Friday, March 26 Update

Hi there,

We are close to ending a week where we received the most COVID-19 vaccine yet at 26,400 doses. 

This was made possible through our usual supplies from the state, but also from participating in special vaccination programs.  This includes participating in FEMA’s regional vaccination program that began March 24.  Watch our weekly Vaccine Update video or read more below about how we are partnering with FEMA to offer pop-up vaccination sites in targeted communities:

Collectively, we are holding 16 COVID-19 vaccine clinics this week and redistributing vaccine to 28 providers.

We are also excited to add United Wholesale Mortgage’s Sports Complex in Pontiac as one of our large vaccination locations.  We expect to vaccinate an average of 2,000-3,000 residents per event once we can begin to use the site, and we can scale up to 5,000 appointments per day if adequate vaccine supply becomes available.

We are proud that the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard reports 510,344 doses have been given to Oakland County residents by all providers including 152,521 doses administered by Oakland County.

In good health,

Leigh-Anne Stafford

Director, Health and Human Services

FEMA pop-up vaccination sites launched in Oakland County

On Wednesday, the regional COVID-19 vaccination site at Ford Field opened as one of the nation’s first Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) community vaccination sites. For the next eight-weeks, the goal is to administer 6,000 doses each day within the broader southeast Michigan region. 

The facility is managed by the State of Michigan with support from FEMA, Wayne County, the City of Detroit, Ford Field, Meijer, Henry Ford Health System, and the Detroit Lions. 

As part of this broad effort, FEMA is also supporting local efforts that establish pop-up or mobile vaccination centers, including in Oakland County, to bring vaccines closer to people that need them.  This partnership is another way FEMA supports communities and gets vaccine to hard-to-reach and high-risk populations who cannot access services from larger, fixed sites.

The Health Division has received additional doses of vaccine from FEMA to operate targeted pop-up vaccination sites. These vaccine sites are in addition to Oakland County’s regular sites operating throughout the county. 

Over the next eight-weeks, we are working closely with community partners and organizations to offer these sites to priority populations.  FEMA sponsored sites are in areas identified from CDC’s social vulnerability index and Census population data, as well as within communities with lower vaccination rates to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines.

This week, four of these sites will be held vaccinating over 2,300 more Oakland County residents.

Spring holidays and travel - Precautions for vaccinated individuals

Although COVID-19 vaccination rates continue to increase, vaccinated individuals should still take precautions during traditional spring activities including holidays and travel. 

Holiday gatherings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states fully vaccinated people can gather indoors without physical distancing or wearing masks with:

• Other people who are fully vaccinated (2 weeks after final dose of vaccine)
• Unvaccinated people from one other household, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19

If you are fully vaccinated, wear masks and stay 6 feet apart from other people if you will be in public, visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households or those with underlying conditions until more is known about vaccination.

Michigan’s recent epidemic order in effect  through April 19 provides more guidance regarding residential and non-residential gatherings.

Travel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people delay non-essential travel, even if vaccinated. If you must travel, take steps to protect yourself and others:

• If available to you, get fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Wait 2 weeks after getting your final vaccine dose to travel.
• Get tested 1-3 days before your trip.
• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth in public.
• Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet from others.

• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

• Get tested 3-5 days after your trip. Stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days if you test negative. If you don’t get tested, stay home for 10 days after travel.

OaklandCountyVaccine.com is the best place to receive the latest information.