Vaccinations moving to next phase, includes seniors

Michigan is doing well enough with its COVID-19 vaccinations that it is moving on to the next phase which will allow anyone over age 65, along with essential workers, to be vaccinated starting Jan. 11.

While the state got off to a slow start in mid-December getting COVID-19 vaccines in the arms of Michiganders, the pace is quickening.

“My team ( just) had a meeting with the CDC. We were told that Michigan is now in the top five states in the entire country when it comes to the percentage of Michiganders that have been vaccinated compared to other states,’’ said Dr. Joneigh Khladun, the chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday.

More than 152,000 vaccines have been administered in the state as of Tuesday, Jan. 5. Also. more than 8,300 were administered in long-term care facilities.

According to Michigan’s vaccine dashboard, the state has distributed

520,150 doses of the vaccine, far less than what has been administered.

“What appears to be a simple math problem is much more complicated.

It’s fair to say no one in this country is pleased with the speed of vaccinations and how they rolled out,’’ Khaldun said. “That said, there were some challenges. They started over the holidays which again the day they were available is when we should have started. We know that many people chose not to get a vaccine because of the holidays. We’ve been hearing anecdotally from the front lines that people are now raising their hand and saying they want a vaccine.’’

Khaldun said it’s “absolutely concerning” so she

and her team have worked over the past eight days to connect with hospital systems in the state making sure they knew who they should be vaccinating. They have also set the expectation that 90 percent of the vaccine should be in arms within seven days of its arrival at hospitals and health departments. Earlier in the week, Michigan was listed as one of the worst states in getting the vaccines administered. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said that information on the CDC website was not accurate and will be updated. “The information they shared with us today gave us more comfort that they are seeing what’s happening in Michigan on the ground,’’ Whitmer said. Khaldun explained the lag time between distribution and administering the vaccine. “When you look at our website, you’ll see the day these local health departments, health systems and others receive the vaccine. At that moment our website will update to show there’s a lot of vaccine in the state,’’ Khaldun said. “It takes more than an hour to get all those various people vaccinated so it does take time. That’s why we’re giving seven days from receipt to get those vaccines in" Whitmer said there are not enough vaccines coming from the feds. “If we are moving fast enough, we will likely run out each week given the allocation we are receiving now. We have a limited supply so running out on a regular basis would be a good thing because it means people are getting vaccinated faster,’’ Whitmer said.

The first phase was to get health care workers vaccinated. That remains under way and will run parallel with the next phase that was announced on Wednesday. It is for those over 65 and essential workers like school and childcare staff, frontline, local, state and federal first responders and staff in jails and prisons and shelters, according to Whitmer.

“We are simplifying the eligibility for frontline workers to those who have the highest level of potential exposure in their jobs. We want to focus on those who are the most vulnerable to severe illness,’’ said Whitmer, noting that 80 percent of COVID deaths have occurred among those age 65 and older, while those over age 75 account for 60 percent of all COVID-related deaths.

Whitmer and Khaldun expressed the need for patience to those who want the vaccine. Also, appointments will be necessary in all cases.