Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

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COVID-19 vaccine distribution 3x higher now than December but when can everyone get a vaccine? – KXAN.com

March 4, 2021

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COVID-19 vaccine distribution 3x higher now than December but when can everyone get a vaccine? - KXAN.com

South Carolina to Move to Phase 1b of COVID-19 Vaccination Plan on March 8, 2021 – SCDHEC

March 4, 2021

Public Health Officials Unveil Plans for All Vaccination Phases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 2, 2021

COLUMBIA, SC Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced today that South Carolina will advance to Phase 1b of the states COVID-19 vaccination plan beginning Monday, March 8.

Throughout South Carolinas vaccination efforts, our priority has been and continues to be saving lives, said Gov. Henry McMaster. In the month of February, South Carolina made tremendous progress on expanding access to vaccinations as the supply of vaccine increased. Our hospitals, pharmacies and healthcare providers became more nimble and efficient at getting shots in arms. Because of these successes, were now in a position to make the majority of South Carolinians eligible to receive the vaccine.

South Carolina remains focused on protecting the lives and health of South Carolinians from COVID-19, said Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC Director. With the significant increase in vaccine supply and progress in vaccinating people in group 1a, front-line health care workers and those aged 65 and over, we are now ready to move to our next phase. Our states vaccine plan prioritizes those with greatest risk, while ensuring equal access to the vaccine for every South Carolinian aged 16 and over.

South Carolinas phased approach to its COVID-19 vaccine rollout recognizes the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 increases with age, and people with certain medical conditions and occupations are at higher risk of exposure to the virus. Because of this, South Carolina will continue to move phase by phase, based on risk level, with the goal of vaccinating every South Carolinian who wants to receive a vaccine by this summer.

Beginning March 8, appointments to get the COVID-19 vaccine can be made by people in the following groups:

Examples of frontline workers include, but are not limited to, school staff and daycare workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, law enforcement officers, etc.

The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines, including the recent approval of the new one-shot Janssen vaccine, has given us renewed hope for a return to normalcy and a light at the end of the tunnel, Dr. Simmer said. At the same time, we know our fight is not yet over. Until enough of us get vaccinated, we must all continue to wear masks, stay six feet away from others, and avoid crowds, even after we have received the vaccine. In addition, being tested can help reduce the spread of the disease and identify the presence of variants as early as possible.

Public health officials estimate it will take 70 to 80 percent of the population getting vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity and stop COVID-19.

Based on current vaccine supply levels, DHEC anticipates Phase 1c will begin on approximately April 12, 2021. The phase will include:

Phase 2 will begin on approximately May 3, 2021, and will include:

South Carolinians are urged to get vaccinated according to the states plan, and not to jump ahead of others.

Were asking South Carolinians to consider others, and the fact that this plan is risk-based to prevent severe illness and death, Dr. Simmer said. Youre urged to not jump the line and put your loved ones, friends or neighbors at risk by doing so.

How to make an appointment?Online appointments can be made by using scdhec.gov/vaxlocator or you can call DHECs COVID-19 Vaccine Information Line at 1-866-365-8110 for help.

How will people demonstrate eligibility?When seeking vaccine services, people included in Phase 1b or 1c may show eligibility by showing an ID that includes their date of birth, verifying that they meet the criteria for a frontline or essential worker, or by verifying that they have an eligible high-risk medical condition.

For a copy of the plan, click here. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, visit scdhec.gov/vaxfacts.

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South Carolina to Move to Phase 1b of COVID-19 Vaccination Plan on March 8, 2021 - SCDHEC

COVID-19 vaccine clinic is a breath of fresh air for Muskegon Heights community – MLive.com

March 4, 2021

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI The Muskegon Heights Academy High School is a special place for Gertha Burse.

Its where she and her children went to school, where her brothers won basketball trophies, where she worked for 21 years and where the 64-year-old got her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Im blessed to be here, Burse said.

On Wednesday, 328 people received shots at a Muskegon Heights clinic thats a part of a community-driven, grassroots strategy to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

Public Health Muskegon County partnered with community leaders, local pastors, the city of Muskegon Heights, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the school district to host the event.

Its really a face-to-face effort. Youre not a number here. Youre a person whos our neighbor, said Jerry McDowell, a Muskegon County deputy health officer, on Wednesday, March 3.

NAACP Muskegon branch president Eric Hood (left) and deputy health officer Jerry McDowell (right) coordinated and collaborated to put on a vaccination clinic at Muskegon Heights Academy High School on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (Photo by Rose White | MLive)

For five hours, the lobby of the school bustled with people over the age of 60 showing up for appointments to get their first dose of the vaccine.

NAACP Muskegon Branch President Eric Hood said it was a breath of fresh air seeing the clinic in Muskegon Heights.

