MEDIA ADVISORY I December 17, 2020
Media Contacts: Kristina Wieghmink, OCDPH Public Information Officer
kwieghmink@miottawa.org I mobile/text 616-510-8523
Michele Coffill, GVSU University Communications
coffillm@gvsu.edu I mobile 616-634-7870
The Ottawa County Department of Public Health to administer its first COVID-19 vaccine to an EMS worker tomorrow at the GVSU Holland campus
Partnership with GVSU enables facility use for public health officials to administer the COVID-19 vaccine
Vaccination for COVID-19 is the path forward to controlling the disease and protecting our community. The Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) has received 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine that was the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by the FDA for emergency use on December 11, 2020. In partnership with Grand Valley State University (GVSU), the OCDPH will start administering the COVID-19 vaccine at the GVSU Holland Campus tomorrow. The first dose is to be received by an EMS worker. The OCDPH will primarily vaccinate EMS personnel and other individuals facilitating the vaccination and testing site locations. More than 200 doses are expected to be given on Friday, with hundreds to follow next week.
"The long-anticipated day of receiving vaccine has finally arrived," said OCDPH Health Officer Lisa Stefanovsky. "We are grateful for the continued partnership with GVSU and providing a facility to help our department administer the vaccine as quickly as possible."
“Since the late winter and the beginning of this pandemic, the university has partnered with the Ottawa County Department of Public Health," said GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella. "Guidance and expertise from officials there have been critical to helping us keep our community safe. We are pleased to offer the Holland Campus as space to roll out vaccinations.”
Gregory Sanial, GVSU vice president for Finance and Administration, said making the Holland Campus available for vaccinations was an easy decision because of the partnership between the two entities. "This is another example of how well we work with the Health Department," said Sanial, who also serves as director of GVSU's Virus Action Team. "They needed space and thought the Holland Campus would be a good location; we came to an agreement in about 10 minutes."
Other frontline health care workers and workers and residents of long-term care facilities will receive their vaccination from area hospitals and pharmacies. As supplies of the vaccine increase, those at lower risk will qualify. Public health officials project all adults will able to get vaccinated by mid to late 2021. Vaccination in one phase may not be complete before vaccination in another phase begins. There may be vaccination of individuals in different phases that occurs simultaneously. The timing of the start of vaccination in a phase is dependent on the supply of vaccine from the manufacturer, how vaccine is allocated from the federal level to Michigan, and the capacity to administer the vaccine to populations. Sign up to receive the latest local vaccine information at VaccinateWestMI.com.
Media Professionals: To attend the event, please send an email to kwieghmink@miottawa.org stating your name and affiliation. Setup will begin at 8:45 a.m. with the first vaccination expected to be given at 9:00 a.m.
Grand Valley Frederik Meijer Campus in Holland at 515 S Waverly Rd, Holland
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