MI Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts At Colleges: Monday Briefing

LANSING, MI — With all Michiganders eligible to receive one of three COVID-19 vaccines, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is set to expand vaccinations by expanding vaccine distribution and accessibility efforts.

The state's latest method to doing so? Allocating doses of the vaccines to universities and colleges across the state.

“Vaccinations are the best tool we have to fight COVID-19 and end this pandemic,” Michigan's chief medical executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said in a statement. “We are committed to making vaccine accessibility simple and equitable, which is why we are mobilizing efforts to bring vaccines to college students, and to those who are most vulnerable or do not have access to transportation. These efforts will help us reach our goal of vaccinating at least 70% of Michiganders age 16 and up as quickly as possible.”

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In a news release, Michigan health officials said the effort to increase allocations to universities and schools aims to allow the state to vaccinate more students before they return home for the summer. As part of this measure, nearly 16,000 Johnson & Johnson doses are being shipped to local health departments associated with participating schools across the state, according to the release.

"Vaccinating this group of the population right now makes a lot of sense as thousands of college and university students near the end of their academic year and are preparing to travel back home, start new jobs, take summer vacations, and interact with their family and friends,” Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson said.

In all, 26 schools are participating in the vaccination effort, including:

• Andrews University
• Albion College
• Central Michigan University
• College for Creative Studies
• University of Michigan-Detroit
• Ferris State University
• University of Michigan-Flint
• Michigan State University
• Western Michigan University
• Kalamazoo College
• Davenport University
• Calvin University
• Cornerstone University
• Adrian College
• Northern Michigan University
• Alma College
• Oakland University
• Lawrence Technological University
• Rochester University
• Grand Valley State University
• Saginaw Valley State University
• Eastern Michigan University
• Concordia University Ann Arbor
• University of Michigan
• Wayne State University
• Finlandia University

Michigan Expands Mobile Vaccination Sites

The state also has expanded mobile vaccination sites in parts of Metro Detroit with the hopes of vaccinating people in areas of high social vulnerability index. Mobile clinics in Detroit and Hamtramck will begin vaccine outreach efforts beginning Wednesday, with the capacity to vaccinate up to 500 residents per day, according to a state news release.

“Given the rise in cases and hospitalizations, now more than ever, it is important to bring the vaccine where people are, right in their neighborhood,” Detroit Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair said Thursday. “We will be offering even more opportunities to provide vaccines to our community. We are continuing to do everything we can to make it as accessible as possible for Detroiters to get vaccinated. If it means going to neighborhoods to make it even easier, that is what we will do.”

Health officials said the expanded efforts will allow the state to work with churches and other community partners to distributed information on vaccines. People will also be able to sign up for appointments and, in some cases, transportation may be provided.

Below are mobile vaccination sites opening this week:

April 14

• Detroit Job Corps Center, 11801 Woodrow Wilson St., Detroit
• Shrine of Black Madonna, 7625 Linwood St., Detroit

April 15

• Historic King Solomon Church, 6100 14th, Detroit
• Salvation Army Harbor Light, 3737 Lawton St., Detroit

April 16

• Ernst T. Ford Field Rec. Center, 10 Pitkin St., Detroit
• Wings of Love, 17133 John R St., Detroit

April 19

• Historic Little Rock Baptist Church, 9000 Woodward, Detroit
• Greater New Mt. Moriah, 586 Owen St., Detroit

April 20

• YPAC/YALA, 2112 Holbrook St., Hamtramck
• Kabob House, 11405 Contant St., Hamtramck

April 21

• Russell Street Baptist Church, 8700 Chrysler Dr., Detroit
• Hyacinth Church, 3151 Farnsworth St., Detroit (Tentative)

April 22

• New Greater Zion Hill MBC, 18891 St. Louis St., Detroit
• Perfecting Church, 7616 Nevada, Detroit

Weather for the Week Ahead

After storms rolled through most of Michigan on Saturday — including a small EF0 tornado on the west part of the state — parts of the state will once again see rainy weather to start this week.

According to the National Weather Service in Detroit, rain is likely across Metro Detroit on Monday. From there, however, things clear up, with sunny weather expected for most of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.