Announcement of Michigan Moving to Next Phase of COVID-19 Vaccination

Monday January 11, 2021

Health Department continues to vaccinate Priority Groups in 1A

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the State will be moving to Phase 1B on January 11,2021, and will be vaccinating the following individuals:

• Ages 65 and older

• Frontline essential workers including:police officers, first responders, state and federal frontline workers,jail/prison staff,and pre-K to12th grade teachers and childcare providers.

Currently the Branch-Hillsdale-St Joseph Community Health Agency (BHSJCHA) has a limited supply of Moderna vaccine and is already committed to completing the Phase 1A (EMS and health care) appointments. The next available shipment of the Moderna vaccine is estimated to arrive the week of January 24th as it is in short supply. Vaccine allocation is controlled by manufacturer supply and determinations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in coordination with MDHHS. BHSJCHA will move to Phase 1B when more vaccine is received.

“We’re not there yet,” says Health officer Rebecca Burnsin response to Governor Whitmer’s announcement about moving on to Phase1B. “The vaccine is scarce and we are still making our way through the healthcare workers in Phase 1A (priority groups). While those in Phase 1B and Phase 1C are now eligible to receive the vaccine, vaccine supplies are not available yet to accommodate those individuals.”

Since December 22nd, BHSJCHA has received a total of 600 doses for the tri-county area. Promedica Coldwater has received 600 doses, Sturgis Hospital has received 200 doses, and Three Rivers Health has received 500 doses. In comparison, Hillsdale Hospital, due to its collaboration with Hillsdale College, has the capability to store the Pfizer vaccine, and has received 1,950 doses.

Vaccination has gotten off to a slow start with offices closed for the holidays as well as the need to maintain social distancing at vaccination clinics. As of January 5, 2021, the number of doses administered,by county,are:

• St. Joseph: 391

• Branch: 436

• Hillsdale: 612

BHSJCHAis currently working on planning vaccination clinics and the public will be notified when an online scheduler is launched. All vaccine clinics are by appointment only and are scheduled at specific times. There are no walk-in vaccination clinics. PLEASE NOTE: Registration for Phase 1B and Phase 1C has not started. There is no early registration or sign-up.

We understand it is frustrating to not know when you will receive the vaccine. We know you have many questions about the process, such as when it will be your turn, and how you will be notified. If you are in a critical infrastructure/essential worker role, your communication will come through your employer. If you are a person age 65 or over (or you have a family member in that category), please pay close attention to updates through the BHSJCH website, www.bhsj.org/vaccine, and Facebook page. We will notify the public via press release, social media, and our website.