People want these shots in our community, and we have to make it available for them to get it, he said.

Black Americans are the largest ethnic group in Muskegon Heights. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black, Hispanic and Native Americans are dying from COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of whites.

The clinic was advertised through phone calls, radio shows, the church pulpit and word of mouth.

In Michigan, all residents over the age of 50 will be eligible to get the vaccine later this month. As eligibility opens to wider populations, church and community involvement becomes more important, according to Dr. Thomas Foster, chief medical officer for Mercy Health Physician Partners.

They can trigger things that maybe the healthcare system is not seeing, Foster said.

In Muskegon County, nearly 30,000 people have received their first dose of the vaccine and 16,149 are fully vaccinated. About 47,800 vaccines have been distributed to the county, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan reported 1,536 new coronavirus cases and five new deaths on Wednesday. Since the start of the pandemic, the state has reported 591,753 confirmed cases and 15,563 deaths related to COVID-19.

Related: Michigan reports 1,536 new coronavirus cases, 5 new deaths on Wednesday, March 3

Kathy Moore, director of the Muskegon County Health Department, said the health department plans to allocate 25% of its doses for special outreach populations like clinics in Muskegon Heights and in rural areas of the county.

Related: Rural, isolated people getting left out of COVID vaccinations, Muskegon health director says

Latinos Working for the Future, a non-profit in Muskegon County, also partnered with health officials to translate information about the vaccine into Spanish and hold two clinics that vaccinated 200 people total.

Being steeped in the community is an asset for the vaccination efforts, said Angelita Valdez, president of Latinos Working for the Future. She said the partnership with the health department is a mutual effort to get our Black and brown folks vaccinated.

There are folks signing up for the vaccine that are feeling more comfortable that somebody they know or essentially trust is helping them to get them the vaccine, she said.

In Muskegon County, the bulk of the vaccines have been administered by Meijer, Mercy Health, and the health department. However, the county plans to continue holding community clinics.

We want to keep it going until every last person is vaccinated, said Hood.

More on MLive:

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Muskegon among U.S. cities most impacted by scams, Better Business Bureau says

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COVID-19 vaccine clinic is a breath of fresh air for Muskegon Heights community - MLive.com

Michigan ready to open COVID-19 vaccine to people over age 50 – The Detroit News

March 4, 2021

The state of Michigan is preparing to open COVID-19 vaccine availability to people older than 50 years oldwith health risks, such as preexisting conditions or disabilities,starting Monday.

People over the age of 50, regardless of health condition, will be eligible to begin receiving the vaccine starting March 22, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The state also will open eligibility, starting Monday, to caregiver families and guardians caring for childrenwith special health needs. The expanded eligibility came as at least one Metro Detroit leader expressed skepticism that local health agencies and others could meet the demand.

We want to be able to expand (distribution), and were in a position to do it, Gov. Gretchen Whitmersaid Wednesday at an unrelated press conference in Dearborn.

Thats great news and were going to be one of the first states in the nation to do it. Thats because we will have this many vaccines on hand.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday (March 3, 2021) after touring a bridge at Miller and Rotunda in Dearborn that the state is ready to expand distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to people 50 and over with disabilities or pre-existing conditions starting Monday, March 8.(Photo: Andy Morrison)

But Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel is perturbed countieswerent consulted before Whitmer made herannouncement. The Democratic county leader said hedoubts the state can provide enough doses to vaccinate people 50 and older and doesn't understand why state officials would expand the program before having more doses in hand.

We can handle any kind of demand she wants to create as long as theres a supply, but unfortunately thats not the case, Hackel said Wednesday. Saying were getting (increased doses) in May and then opening it up already to a greater demand in March youre creating a greater demand than you have a supply for.

Macomb County, Michigan's third-most populous county,has been using some of its allotment to vaccinateresidents of long-term care facilities who were not vaccinated by CVS or Walgreens pharmacies, he said. The county still has people in priority groups 1A and 1B whohavent been vaccinated health care workers and people 65 and older who are still in line, he said.

Why the state does this is because the state doesnt have to deal with scheduling appointments, Hackel said. They can go ahead and do anything they want. They dont have to deliver.

Theyre forcing it upon the other outlets to deliver, and were the ones dealing with the concerns of many. Its frustrating.

Leaders in Oakland County, the state's second-most populous county, were more optimistic. Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said the county's Health Division on Wednesday received 7,400 Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccines, which was 700 more doses than leaders expected.

With the news that Merck is going to be joining with Johnson & Johnson to manufacture this one-dose vaccine, this increased supply of vaccine will help accelerate the end to the pandemic, Coulter said in a statement. We are making steady progress in vaccinating Oakland County residents with nearly one in five having received their first dose.

More than 2.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administeredin Michigan through Sunday, including 1.4 million first doses, according to state data. That means about 800,000 Michiganians have been fully vaccinated.

