COVID-19 Vaccination Update

Wednesday January 13, 2021

Vaccination of Category 1A continues, Category 1B and 65-75 year olds may now schedule

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency (BHSJCHA) is asking for patience as scheduling for COVID-19 vaccine appointments become available to category 1B and 65-74 year olds. COVID-19 vaccine supply remains limited. If you are now eligible for vaccination, it does not mean vaccination is immediately available to you. BHSJCHA is following the prioritization guidelines issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services that gives priority to people with greater risk.

Any individual in category 1A who lives or works in the tri-county area that has not yet been vaccinated is encouraged to schedule their appointment. Category 1A individuals needing assistance with getting an appointment may call 517-279-9561 option #7.

At least 30,000 more individuals in Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph Counties are now eligible for vaccination. This includes people 65 years of age and older and frontline, essential workers with frequent or ongoing exposure as a part of their work, including first responders, police officers, jail and prison staff, pre-K-12 teachers and educational staff, and workers in childcare centers and protective services. This does not include all essential workers or other infrastructure workers.

This week, January 11th through January 15th, BHSJCHA has three vaccine clinics scheduled that are already completely booked. These mass vaccination clinics are by appointment only. Appointments are only open to people who live and work in the tri-county area and can be made using the online scheduler on this website at www.bhsj.org and clicking on the yellow banner. Individuals without access to the internet can call our office for assistance with scheduling at 517-279-9561 option #7. More clinics will be posted on our website as they become available.

“As clinics open up to this new group, there will not be enough vaccine to vaccinate everyone who wants it immediately,” says Health officer Rebecca Burns. “The vaccine is scarce and the number of potential individuals to vaccinate in category 1B is large. Please be patient as we work to get vaccine into the arms of residents of Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph counties.”

Since December 22nd, BHSJCHAhas received a total of 1575 doses for the tri-county area.