By K.D. Norris
While community groups and entertainment venues tentatively plan for a fall with more relaxed COVID-19 related restrictions — with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in fact, laying out a plan for return to normal focused on a 70 percent vaccination total — most government and health officials agree that vaccination rates will be a key factor.
And as vaccination rates begin to slow, in West Michigan and across the United States, vaccination availability has become more easily available, to more people in more age groups, than ever before.
“In order to support the state’s goal of herd immunity, we are doing everything possible to ensure Kent County residents have the information and access they need to get vaccinated,” Dr. Adam London, director of the Kent County Health Department, said last week to WKTV. “We have overcome many barriers people have faced when trying to schedule an appointment, including scheduling assistance, providing transportation options and opening community clinics throughout hard to reach areas. As vaccine supply has increased, some of our clinics are able to accommodate walk-ins.”
London stressed that Kent County residents have a one-stop on-line location for vaccination information and scheduling — vaccinatewestmi.com.
State government goals, results and actions
While Michigan’s top governmental leadership and health officials recently established a detailed timeline and plan for easing of restrictions, based on levels of vaccinations, and this week touted progress toward the goal, there is some governmental and citizen opposition.
Gov. Whitmer’s office and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently announced that Michigan has administered 7 Million vaccinations and that 50 percent of eligible Michiganders have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
That 50 percent level is significant as last week the governor Whitmer and MDHHS outlined a “Michigan Vaccine to Normal Plan” providing a four-step plan for easing restrictions based on vaccine rates and starting at a then 48.8 percentage level.
“We’ve put shots in arms of 1 in 2 Michiganders 16 and up and over 1 in 3 are fully vaccinated, including 2 in 3 seniors. Our rollout continues to speed up,“ Gov. Whitmer said in an announcement from her office. “As we get closer to achieving our goal of equitably vaccinating 70 percent of Michiganders 16 and up, we have to remember that we are still in this fight against the virus. … The way to put this pandemic behind us, however, is to get vaccinated.”
The announced back-to-normal plan steps are:
Step One: Two weeks after 4.5 million Michiganders, or 55 percent of those eligible, have received their first shot, MDHHS will lift the requirement for employers to require remote work when feasible.
Step Two: Two weeks after 4.9 million Michiganders, or 60 percent of those eligible, have received their first shot MDHHS will increase indoor capacity at sports stadiums and other crowd-focused locations to 25 percent; increase capacity limits at gyms to 50 percent; and lift the curfew on bars and restaurants.
Step Three: Two weeks after 5.3 million Michiganders, or 65 percent of those eligible, have received their first shot MDHHS will lift all indoor capacity limits, only requiring social distancing between parties; and relax the limits on residential social gatherings.
Step Four: Two weeks after 5.67 million Michiganders, or 70 percent of those eligible, have received their first shot MDHHS will lift the gatherings and face masks order and no longer impose mitigation measures of that kind “unless the virus threatens to overwhelm the medical system or some other unanticipated circumstance arises.”
But not all government leaders, including Republican legislative leaders, believe vaccine rates should be the only metric Gov. Whitmer’s administration considers.
In recent media reports, both Michigan House of Representatives Republican Speaker Jason Wentworth and Senate Republican Majority Leader MIke Shirkey expressed concern with the plan, saying they fear inoculation rates may soon “plateau” given growing vaccine hesitancy among some persons.
“What if we don’t ever get to 70” percent, Wentworth reportedly said last week in a virtual roundtable hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce. “That’s a possibility.”
But the Governor’s plan has gained support from Michigan State Medical Society, and others.
Gov. Whitmer’s plan“lays out the path to returning our economy and much of our daily lives back to pre-pandemic norms, which is what we all want,” Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the Michigan State Medical Society, said in statement, while also noting that “COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and readily available to everyone 16 years and older in Michigan.”
Local actions by health department, medical providers
Last week, the Kent County Health Department announced a change to its quarantine guidelines for people exposed to coronavirus “to align with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” Effective immediately, the new guidance shortens the quarantine period for exposed people from 14 days to 10 days under certain scenarios.
“The previous 14-day quarantine period was based on the full incubation period of the virus,” according to the announcement. “However, data confirms 90 to 99 percent of COVID-19 infections occur within 10 days of exposure.”
In addition, residents can be released from quarantine after 10-days, without testing, if they conduct daily symptom monitoring through day 10 after the last exposure, and they do not have any symptoms or clinical evidence of COVID-19.
If a potentially exposed individual develops symptoms during the 10-days, they should seek testing and self-isolate while awaiting results. Additionally, a 10-day quarantine period does not apply to persons residing in congregate living settings or who work with individuals in high-risk groups.
“This change will make it easier for individuals to complete their quarantine and still reduce the spread of the virus,” KCHD Medical Director Dr. Nirali Bora said in supplied material. “However, we encourage residents to remain vigilant against the virus and to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
And a big player in the vaccination program also announced changes. Metro Health — University of Michigan Health, which has vaccinated more than 38,000 people against COVID-19, announced this week that vaccine scheduling is now open to anyone 16 years of age or older.
For more information and to schedule an appointment visit metrohealth.vaccine.mychart.com. Persons can also call 616-252-6161 to schedule a vaccine appointment or with any questions. The telephone line is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday; but they note that “call volume is very heavy” and calls will be answered “as soon as we can.”
Also announced by Metro Health-UM Health is that “As recommended by local, state and federal health agencies,” they have resumed distribution of the single-dose Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
“After investigating reports of blood clots, an independent panel of scientists found the risk to be extremely low and concentrated among women younger than 50 years,” as stated in a Metro Health-UM Health announcement. “As an extra precaution, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health will not distribute this vaccine to women in this age group.”
Rite Aid pharmacies also announced last week that it is administering COVID-19 vaccines on a walk-in basis in all its Michigan stores, and anyone 16 or older is eligible. However, they still recommend scheduling appointments in advance to reduce wait time and guarantee availability of the vaccine.
All three COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. — Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson – are being administered at Rite Aid. Individuals 18 and older can schedule appointments online. Those ages 16 and 17 can schedule an appointment with parent or guardian consent at any store administering the Pfizer vaccine by contacting the store’s pharmacy directly. For more information visit riteaid.com/covid-19.
