Hi there,
As you likely heard, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) continue expanding vaccination eligibility in Michigan. This is a promising strategy to help the state meet goals of vaccinating those eligible as quickly as possible.
Additionally, it has been announced that Detroit's Ford Field will be converted to a regional vaccination site that includes Oakland County. The site will open on March 24 to administer 6,000 doses a day for two months. See information below to register.
While we are encouraged by this news and the fact vaccine supplies have slowly increased, there remains a limited amount of vaccine available, and hundreds of thousands of people still left to vaccinate in Oakland County.
Even if you are now eligible, there is still a waitlist for available appointments.
The Health Division will continue to prioritize vaccination of individuals who live and work in Oakland County based on highest risk including older adults, disability/medical conditions, essential/frontline workers and communities who many have more difficulty accessing vaccine.
This week, our weekly Vaccine Update video highlights COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy and breastfeeding. We are grateful to new mother and Senator Mallory McMorrow and our Medical Director, Dr. Faust for helping answer some frequently asked questions about this topic. There are more resources below. Please take a few minutes to watch:
The state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard reports 440,620 doses have been given to Oakland County residents by all providers including 121,100 doses administered by Oakland County.
In good health,
Leigh-Anne Stafford
Director, Health and Human Services
Michigan expands vaccine eligibility
Last week, the State of Michigan announced that an expansion of eligibility will begin on Monday March 22, for Michiganders ages 16 and older with disabilities or medical conditions that put them at high risk. The state also announced that beginning Monday, April 5, all Michiganders age 16 and up who were not previously eligible will be eligible to receive a vaccine.
This is in addition to Michigan moving forward as of Monday, March 8, with vaccination of Michiganders age 50 and older with medical conditions or disabilities and caregiver family members and guardians who care for children with special health care needs.
Vaccination of one eligible priority group may not be complete before vaccination of another group begins. Appointment invitations are sent directly to those signed up on the Save Your Spot list by priority eligibility group and the time of sign-up.
Visit oaklandcountyvaccine.com to view who Oakland County Health Division is currently vaccinating. The state’s recent vaccine prioritization guidelines can be found on Michigan’s COVID-19 website.
Registration open for Ford Field vaccination clinic
Registration for the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Ford Field in Detroit is now open. The site is set to officially open on March 24. It will operate from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., seven days a week, for eight weeks under the federal government's vaccination pilot program.
Sign-up is available through these three options:
- Online at meijer.com/register/CL2021
- Text EndCOVID to 75049
- Call the MDHHS COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 (press 1)
- Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is expected that the call center will have long wait times, so calling is recommended only for people who cannot register online or by text.
People who have registered will receive an invitation either by voice or text when it’s their turn to schedule the appointment. Vaccine appointments will be scheduled a few days in advance.
Vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are hoping to become pregnant, are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have advised that any of the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines can be offered.
While limited, current safety data on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy and breastfeeding do not show safety concerns. However, pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness or negative pregnancy outcomes if they get COVID-19.
If you have questions, talk to your healthcare provider. CDC also recommends contacting MotherToBaby.org if you would like to speak someone about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. Free and confidential experts are available to answer questions in English or Spanish by phone or chat.
Vaccinated by another provider? Remove Your Spot
Have you been vaccinated by another provider and would like to remove your spot in Oakland County’s COVID-19 vaccine line? You can now take yourself off of Oakland County’s Save Your Spot list by completing this form. If you have been vaccinated by Oakland County Health Division, you do not need to remove yourself, that will occur automatically.
OaklandCountyVaccine.com is the best place to receive the latest information.
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