COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION
On Monday, Jan. 11, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) began vaccinating residents 65 and older along with frontline workers — including police officers, first responders, frontline state and federal workers and jail and prison staff, and preK-12 teachers and childcare providers — to help reach the state’s goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders over age 16 and bring a quicker end to the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan.
Since then, the state has been working around the clock to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine is distributed and administered as quickly as possible. Vaccination is our path back to normal life and a strong economy.
If you fall into the above-named categories of individuals eligible to start receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, you should contact your county health department or local vaccine clinic to schedule your vaccination appointments. Don’t know how to reach them? Read on for more information, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can get the COVID-19 vaccination right now?
All counties in Michigan are now vaccinating residents over age 65.
I’m not over age 65, so when can I receive the COVID-19 vaccine?Priority groups and phases set by MDHHS, following guidance from the CDC, are as follows:
- Phase 1A: Paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials, and who are unable to work from home, as well as residents in long-term care facilities.
- Phase 1B: Persons 75 years of age or older and frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure.
- Phase 1C: Individuals 16 years of age or older at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection and some other essential workers whose position impacts life, safety, and protection during the COVID-19 response.
- Phase 2: Individuals 16 years of age or older.
How do I schedule an appointment to get vaccinated?
Visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine to find your local health department and other local vaccine clinics near you. You should schedule your COVID-19 vaccination appointments through your county health department or local vaccine clinic. Please note that you must have an appointment scheduled to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; walk-ins will not be accepted.
It is also important to note that there is limited vaccine available in the state, and so there will be limited appointments available. As more vaccine becomes available, the state will be able to move more quickly through the priority groups.
How many doses of the vaccine will I need to get?
The COVID-19 vaccine will require two doses, separated by three or four weeks depending on the manufacturer (Pfizer vaccines are given 3 weeks apart; Moderna vaccines are given 4 weeks apart). Michiganders should receive both doses to have full protection from the virus.
Do I still need to wear a mask and practice social distancing once I receive the vaccine?
Yes, you should continue to wear a mask, social distance from people not in your household, and wash your hands often, even after receiving the vaccine.
How much does it cost to get vaccinated?
There will be no out-of-pocket costs to individuals for the vaccine, however, health care providers may bill insurance for administrative costs.
Are there any possible side effects I should be aware of?
You may experience mild side effects such as a low-grade fever, sore arm, and general discomfort, which indicate that the vaccine is working. There is a robust state and national process for tracking vaccines and reporting side effects.
I have already had COVID-19, so should I still get vaccinated?
Yes, there is not enough information currently available to say if, or how long after infection, you are protected from getting COVID-19 again. Current research suggests that a natural immunity doesn’t last long, so getting the vaccine is still important.
Will I be required to get the vaccine?
MDHHS, the CDC, and local public health officials highly recommend you get the COVID-19 vaccine, but there may be religious or medical reasons that allow you to opt out of receiving it. You should talk with your doctor about any concerns you have.
Where can I find more information?
For more information, call the state’s COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 or visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine. As additional information and resources become available, it will be posted to this site.
OAKLAND COUNTY CONTACT INFORMATION
If you are a patient of one of the hospital systems in our area, check your online medical chart or portal to make sure they have your most current contact information. Here are the hospital systems we know of that are administering vaccines:
If you are an essential worker in Priority Groups 1 A and B, check with your employer. If your employer does not have vaccinations available for you, check your health system mentioned above and go to the Oakland County Vaccine Hub website and complete the “Save Your Spot” form. They use this to set appointments. If you are high priority, they will see that from your answers to the questions and contact you sooner rather than later.
If you live or work in Oakland County and are age 65 or older, you also should fill out the “Save Your Spot” form. Again, they will contact you as soon as an appointment becomes available.
If you do not have access to the internet or cannot complete the form, you can call the Oakland County Nurse on Call (NOC) line at 1-800-848-5533 and they will complete the registration for you. Please understand they are currently receiving thousands of calls per day, so you should only use the line if you need to. They have a new system that allows you to leave your name and number, so they will call you back rather than you having to wait for hours on hold.
If you live in Oakland County but work in another county, you may be able to receive a vaccination from that county, so you might want to check the other county’s website for instructions.
>> For updates and the latest information, please visit the Oakland County COVID-19 Vaccine website.
Stay safe and be well,
Rosemary Bayer
State Senator
12th District