Wayne County to start vaccinating teachers as county receives more doses

STRAIT – The Wayne County Public Health Division is expected to receive 8,375 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

While that number is a big difference from the 4,350 doses the county received on its last shipment, there is still a major shortage. That said, the priority of this expedition will be that of the class.

“We’re pretty much spending the vast majority of the offering to get started with our educators starting next week,” said Genelle Allen, Wayne County COO.

In just a few days, almost all of the 8,375 newly received doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will go into the arms of Wayne County educators.

“It will probably take us another four to five weeks to get vaccinated because we actually have over 20,000 educators registered in our Wayne County,” Allen added.

A d

But Wayne County is still technically in Phase 1A, which covers the necessary freelance healthcare workers – a group of 18,000 registered residents in the county.

“We’re about a third of the way. But we do recognize that the governor said she would like all the schools to be back in person by March 1, so we thought we really needed to step up and step up, ”Allen said. “We come to our educators.”

While for educators this may be great news, seniors like Debbie Pettitt, 68, are still patiently waiting for their turn to get vaccinated – even though countless more have already been vaccinated.

A d

“I think the teachers should take priority over me,” Pettitt said. “But it’s always disheartening to have so many people in my social circle who already have vaccines and have received a second invitation. And I’m not going anywhere.

Especially considering the fact that Pettitt suffers from multiple chronic heart and lung conditions.

LILY: High-risk woman in metro Detroit meets roadblock as healthier friends get vaccinated

“Hopefully that would put me and a lot of people like me at the top of the list, but it doesn’t seem to be a priority in any way,” Pettitt added.

Either way, Allen said Pettitt’s time will eventually come with others who find themselves in a similar situation.

“We just have a lot of people who fall into that very high category who are competing with such a small number of supplies,” Allen concluded.

A d

Allen also said that if his team were not happy with the amount of doses received compared to other counties, the 8,375 doses would be a step in the right direction.

---

---

Evans said he met state officials in Lansing on Thursday because the Wayne County Public Health Division reportedly received fewer vaccines than health departments in other less populous counties.

The disparity in vaccine allocation was slowing Wayne County’s efforts to immunize high-priority healthcare providers, educators and other essential workers as part of the state’s Phase 1A and Phase 1B distribution plan said Evans.

Under an agreement between Wayne County and local health systems, residents of the county 65 years of age and older are vaccinated through these health systems.

“I will continue to lobby the state of Michigan until the Wayne County Public Health Division receives the amount of vaccine needed to meet the needs of its residents,” Evans said.

A d

LILY: Michigan COVID-19 Vaccinations: How to Find Appointments, Phase Information

More information on the Wayne County vaccination program can be read on its official website here.

---