All Michigan adults will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine by April 5



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Michigan’s coronavirus vaccine eligibility is set to increase dramatically.

As of Monday, March 22, any resident 16 years of age or older with a disability or health condition that puts them at a higher risk of severe cases of COVID-19 will be eligible for a vaccine, according to Friday morning 12. March, Governor Office announcement.

Additionally, all Michiganders aged 16 and over will be eligible for a photo shoot starting Monday, April 5. This is much earlier than the previous screening, which had all remaining adults eligible from mid to late summer.

The announcement came after President Joe Biden ordered states Thursday night to make all adults eligible for a vaccine by May 1.

State officials are asking vaccine suppliers to consider an individual’s risk of exposure due to their job and vulnerability to serious illness when scheduling an appointment. While eligibility will increase dramatically, it should take several weeks after April 5 for anyone who wants a vaccine to get an appointment.

“The safe COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective way to protect yourself, your family and others from the virus,” Governor Whitmer said in a prepared statement. “It will help the country get back to normal and help the economy.

“Almost a million Michiganders of all races have already been safely vaccinated. I urge all eligible Michiganders to obtain one of the three COVID-19 vaccines. Getting our country back to normal is essential, so that we can all embrace our families, return to work, eat out, send our kids to school, play sports and get together. And as always: mask yourself, practice safe social distancing, and avoid large indoor gatherings where COVID-19 can easily spread from person to person. We will eliminate this virus together. “

Medical conditions that put individuals at a higher risk of serious illness from coronavirus include cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD. Down syndrome, heart disease, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy. It also includes people who are immunocompromised following a solid organ transplant, obesity (BMI of 30 kg / m2 or more but <40 kg / m2), severe obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell anemia, smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Other conditions that could increase your risk and thus make you eligible for a vaccine earlier include moderate to severe asthma, cerebrovascular disease. cystic fibrosis, hypertension or high blood pressure, dementia, liver disease, pulmonary fibrosis, thalassemia and type 1 diabetes mellitus, or if you have had a blood or bone marrow transplant or if you are using corticosteroids or other medications. weakened immune system.

Check with your local hospital or health department for the procedure for registering a vaccine. You should also check local pharmacies like Meijer, Rite Aid, or Cardinal Health.

Residents who do not have internet access or need help navigating the vaccine planning process can call the COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136 (press 1), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or can call 2-1-1.

As of Wednesday evening, about 22% of Michigan’s adults and 57% of the state’s seniors have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the state’s health department.

A total of 2,835,638 doses of vaccine were administered, including 1,824,772 first doses and 1,010,866 second doses. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two injections weeks apart, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose.

Even with the increase in COVID-19 vaccinations, Dr Joneigh Khaldun, the state medical director, still urges everyone to continue practicing preventative measures such as wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing to reduce the spread of the virus until the vast majority of people have been vaccinated.

Learn more about MLive:

1M in Michigan are now fully vaccinated; see the numbers in your county

9 things we were totally wrong about COVID-19 a year ago

Friday March 12 Coronavirus Data By Michigan County: Missaukee Now Has Over 20% Positivity Rate

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