By Chloe Updegraff, MPH
Director of Health Communications at Midland County Department of Public Health
Midland County Community Health Nurse Becky Carlson, right, administers the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Pat Bartos, left, during a vaccination clinic for senior citizens Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 at Senior Services of Midland County. After initially giving the vaccine to people in phase 1A, including health care workers and first responders, the Midland County Health Department this week also opened vaccinations up to phase 1B, which includes anyone aged 65 and older as well as “frontline workers,” including teachers, grocery workers and others. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)
Early in March, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced that it will be expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility beginning Monday, March 8. This expanded eligibility includes:
- People age 50 and above who are living with disabilities or medical conditions
- People who are caregiver family members and/or guardians who care for children with special needs.
This eligibility will further expand on March 22 to include all adults age 50 and above. MDHHS’ press release on the expanded vaccination eligibility can be found here: http://bit.ly/2O0nb03.
Midland County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) has started vaccinating this new group while continuing to vaccinate previous groups (1A-frontline medical workers and 1B-adults over age 65, school personnel, and some frontline essential workers) while working to schedule additional clinics for those newly eligible (as supply allows).
Updates will be provided on the MCDPH webpage and Facebook page, in Midland Daily News, and on the MCDPH COVID hotline (989.839.4665).
As of 3.10.21, Midland County has administered 27,047 doses of the highly effective COVID-19 vaccines. This is the total given from all sources (health department, hospital, and pharmacy) since 12.19.20. MCDPH has administered 9,034 doses during that period. Data can be found at the State of Michigan Vaccine Dashboard: Michigan.gov/covidvaccine. This is definitely something to celebrate! Let’s continue to Spread Hope, Not COVID!
