Under federal leadership, Michigan will begin vaccinating all residents of Michigan aged 16 and older from Monday, April 5th.
The suitability for Michiganders 16 years and older with disabilities or medical conditions has been open since 22 March.
To date, Michigan has administered more than 4.4 million doses of vaccine. As of March 31, 34.5% of Michigan residents, ages 16 and older, had received their first dose, and 20.7% had completed all doses. Vaccination against Moderna and Pfizer requires two doses a week apart, while Johnson & Johnson requires one.
Now that more Michiganders are eligible, here’s what you need to know:
All Michiganders 16 years and older are eligible on April 5, but MDHHS still recommends prioritizing those at higher risk.
Providers are encouraged to schedule appointments and award vaccinations based on the highest risk, according to a March 12 release released by Michigan. The state characterizes the higher risk as an older individual, a front worker, or an essential worker.
Vaccinations of the rest of the population that were not previously eligible depend on the vaccine, according to the MDHHS website.
2. Coronavirus vaccinations are offered free of charge
Some vaccination clinics recommend that patients bring their insurance card. However, if you do not have insurance, that’s right.
According to the MDHHS website, those with insurance will pay an administrative fee. If a person does not have insurance, this administrative fee is charged to the health and welfare assistance fund, not the person.
No individual will be personally charged for a coronavirus vaccination.
3. How to find an appointment
MDHHS recommends that you visit the website of your local health department or hospital to investigate their appointment process. A map of local health departments can be found here.
The department also recommends signing up with chain pharmacies such as Meijer, Rite Aid, Kroger and Walmart for those in central, central and northern Michigan. Those in the Upper Peninsula should join Snyders Drug Stores.
Michiganders who need help navigating the scheduling process or who do not have Internet access can call the COVID-19 hotline (888) 535-6136 and print one. This hotline is open from 08:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday and from 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
4. How to prepare for your appointment
Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail recommends wearing clothing that makes your upper arm easily accessible, such as a short-sleeved shirt with a jacket over it. Also bring photo identification to your appointment.
In addition, you should be sure that you have not had any vaccine two weeks before your coronavirus vaccine. If you are given a two-dose coronavirus vaccine, you should not get another vaccine between your coronavirus doses, Vail said. In addition, you do not plan to get a vaccine until two weeks after your final dose.
If you experience side effects, such as fever or chills, this is normal, Vail said. It is a side effect of your bodily immunity.
5. Those older than 16 but younger than 18 will only be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.
The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have been approved for emergency use under the US Food and Drug Administration. However, Pfizer is approved for individuals 16 and older, while Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson are approved for ages 18 and older.
6. Younger Michiganders can not yet be vaccinated, but Pfizer and Moderna are working on it
Moderna and Pfizer began studying the vaccine for children aged 6 months to 11 years. Both also enrolled for studies of children 12 years and older.
RELATED: When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines?
Study results for children aged twelve and older are expected this summer, while the study results of younger children may last until early 2022.
RELATED: Pfizer begins to study COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 months to 11 years
7. People who have been fully vaccinated should still wear a mask in public, but may meet with others who have been fully vaccinated
Fully vaccinated means you have to wait two weeks after receiving your single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or two weeks after receiving the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
People who have been fully vaccinated can meet indoors with others who have also been fully vaccinated without wearing a mask or social distance, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is not yet clear whether fully vaccinated individuals can capture and transmit COVID-19. The CDC recommends wearing a mask, avoiding crowds and social distance in public, even if an individual is fully vaccinated.
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