January 6, 2021

Media Contacts 
Kristina Wieghmink, Ottawa County public information officer
kwieghmink@miottawa.org I mobile/text 616-510-8523

Steve Kelso, Kent County public information officer
steve.kelso@kentcountymi.gov I mobile/text 616-202-8376

Rick Jensen, Spectrum Health media relations 
richard.jensen@spectrumhealth.org | mobile/text 616-706-2608

Jamie Allen, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health communications
Jamie.Allen@metrogr.org I 616-252-5033

Amy Rotter, Mercy Health communications
Amy.Rotter@mercyhealth.com I 616-260-5101

All Phase 1A Groups
Now Scheduling COVID-19 Vaccination

Some of Phase 1B to begin next week

West Michigan area health departments and hospitals strongly encourage everyone in Phase 1A (see full list below) to register for and get their COVID-19 vaccine immediately. Individuals in these categories can find more registration information at VaccinateWestMI.com/register.

Vaccine administrators are working to vaccinate as many people in Phase 1A as soon as possible before moving on to those in Phase 1B. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has authorized vaccinations for individuals in Phase 1B starting on Monday, January 11. See more information below.

If you are in Phase 1A, getting the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible will help protect you from infection and sustain essential services. This vaccine is a two-dose series, and it is critical you receive the second dose to be considered fully vaccinated and immune. Vaccination is highly recommended but not mandatory. You should not receive COVID-19 vaccine if you are:

• In isolation or quarantine for COVID-19.
• Pregnant or lactating, without first consulting with your healthcare provider to weigh the risks and benefits.
• Have received any other vaccine in the last 14 days.
• Have received monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 disease in the last 90 days.

If you identify as being in Phase 1A, please schedule an appointment for vaccination now. For those who qualify based on employment, bring a proof of license or employment such as an ID badge, employer letter, paystub, etc., along with a driver’s license or State ID.

Registration is required. Please only register yourself. You will be able to select the vaccine clinic most convenient for you. All registration forms pre-fill appointment forms at the vaccine clinic. Remember to wear appropriate clothing – short sleeves are recommended.

Phase 1A Includes:

• Emergency medical service providers, including medical first responders
• General medical floor
• Emergency department
• Intensive care units
• Skilled nursing facility staff
• Psychiatric hospital staff
• Homes for aged staff
• Adult foster care centers staff
• Assisted living facility staff
• Home health care workers caring for high risk clients with large patient loads (e.g. people with a tracheostomy/ventilator at home)
• Skilled nursing facility residents
• Psychiatric hospitals patients
• Homes for aged residents
• Adult foster care centers residents
• Assisted living facility residents
• Workers with direct patient contact who conduct high risk procedures (e.g., dentists, endoscopy, dialysis)
• Workers who have direct patient contact, including outpatient, urgent care, ambulatory care, and home health care
• Workers with specialized skills critical to health care system functioning who have indirect patient contact (e.g. hospital and public health laboratories, pharmacy, and medical waste handlers).
• ANY other licensed health care or mental health care provider and office support staff. These include physical therapists, speech therapists, ophthalmologists, chiropractors, LMSW counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, orthodontists, etc.

The phased rollout began mid-December, 2020. Various jurisdictions/counties may receive either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine based on their storage capacity. Each jurisdiction may be at different paces within the phases depending on its population size and types of industries in their area (medical, high-risk, essential workers, etc.). Vaccination in one phase may not be completed before vaccination in another phase begins. The federal government recognizes it is not necessary to fully complete vaccination in one phase before moving on to the next phase. 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 the vaccine is allocated from the federal level to Michigan and the capacity to administer the vaccine to populations. Learn More

Some of Phase 1B Opening on Monday, January 11

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has authorized local public health departments and hospitals to start vaccinating Phase 1B individuals on Monday, January 11, 2021, as vaccine supplies are available. This includes individuals 65 years of age and older and frontline essential workers. (See specific information below.) These groups are people who may be more vulnerable, such as those who have a greater risk of severe disease complications or a greater risk of exposure to the virus.

More information is to come on how and where to schedule an appointment.
Priority may be given to adults 65 years of age or older for vaccine appointments.
Registration for Phase 1B has not launched yet but will be available soon at
VaccinateWestMI.com.
Sign-up to receive vaccine availability notifications.

Phase 1B Includes:

• People 65 years of age or older not covered in Phase 1A. This includes those in a congregate setting that were not reached in Phase 1A.
  
  
• Prioritized frontline workers whose work role has frequent or intense exposure, and, due to the nature of the work, are not able to maintain social distance. For example, a first responder may have to physically touch other people in their response, and a child care provider cannot maintain social distance from children when caring for their physical needs.
  
  The specific prioritized categories are:
  
  • Pre-Kindergarten through high school teachers, support staff and child care workers who usually have direct contact with children
  • First responders not covered in Phase 1A (e.g., firefighters, police, conservation officers, inspectors)
  • Corrections workers (e.g., staff in prisons, jails, juvenile justice facilities)
  • Workers in homeless shelters, congregate child care institutions, and adult and child protective services

If further sub-prioritization is needed of frontline essential workers due to limited vaccine supply, MDHHS will consider prioritizing workers in locations where high rates of transmission and/or outbreaks have occurred and workers who are at increased risk for severe illness based on age or underlying medical conditions.

LEARN MORE

MDHHS Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine Information I Distribution Guidance I Vaccine Locations

COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help stop the pandemic

• Wearing masks and physical distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.
  
  
• The combination of getting vaccinated and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.
  
  
• Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools we have available. As experts learn more about how COVID-19 vaccination may help reduce spread of the disease in communities, CDC will continue to update the recommendations to protect communities using the latest science.

LEARN MORE