Genesee County COVID-19 vaccination waiting list regrows after opening to those 50-plus with medical conditio – MLive.com

March 12, 2021

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Nearly 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the county, but a waiting list has grown back to more than 50,000 after enrollment opened to some aged 50 and older this week.

County Deputy Health Officer Kayleigh Blaney said the waiting list grew after enrollment opened to those 50 and older who have an underlying medical condition or disability or who are caretakers or guardians of children with special health care needs on Monday March 8.

Enrollment further opens to all residents 50 or older on March 22.

The county received just under 11,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine in the past week and carried out its first large-scale drive-through clinic at Bishop Airport. That shipment included 4,300 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but Blaney said the state has told the county it wont receive more of that companys one-dose vaccine for at least two weeks.

As of Thursday, March 11, 98,698 doses of vaccine had been administered in the county with the Health Department having given nearly 32 percent of the doses. Pharmacies and hospitals are also leading the vaccination effort, which has resulted in 21 percent of those 16 or older having received at least a first dose.

Countywide, there have been 22,401 COVID-19 cases and 705 deaths.

The county this week confirmed that there have been six cases of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 identified in county residents. So far, no other COVID-19 variants have been identified in the area.

Health Department officials continue to ask those who meet the vaccination requirements for Phase 1A including healthcare workers, long-term care residents and staff and Phase 1B including school and child care staff to pre-register for vaccines with those 65 and older and those whose jobs put them at higher risk due to reduced physical distancing receiving priority from Phase 1B.

Those 50 and older who have an underlying medical condition or disability or who are caretakers or guardians of children with special health care needs can also pre-register to be vaccinated.

The website to pre-register for a vaccine from the Health Department is https://www.gc4me.com/.

Senior citizens and those without computer access can also call local senior citizen centers or the Valley Area Agency on Aging at 810-600-0617 to register by phone.

Blaney said the county is working to set up a new dedicated line for residents to call directly to pre-register for a vaccination and said a tool to allow those on the waiting list to remove themselves from it is now available if individuals have already received a vaccination elsewhere.

That tool can be accessed through this web link.

Privacy Overview

Strictly Necessary Cookies