Michigan enters the new vaccine phase on Monday amid delay in launch

DETROIT – Michigan will move to the next vaccination phase on Monday, which includes teachers, first responders, childcare providers and residents aged 65 and over.

Skilled essential workers, teachers and child assistants will be notified by their employers of vaccine clinic dates and locations, said Governor Whitmer. Eligible residents must not go to any of the clinics without an appointment.

Residents may not be able to make an appointment immediately and availability varies by region.

The new phase is a turning point in the pandemic COVID-19, but there are still major problems and struggles to meet demand.

As eligibility increased, so did demand. There have been so many attempts to get the first dose of the vaccine that the largest hospital system in the state – Beaumont Health – has crashed completely.

As the number of people who can be vaccinated increases, the supply is well below expectations.

Macomb County executive Mark Hackel criticized the governor and said the county is capable of handling 50,000 vaccines a week, but has only received 1,000.

“I’m just going to say that the governor has promised something that the state health departments cannot deliver on,” said Hackel.

Whitmer said the state is receiving 60,000 vaccines from Pfizer each week and that they have been sent consistently. She repeated her request for more help from the federal government on Friday.

“We still need a national strategy. I’ve been saying for months, if it was about getting masks, the start or doing tests or an economic recovery, or relief – now vaccines, ”said Whitmer. “There is still no national strategy.”

Since vaccine supply is limited, residents must make an appointment. More information on how to make an appointment can be found here.

READ: 6 lessons from Governor Whitmer’s COVID briefing