Michigan Residents 50 and Over Will Be Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine This Month
More Michiganders will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks.
The state of Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer have announced that beginning Monday (March 8), any Michigan residents age 50 and over with pre-existing medical conditions or disabilities will be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Also, starting Monday, caregiver family members and guardians who take care of children with special health care needs will also be eligible to get the vaccine.
“The more people we can get the safe and effective vaccine, the faster we can return to a sense of normalcy,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I urge all eligible Michiganders to get one of the three COVID-19 vaccines to protect you, your family and your community.”
Starting Monday, March 22, vaccine eligibility will expand to include all Michiganders 50 and up.
Currently, those eligible to be vaccinated across Michigan include health care workers, long-term care workers and residents, first responders, corrections workers, childcare and school staff, staff in congregate care facilities, mortuary service workers, workers in food processing and agricultural settings and residents 65 years and older.
Some areas of the state, such as the city of Detroit, have already expanded the eligibility to include more groups of people.
The state reports that more than 40% of Michiganders age 65 and older have been vaccinated to date.
“Over 2.3 million doses of the safe and effective COVID vaccines have been administered in Michigan, and we know more vaccine is coming into the state,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS, said in a statement. “We are pleased to expand eligibility for more people to get vaccinated as we continue to focus on our most vulnerable and those at highest risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.”