The state is expected to receive its largest vaccine shipment this week nearly 500,000 doses, including 82,700 doses of the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine. Pfizer and Moderna manufacturetwo-shot vaccines.

"The significant increase in vaccine supply to our state this week is an encouraging sign that we will be able to vaccinate 70% of our adult population more quickly than originally planned," said Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

The state health department is making the movebecause the state will have a historic number of vaccine doses available in the next couple of weeks, Whitmer said. About 400,000 vaccine doses a week will come from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, she said.

Whitmer saidshe is encouraged the state has hit its goal of administering 50,000 daily vaccine doses for 16 days straight. "And with this additional vaccines, we could take it higher than that, she said.

People eligible to receive the vaccine should check the websites of their hospital or health system, local health department or other vaccination sites, such as Meijer, Rite Aid or Cardinal Health in the Upper Peninsula. People who need assistance navigating the process can call (888) 535-6136 during business hours Monday through Friday, or 211 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

While the state has more vaccines than it once did, waitlists are still possible with the limited supply, officials warn.

Teachers assistant at Berkley School District Sylvia Boyd of Detroit and gets her COVID-19 vaccine from Meijer pharmacist Brittany Wilkinson. Meijer hosts a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Ford Field exclusively for educators and education staff in Detroit, Michigan on March 1, 2021.(Photo: Daniel Mears, The Detroit News)

Phil Peterson of Grand Blancand his wife Jane, both 73, received their second doses of the Pfizer vaccine a week ago Tuesday and Phil said he thinks theres an element of luck involved in who ends up getting the shots.

I signed up on the Genesee County Health Department website, only to find out days later there were 20,000-plus people on that list, Phil Peterson said. So I said I guess well try Meijer,and Meijer was just surprising.

I registered on a Thursday, and Friday my wife and I both got texts saying pick a date, and boom we were in. It was that quick. We just hit the right store at the right time.

Having a cellphone also worked in the couples favor, Peterson added. But he noted some people, especially in the older age categories, might not be able to send and receive text messages.

The eligibility expansion comes as the Democratic governor has expressed more optimism about the state's fight against COVID-19. On Tuesday, Whitmer announced her administration had issued wide-ranging epidemic orders that wouldease coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses, nursing homes and other gatherings.

The new policieswill allow larger outdoor events to resume, double capacity limits at restaurants from 25% to 50% and move the curfew for indoor dining from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. starting on Friday and running through April 19.

The state health department is also relaxing capacity limits on retail stores, moving them from 30% to 50%. The limitation on indoor household gatherings will go from 10 people from two households to 15 people from three households. Those orders also take effect on Friday and run for six weeks.

The latest directives also allow family members who test negative for COVID-19 immediately to visit relatives in a nursing home as long as the facility has not had a new COVID-19 case in the last 14 days.The visitation order marks the first time since early in the pandemic that nursing homes across the state have been open for visits. Visitation allowances had previously depended on COVID-19 metrics showing low risk within a given county.

But the easing of restrictions came as certain COVID-19 metrics stopped showing improvement.

Hospitalizations are up 5% since last week, the first increase since December, according to the state health department. About3.7% of tests are returning positive, a rate that has plateaued, said Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan's chief medical executive, this week.

As of Tuesday, Michigan has the second-highest number of cases of the virus variant B.1.1.7. with 437 cases 300 cases are within the Michigan Department of Corrections. Florida has the most, 600 cases of the variant from the United Kingdom that is considered more contagious than the typical virus and potentially more deadly.

Whitmer in early January opened vaccinations to people older than 65 and other essential workers after theinitial phase of distribution that focused on front-line health care workers and long-term care facility residents and workers.

In February, the state allowed health providers with specific plans to remove socioeconomic barriers to the vaccine to begin requesting vaccine for people over the age of 60. The state also began to prioritize vaccines for mortuary workers and roughly 79,000 workers in food processing and agricultural settings.

For the week ending March 1, 49% of residents 75 years old and up had received one dose while 24.5% had completed their vaccinations, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The one-dose rate dipped to 44% for those age 65-74 years old and 20% who had finished their two-shot vaccinations.

The rate for those 50-64 years old was 13% had received one dose, while about 8% had completed their two-dose vaccinations.

eleblanc@detroitnews.com

Staff Writer Sarah Rahal contributed.

Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/03/03/michigan-ready-open-covid-19-vaccine-people-over-age-50/6904402002/

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Michigan ready to open COVID-19 vaccine to people over age 50 - The Detroit News

AARP Hawaii wants to hear from kupuna about their COVID-19 vaccine experiences – KHON2

March 4, 2021

Posted: Mar 3, 2021 / 01:09 PM HST / Updated: Mar 3, 2021 / 04:38 PM HST

HONOLULU (KHON2) AARP Hawaii wants to hear from kupuna 50 and older about their experiences with the COVID-19 vaccine process.

