(WWJ) The governor calls it a "great day" for older Michiganders.
Workers and residents at skilled nursing homes in Michigan started receiving the coronavirus vaccine on Monday, through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program.
The Michigan Health Department says workers at Shelby Health and Rehabilitation Center in Macomb County was among the places were workers and residents received shots from CVS Health. Nurses from Walgreens were delivering doses of the vaccine in west Michigan.
Health officials say it will take about three weeks to vaccinate the 91,000 workers and residents in nursing homes across the state.
"This is a great day for older Michiganders, their families and the dedicated men and women who care for them. We know this virus is a killer that preys on our most vulnerable populations, which is why my administration has prioritized testing in our nursing homes from the beginning. Now, we have developed a plan that will help us distribute a safe and effective vaccine to our nursing home residents and staff," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in a statement. "Remember: it will take some time for the vaccine to be widely distributed to everyone. That's why it's so important that we all do our part by continuing to properly mask up, practice safe social distancing and avoid indoor gatherings where the virus can easily spread from person to person. We will get through this together."
This comes after Whitmer has been criticized by political opponents and some in the public for her handling of nursing homes amid the pandemic.
"We know the residents of these facilities are at high-risk for severe illness and death from the virus, and early vaccination of both residents and those caring for them is critical to help protect this population," added Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. "We are pleased that more than 5,000 long-term care facilities – including more than 400 skilled nursing facilities – have been enrolled in the program in Michigan to receive the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine."
To ensure the safety of residents and staff, vaccinators are required to adhere to all applicable Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services COVID-19 testing requirements for long-term care facility staff. In addition, the pharmacists themselves will be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as part of this program.
"Nursing facility providers are eager to begin the process of vaccinating residents and staff," said Health Care Association of Michigan President/CEO Melissa Samuel. "The coronavirus has been most unmerciful to the residents we care for. We are very hopeful this vaccine will not only be a lifesaver for residents and staff, but also expedite the reopening of our facilities to family members and loved ones.
"We want all our residents and staff vaccinated," Samuel said. "Until we reach those levels, we will all need to remain vigilant in our efforts to mitigate further spread of the virus. I want to thank everyone that has made this day possible."
MDHHS is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for prioritization of distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
State officials say vaccine prioritizations (get details here) may change as more information on vaccine effectiveness and additional vaccination products become available, and some of the phases may overlap.
Even with COVID-19 vaccinations starting in Michigan and worldwide, Khaldun urges everyone to continue to practice preventative measures such as properly wearing masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing to reduce the spread of the virus until the vast majority of people have been vaccinated.
Michigan health officials have set a goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders over age 16, about 5.6 million people, by the end of 2021. There will be no out-of-pocket costs to individuals for the vaccine, however, healthcare providers may bill insurance for administrative costs. The COVID-19 vaccine will require two doses, separated by three or four weeks depending on the manufacturer. Michiganders should receive both doses in order to have full protection from the virus. Individuals who receive the vaccine may experience mild side effects such as low-grade fever, sore arm and general discomfort, which indicate that the vaccine is working. There is a robust state and national process for tracking vaccines and reporting side effects.
"Walgreens is very proud to be a part of this historic milestone to begin administering Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to our most vulnerable populations in Michigan and across the country," said John Standley, president, Walgreens. "With more than a decade of experience administering various vaccines, we have the deep expertise to support this unprecedented effort to allow our nation to emerge from this pandemic."
Get the latest updates about COVID-19 vaccines in Michigan at Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine.
