More COVID vaccines pouring into state, more local vaccination opportunity available

COVID-19 vaccine supplies are increasing and so is local distribution options for expanded age groups, including through the West Michigan Vaccine Clinic, Metro Health and SpartanNash pharmacies and special clinics. (SpartanNash)

By K.D. Norris

This week, as the West Michigan Vaccine Clinic at DeVos Place announced it had given a one-day record of 12,532 first vaccine doses on March 29, the State of Michigan announced next week’s shipment of federally supplied doses of vaccine would increase to a total of 620,040 vaccines, which would be a weekly record high for the state.

And those are just the start of the good news for COVID-19 distribution, as Kent County announced this week that the West Michigan Vaccine Clinic is immediately expanding vaccine availability to everyone 16 years of age and older, Metro Health will open its vaccine availability to 16 and up on April 5, and SpartanNash will be hosting pair of COVID-19 vaccine clinics, April 2 and April 6, in Hudsonville as part of a larger community roll-out to the public.

“Receiving a COVID-19 vaccination is the best way to help stop this virus and pandemic,” Lori Raya, SpartanNash executive vice president, said in supplied material. “Getting vaccinated adds one more layer of protection for you, your coworkers, your family and your loved ones … we look forward to administering more than 2,200 total vaccines in the next week and beyond.”

West Michigan Vaccine Clinic

The West Michigan Vaccine Clinic at DeVos Place — operated by Kent County, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health in collaboration with Vaccinate West Michigan — is available by appointment only. Patients can self-schedule at wmvaccineclinic.org.

To set up an appointment at the clinic for someone ages 16 or 17, or for people who need special assistance, persons are asked to call 833-755-0696. A parent or guardian must accompany minors.

Additionally, non-clinical volunteers are needed with greeting clinic attendees, providing directional assistance, escorting attendees who need help, sanitizing and organizing supplies, performing temperature checks and more. Volunteers need not have prior healthcare experience.

While the clinic has special capacity to provide 20,000 vaccinations, it has been limited by vaccine supplies.

SpartanNash clinics

The SpartanNash clinics on April 2 and April 6 will be held at 5221 Cherry St., in Hudsonville, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Appointments are available to schedule three days prior to each clinic and are based on Michigan’s expanded vaccination eligibility. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, visit shopfamilyfare.com/covid19vaccine.

To ensure the safety of both patients and pharmacists, customers must have an existing appointment and complete a health screening prior to receiving the vaccination. The vaccine will be administered at no cost to patients.

For those unable to attend the clinics, COVID-19 vaccines are also available to store guests at SpartanNash pharmacies throughout Michigan. Participating pharmacies include Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Martin’s Super Markets and Forest Hills Foods.

More federal supplies; higher state goals

On March 31, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer raised Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccination goal from 50,000 to 100,000 shots per day.

The new goal is “based on the state’s successful efforts to expand equitable and efficient vaccine administration by partnering with private and public organizations in communities across the state, and is made possible by continuous week-over-week increases in the number of vaccines allocated to the state of Michigan,” according to a statement from the state.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, at a January news conference. (State of Michigan)

For 38 days, the state has met or exceeded its original goal of administering 50,000 vaccinations per day. As of March 31, Michigan has administered 4,207,102 vaccines, moving the state closer to its goal of “equitably vaccinating at least 70 percent of Michiganders ages 16 and older” as soon as possible.

“Michigan is making great strides as our rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines continues ramping up,” Gov. Whitmer said in supplied material. “These new, higher vaccine targets are a testament to what we can do together … I urge everyone to continue doing their part with masks, social distancing, and hand washing, and when you are eligible, get your vaccine.”

In next week’s shipment, according to the statement, the federal government will increase the state’s direct allocation by 66,020 doses and the total allocation includes 147,800 doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

In addition to the state’s direct allocation, the governor also applauded “the millions of additional doses being sent to federally partnered retail pharmacies across the country, including numerous locations in Michigan,” such as SpartanNash.

“The state is working hand-in-hand with health care systems, local health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, primary care providers and others to get Michiganders vaccinated with the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as possible,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health,” said in supplied material. “Providers have administered more than four million doses in just four months and we praise and appreciate their willingness to serve their communities, and are confident they will meet and exceed the new 100,000 shots per day goal.”