WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — The Washtenaw County Health Department is beginning a new vaccine scheduling process to accommodate the greater number of people now eligible for shots.
Instead of waiting to receive an appointment from the health department, people can now make appointments online themselves as they become available at mass vaccination sites in Ypsilanti and Chelsea. New appointments will be added to the health department’s website at least weekly or as existing appointments are canceled, health officials said.
As of Monday, March 22, people age 50 and older can schedule an appointment for a vaccination. All Michigan residents age 16 and older can get vaccinated beginning Monday, April 5.
County health officials are asking those who schedule an appointment but find another option, or cannot make that appointment, to cancel it so someone else can take their place.
If no appointments are available, residents should check back at a later date. As before, anyone unable to schedule an appointment online can call the health department at 734-544-6700 for assistance.
The health department is expanding eligibility to include essential workers who have not been previously eligible under state guidelines. This includes grocery store workers, restaurant workers, veterinarians and others.
Any resident age 65 and older who has not yet received a vaccination is encouraged to call 734-544-6700 and leave a voicemail or email L-wchdcontact@washtenaw.org to schedule an appointment as soon as possible, officials said.
The health department is reporting more than 74% of Washtenaw County residents age 65 or older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Retail pharmacies, like Kroger, Rite Aid, CVS, Walmart and Meijer, receive vaccine supplies directly from the federal government and may have more appointments available than local health departments, health officials said.
“We are thrilled vaccine supplies are starting to improve for us as well as other providers,” said Jimena Loveluck, Washtenaw County health officer. “We also recognize there are still challenges.”
“Statewide prioritization and limited supplies have not allowed us to reach all of our essential workers and higher-risk community members, and we continue implementing strategies to increase access and strengthen equitable distribution.”
Local vaccination efforts have expanded to include pop-up vaccination clinics to make vaccine more accessible to areas of the county where the impact of COVID-19 has been most severe or disproportionate.
Pop-up COVID vaccine clinics coming to Washtenaw County’s most at-risk communities
The Health Department will continue to organize community pop-up vaccine clinics with partner organizations and community leaders and vaccinate homebound individuals with its Nurse on the Run team.
A regularly updated list of COVID-19 vaccine providers in Washtenaw County can be found on the health department’s website.
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Ann Arbor’s TheRide to offer shuttle services to vaccination clinics
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March 23, 2021 at 01:05AM
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Washtenaw County residents can now self schedule for COVID vaccine appointments - MLive.com
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