(WWJ) Michigan is moving into Phase 1B of its vaccination plan on Monday (today).
Phase 1B includes Michiganders 65 and older, and the following essential workers:
- Police officers
- First responders
- Frontline state and federal workers
- Jail and prison staff
- PreK-12 teachers
- Childcare providers
The general public who are not included in these groups cannot currently receive the vaccine in Michigan, under the state’s plan. Officials hope the vaccine will be available to everyone 16+ come March or April.
Health officials say supply is limited as of now, and it could take weeks to get an appointment.
Here’s a look at the different ways to access the vaccine:
Hospitals:
Beaumont: Beaumont has announced it will send out emails to its eligible patients beginning Monday. Once you receive your email, you will be able to make an appointment through myBeaumontChart. The invitations will be randomized, among patients who meet the criteria for 1B and have a MyBeaumont Chart Account. Beaumont said they will only schedule one week at a time, because they do not know how many vaccine doses they will receive each week.
The announcement of their vaccine rollout prompted thousands to sign up for myBeaumont chart account, causing the system to crash. More than ten times the average amount of people accessed the system the day after. The health system has announced it has tripled its server capacity to meet overwhelming demand.
Beaumont Health System said they are prepared to administer vaccines to 3,200 people per day as of now, with hopes of increasing that number as additional sites open up.
Henry Ford: Henry Ford said in an email to patients they will contact eligible patients through HenryFordMyChart, phone calls and text messages. Henry Ford patients should sign up for HenryFordMyChart if they haven’t already to make sure they get the alerts.
Detroit Medical Center and Ascension have not publicly announced their plans to begin Phase 1B.
County and City Health Departments:
Oakland County has also said it is facing overwhelming demand for the vaccine. Officials said their appointments for Monday (today) filled within an hour of the sign-up opening.
An alert on the official county website reads: “There are currently no COVID-19 vaccine appointments available. Appointments will be added based on the vaccine supply received from the State of Michigan.”
According to its website, Oakland County has yet to move to Phase 1B. They are still in the process of vaccinating people in longterm care facilities and healthcare workers.
County Executive Dave Coulter said in a statement the county hopes to move to the next phase soon: “We look forward to expanding to the next phase which will include essential workers and residents 65 and older. I ask for patience because the number of appointments available is limited to the number of doses we have received from the state. We urge the State of Michigan to increase Oakland County’s vaccine allotment while expanding the number of providers administering the vaccine.”
To receive the Oakland County COVID-19 Vaccination Newsletter, register your email address at www.oaklandcountyvaccine.com or text OAKGOV COVID to 468311.
As of Monday morning, Macomb County’s website also said there are no available appointments “due to exhausting our limited supply of doses.”
Officials in both Oakland and Macomb counties said more appointments may open up as soon as Tuesday.
Macomb County residents are urged to continue to check their website for updates.
To make an appointment, call 586-463-8777, Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Vaccination appointments are available Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturdays between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Essential workers are required to provide proof of occupation i.e., employee badge or ID, professional license, or pay stub.
County Executive Mark Hackel said 1,000 people will receive the vaccine on Monday. He said they have the capacity to distribute 50,000 doses per week, but the supply is not currently available.
The state is currently receiving about 60,000 vaccines per week, according to Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
“You’re talking about opening up the vaccinations to 300,000 people in Macomb County alone…you open up the phonelines and people were absolutely outraged they couldn’t get a vaccine,” Hackel said.
Like Coulter, he said he is pushing to ramp up supply as quickly as possible.
Mayor Mike Duggan announced 20,000 vaccine appointments will open up for residents 65 and older at the TCF Center and K-12 teachers and support staff, and childcare workers.
Seniors require proof of residency, utility bill or valid ID. Teachers, support staff and child care workers must bring proof of employment, badge or employer paystub.
Detroit residents in the aforementioned groups can call (313) 230-0505 to make an appointment between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.. The first appointment will be on Wednesday.
Duggan said Detroiters have mixed responses to the vaccine: “If you just talk to people you interact with in the city, you have 40% who want it now and all they’re asking is how they can sign up. 20% who don’t believe what anyone says, they don’t want it, they think it has nanobots in it or whatever. And then 40% who say you know, I know it’s probably good but I just don’t want to be first.”
Medical professionals will be on hand at the TCF Center for those who have a reaction to the vaccine, according to Duggan.
Wayne County’s website said they are currently in Phase 1A, with no information about Phase 1B currently.
Private employers: Many essential workers will receive information from their employer on how to get the vaccine.
In all cases, you must have an appointment to get the vaccine. Walk-ins are not available.
The State will announce when it's ready to move into Phase 1C which will include people 16+ at risk of severe illness from the virus due to pre-existing conditions and some other essential workers whose work impacts life, safety, and protection during the COVID-19 response.
Phase 2 will be a mass vaccination campaign for all Michiganders 16 and older.
For information on the vaccine including how it was developed, side effects, how it works, etc., visit:
Michigan.gov Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 vaccine
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information about the vaccine
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