa to live and study in the United States is a privilege not a right. The State Department makes specific determinations about visa revocations when an individual poses a threat to national security,' said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. The lawsuit is expected to be heard in court on Tuesday where attorneys for the students will be arguing for a temporary restraining order. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Four international students at WMU have lost SEVIS status, school says
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Four international students at Western Michigan University have been removed from the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System, the school says. 'Termination of SEVIS status can lead to being asked to leave the country,' a notice on the school's website says. 'Whether individuals will ultimately have their visas revoked is under the purview of the U.S. Department of State.' Colleges around the US say some international students' visas are being revoked The school says it has more than 2,000 international students enrolled, both in Michigan and abroad. WMU says federal officials did not notify the students or the school about the SEVIS terminations, which were discovered by staff members who monitor the system. It said the school is working with the impacted students to explore their options, and will continue to monitor for any other record terminations. International students across the country are having their SEVIS statues terminated or their visas revoked. In Michigan, two students had their visas revoked at Grand Valley State University and an unknown number of students had their visas revoked at Michigan State University, the schools say. Some international students at Central Michigan University have also had their SEVIS status terminated, CMU said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