The online questionnaire is available here.

[Hawaii news on the goLISTEN to KHON 2GO weekday mornings at 7:30 a.m.]

We know that there is intense interest and desire from kupuna to get vaccinated for their own safety and for the safety of their loved ones, Kealii Lopez, AARP Hawaii state director, said in Wednesdays news release. We have been hearing from individual AARP members and this questionnaire is an attempt to gather more information, which can help guide our advocacy efforts and help the state improve the process.

The questionnaire asks whether kupuna have tried to schedule a vaccination appointment and have gotten vaccinated. AARP Hawaii also wants to know what people think about how the state is balancing vaccinating kupuna and essential workers.

The results will be gathered through Monday morning on March 8. AARP Hawaii will then share the results with key stakeholders and decision makers, and post them on theirwebsite.

On Wednesday, March 10, AARP Hawaii will discuss the results during their COVID-19 vaccine telephone town hall at 12 p.m. To register for the free forum, click here. Lt. Gov. Josh Green and Ron Balajadia, the head of the state Health Department immunization branch, will be hosting it.

The results of the questionnaire are not scientific but are meant to provide a variety of anecdotal experiences to show how kupuna are feeling about the vaccine rollout. AARP Hawaii hopes to send out another questionnaire next month to see if opinions change as the rollout continues.

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AARP Hawaii wants to hear from kupuna about their COVID-19 vaccine experiences - KHON2

Why Grand Forks County’s COVID-19 vaccination rate is among the best in the region | INFORUM – INFORUM

March 4, 2021

Roughly 12% are vaccinated, which is double the national average, and the fourth best county in the Dakotas and Minnesota.

"This is what weve all been waiting for," said Grand Forks public health officer Dr. Joel Walz. "It is really exciting to see, maybe, an end to this pandemic. "

The number of Grand Forks visitors fluctuates every Wednesday and Saturday. Those are the two days appointments are available.

On Saturday, Feb. 27, a little more than 2,000 doses were given. The county is receiving an extra 1,000 doses from the state in hopes of finishing the dual-doses for those 75 and older.

They got right back to business as usual on Wednesday, March 3, as they targeted around 1,100 doses to administer.

According to Grand Forks Public Health Immunization Program Manager Haley Bruhn, visitors wait anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes for the entire process. They have approximately 100 people clocking in and out during the day, including paramedics, police officers, nurses, and National Guard members.

Those wanting to receive the vaccine must register for an appointment ahead of time. Once they come at their appointed time, they briefly wait in line to check in, get the shot and then wait fifteen minutes for an observation period.

After receiving his second dose, Grand Forks resident Gerry Keenan said he's relieved at the opportunity.

"It's good for everybody, and I think we all needed this," he said. "It's a long process. We've been going through this since March, and it's kind of like a culmination."

Chantel Vazquez is a public health nurse with Grand Forks. She's given out hundreds of doses and is coming up on a decade in her profession. Like many others, her family has been affected by COVID-19 and has even lost loved ones.

"At some points last year, it was pretty grim," she said. "We didn't know what to expect or when the vaccine was coming, and it was really hard to provide hope as a health care provider it was daunting."

As vaccine clinics opened, Vazquez said, hope came with it.

"Ive been telling folks that come through, its probably one of the most gratifying things Ive done in my career, just giving the vaccine," said Vasquez.

Grand Forks is in Tiers 7 and 8 of Phase 1B, meaning child care and grade school workers are now eligible to set up appointments.

To sign up for an appointment, visit http://mychart.altru.org/ or call 701-780-6358. Those that already put their name on a waitlist do not need to reach out again.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccinations, visit the Grand Forks public health department website.

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Why Grand Forks County's COVID-19 vaccination rate is among the best in the region | INFORUM - INFORUM

Georgia will open 5 more mass COVID-19 vaccination sites across the state – WSB Atlanta

March 4, 2021

I just feel like were starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The amount of people that have now got the vaccine, the amount of vaccine, has continued to increase week over week,: Kemp said. I think were going to get to that point where instead of going up 50,000 per week, its going to go 150,000 or 200,000.

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Georgia will open 5 more mass COVID-19 vaccination sites across the state - WSB Atlanta

LIST: These groups are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida and Georgia – ActionNewsJax.com

March 4, 2021

Previously, in a December 2020 executive order, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida seniors age 65 and older, health care personnel with direct patient contact, and long-term care facility residents and staff were the priority groups eligible to receive the vaccine. Hospitals could also vaccinate people they deemed to be extremely vulnerable to the virus.

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LIST: These groups are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida and Georgia - ActionNewsJax.com

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