March 22 – Detroit – Detroit Mayor Mike Douggan said Monday that adults who work in the city for their jobs and Detroit residents working in the city or suburbs are now eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Eligibility is for people who need to report work, not people who can work remotely. The city has expanded access to all Detroiters aged 16 or over, including those with disabilities or internal health conditions, caregivers and guardians.
These two groups – more than 400,000 people, are probably the largest eligibility expansion by the city, depending on how many companies have to return employees, said city spokesman John Roach.
City health department employees will also perform on-site vaccinations at any company that may have 100 or more employees present at a time.
“I really think the city could be fully open again by summer,” Doug said. “We have to act now.”
For the next two weeks, Douggan said he’s focused on people returning to work in the city.
“You work in any business in the city … it doesn’t matter. If your job keeps you in touch with others, you can call (313) 230-0505 and get an appointment this week.” Said Doug. “Or if you’re a Detroiter who goes to work in the suburbs, you deserve it.”
A 2018 study from the University of Michigan found that the city employs 65,715 Detroit residents and 177,800 non-residents, while 148,000 Detroiters work in the suburbs.
Eligibility expansion comes as the city expects a larger allocation of doses from the federal government in the coming days.
The city’s chief public health officer, Dennis Fair, said the Troit health department is awaiting confirmation of when and how many doses Johnson and Johnson will receive in their first shipment of the expected vaccine next week. Once shipments are confirmed, the city will begin mass vaccination sites at the Northwest Activities Center on 18100 Meyers Road by the end of the month, he said.
“We are waiting for Johnson and Johnson to be vaccinated so that we can provide our residents with another highly effective vaccine. Detroiters now have a choice of what vaccine they get and where they get it.” Fair said.
Rising positive rates
The city’s positivity rate has more than doubled in the last 10 days as the rate approaches 200 times the dose.
“Detroit’s COVID-19 positivity rate jumped from 2.8% to 6.3%. Our numbers are going in the wrong direction,” Fair said. “It’s also on the rise in our hospital admissions. A few weeks ago, we had 69 hospital admissions patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and now we’re 91. We’re sounding the alarm.”
Both issues mimic what is going on across the state. The positivity of Michigan’s Covid-19 test was .4..4 %% last week, which is a 10 week high. As of Monday, there have been 1,404 adult hospital admissions from the virus, a 50% increase from 936 hospital admissions last week.
On Monday the state opened the eligibility for 16 to 49 people over the age of 50 and people with certain medical conditions or disabilities.
All Michigan residents aged 16 and over became eligible for the April 5 shot. President J. Biden called on states to open eligibility for all adults by May 1.
1,544 confirmed viruses in the city. Confirmed, resulting in 1,864 deaths.
In Detroit, 15% of residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. This compares with 27% in Owen Wayne County, 23% in MacComb, 27% in Land Calendar, 29% in Wash Shut Aw and 26% in Michigan.
Eighty-five percent of the 190,730 doses received in the city have been administered and about 50,000 appointments have been scheduled between TCF Center, Senior Saturday and Satellite Clinics, arranged by the health department.
Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and about a dozen members of the Michigan congressional delegation visited the Ford Field Mass Vaccination Clinic on Monday as it prepares to open this week. The site will distribute 20,000 vaccines daily for the next eight weeks.
As of Monday, Meijer has registered 110,000 people for the FEMA site. Officials said the appointment of about 14,000 people is on schedule and another 20,000 appointment invitations will be sent by the end of the day.
The site is operated with the assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Henry Ford Health System provides medical oversight.
How to book a vaccine appointment
To book an appointment at Ford Field, register online at Clinic.Mizer / Register / CC 2021. Text “Endcovid” to 75049 and select Ford Field as location. Those who are unable to go online can press the MDHHS COVID-19 hotline at (888) 535-6136 (Press 1)
Any large employer is able to line up at least 100 employees in advance, calling the Detroit Health Department at (844) 333-8249 to call the Troit Means Business Call Center for site vaccinations.
Senior Saturdays have now been extended to say “Community Saturday” for all characters. Residents can call (313) 230-0505 from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm to schedule visits to the TCF Center or Senior Saturday locations.
Appointments are available at the following locations:
– Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC 19190 Schaefer
– 18211 New Providence Baptist at Plymouth
– Galilee Baptist Church 5251 AD. Outer drive
– 10735 Ministries of Great Faith International on the Grand River at Oakman
– Grace Community Church on 21001 Moros Road (second volume only)
– 2260 s. Camney Recreation Center on Fort Street (second dose only)
– Fellowship Chapel 7707 W. Outer drive (second dose only)
– Second Ebenezer Church on 14601 Dw Kinder (second volume only)
Twitter: @Sarharhal_
Staff writer Craig Maugher contributed
