Jackson County Vaccination Update: State to Receive Record Number of Doses Next Week

(February 26, 2021 2:24 PM) Jackson County COVID-19 vaccine providers are expected to receive an increase in vaccine supply next week, as the state reports more than 400,000 doses are to be distributed throughout the state beginning March 1.

Michigan is scheduled to receive 409,340 COVID-19 vaccine doses next week, the largest weekly allocation to date.  The previous high, 388,000 doses, was a weekly allocation in mid-January.  Lynn Sutfin, public information officer for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services told JTV News these include both first and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.  The allocation:

Pfizer:

113,490 first doses

99,450 second doses

Moderna:

98,200 first doses

98,200 second doses

As of February 22, 38,500 vaccine doses have been distributed in Jackson County (19,500 Pfizer and 19,000 Moderna) for both first and second doses.  It is not known how many of next week’s vaccine doses will be delivered to Jackson County providers.

The state of Michigan allocates 60 percent of the state’s vaccine supply to local health departments, and 40 percent is sent to health systems.   Today, the health system serving Jackson, Henry Ford Health System says they are receiving much less vaccine than needed to vaccinate their eligible patients within current state guidelines.  Henry Ford says they have more than 1 million patients that need to be vaccinated. Because the vaccine supplies currently are limited, HFHS cannot open as many vaccination appointments as they need. However, Henry Ford says they are working daily with state agencies to increase vaccination supplies as soon as possible. Henry Ford suggests visiting their Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions webpage for up-to-date information about the vaccine.

Jackson County Health Department, along with health departments throughout the state, grocery stores, independent pharmacies, federally qualified health centers and pharmacy chains are now offering the vaccine. The supply the state of Michigan will receive next week will be divided among these organizations.

The Jackson County Health Department is encouraging residents to complete a survey to determine what priority group you fall in and to submit your information for pre-registering when your Priority Group is available for vaccination.  The Vaccine Interest Survey Link is: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6131215/COVIDVACJACKSON

The Centers for Disease Control is working on a website to identify locations offering vaccine appointments.  In Jackson County, the following locations have been scheduling vaccination appointments: 

Jackson County Health Department

Various Clinic Locations

Henry Ford Allegiance Health

One Jackson Square

Jackson, MI 49201 

Center for Family Health

505 N. Jackson Street

Jackson, MI 49201

Brown’s Advanced Care Pharmacy Services 

2136 Robinson Rd #2 

Jackson, MI 49203

Country Market Pharmacy

11301 Brooklyn Rd 

Brooklyn, MI 49230

Weatherwax Family Pharmacies

210 Hinckley Blvd 

Jackson, MI 49203

Grass Lake Community Pharmacy

110 E Michigan Ave 

Grass Lake, MI 49240

Rose City Pharmacy

300 W Washington Ave 

Jackson, MI 49201

Meijer 

3333 E Michigan Ave 

Jackson, MI 49202

Meijer 

2777 Airport Rd 

Jackson, MI 49202

Rite Aid 

3100 E Michigan Ave 

Jackson, MI 49202

Rite Aid 

2255 S Jackson Rd 

Jackson, MI 49201

Rite Aid 

1089 N Wisner St 

Jackson, MI 49202

Rite Aid 

1733 Spring Arbor Rd 

Jackson, MI 49203

Sams Club 

3600 O’Neil Dr 

Jackson, MI 49202 

Regardless of the provider, the COVID-19 vaccine is available by appointment only. Local health officials caution that it may take some time to get to your age group due to vaccine availability. 

The vaccine supply is expected to increase over the next month with the anticipated addition of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. An Advisory Committee of the FDA is expected to recommend granting Emergency Use Authorization to the vaccine following a meeting today. Final approval from the FDA could come as early as tomorrow.

The trial showed that the vaccine was 86% effective overall in preventing severe disease and 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 related hospitalization and death.

In Michigan, Henry Ford Health System was a leading site for enrolling minority participants in Johnson & Johnson’s ENSEMBLE 1 Phase 3 clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. 

Henry Ford is also a study site for J&J’s ENSEMBLE 2 clinical trial that is evaluating the safety and efficacy of a two-dose regimen of the same vaccine. Henry Ford is currently enrolling participants ages 60 and older.

Residents who don’t have access to the internet or who need assistance navigating the vaccine scheduling process can call the HFHS COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 (press 1) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

HFHS encourages you to research your options and get your vaccine wherever you can when it’s your turn.