Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan recently announced during a recent press conference that Detroiters age 50 and older, and city employees can, call now for appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
He also announced that any Detroiter age 50 or older can call today to schedule an appointment. Previously, a resident of that age was required to also have a chronic medical condition. Appointments can be made by calling 313-230-0505. This is likely to be one of the last gradual expansions before the Governor opens vaccine eligibility to anyone over the age of 16 starting on April 5.
“We are expecting a significant increase soon in vaccine shipments and are planning now to be able to scale up our operations to meet the demand,” Duggan said.
Vaccine Expansion
The full list of eligible individuals who can schedule appointments at TCF now includes:
- Any resident of the City of Detroit who is age 50 or older (born in 1955 or before)
- Manufacturing employees living or working in Detroit
- Food Service Workers, including grocery store, restaurant, meatpacking, and food and beverage handling employees living or working in Detroit
- Security guards and janitors living or working in Detroit
- K-12 teachers and support staff and daycare workers
- Post Office Employees who live or work in Detroit
- Employees of the City of Detroit or city-related agencies who are working from their regular job site (employees working from home are not eligible at this time)
- State and Federal Law enforcement working in Detroit
- Members of the Clergy interacting with members of their congregation
- Funeral Home/mortuary employees working in Detroit
- Paid and unpaid persons in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials working in Detroit
- Members of the city’s disabled community
- Home health care workers living in Detroit
The complete list of locations and dates to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is listed below:
- Greater Emmanuel COGIC at 19190 Schaefer
- New Providence Baptist at 18211 Plymouth
- Grace Community Church at 21001 Moross Road
- Kemeny Recreation Center at 2260 S. Fort Street
- Fellowship Chapel at 7707 W. Outer Drive
- Second Ebenezer Church at 14601 Dequindre
The time for each Senior Saturday location is 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., except Fellowship Chapel, which will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., due to higher demand. Up to 500 doses of the vaccine will be available at each location each day.
The city continues to schedule appointments for vaccinations at TCF Center and is providing rides to TCF for just $2 to Detroiters who need transportation. Rides must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of an appointment. If a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is required, one will be provided. Eligible Detroiters can book an appointment by calling 313-230-0505. Workers and residents will not be vaccinated without having first made an appointment.
Grocery store and security guard employees scheduling appointments will be required to provide their name, residence address, and age. For greater efficiency and convenience, the city is recommending that when possible, eligible members of the same family or neighbors schedule jointly and arrive in the same vehicle. Group B essential workers will be required to provide the name of their employer and their most recent pay stub to verify their eligibility.
When they schedule their appointment, individuals will be provided two appointment dates, one for the first dose and another for the required second dose. Call center staff will contact each scheduled person before their second appointment to remind them. Individuals also will be provided specific instructions on when and where to arrive at the TCF Center, where they will be required to fill out a basic consent form.
After receiving their vaccination, individuals will be required to remain in their vehicles inside the TCF garage for approximately 15 minutes to make sure they are not experiencing any side effects. Medical staff will be on hand to assist any who may experience any side effects. Appointments should last approximately one hour once the person enters the TCF garage.
Returning to Work Full-Time
Duggan also announced the return of hundreds of city workers to resume full-time employment starting April 12.
The city workers, totaling 750 employees, will be able to return from part-time workshare to full-time status due to the replacement of lost city revenues under President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.
Under the President’s plan, the city will receive millions of dollars to cover lost revenues the city experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For the past year, these workers sacrificed so our city could keep a balanced budget while still providing our core services,” said Duggan. “Now that the President is replacing the city’s lost revenues, we (can) bring these workers back and I thank them for their sacrifice and their service over the past year.”
As workers are slated to return, the state of Michigan reported 3,164 new COVID-19 cases, however no new deaths on Wednesday, according to a WXYZ report.
The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is now at 615,792. The total number of deaths remained at 15,810.
The state also reported another 64,487 probable cases of the coronavirus, as well as another 999 deaths that are more than likely connected to COVID-19, the report added.
The over 3,000 newly reported cases represent a spoke over the last few weeks when newly reported cases stayed around 2,000, the article stated. This also comes on the heels of the state’s top epidemiologist reporting the pattern Michigan is currently in is similar to October, right before the state went into a three-week pause.
Officials are urging residents to “double down” on wearing masks and practicing social distancing, according to the article.
Michigan officials also say that 2,074,532 Michiganders have been vaccinated, or 25.5% of the population.
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