Michigan’s top health officials outlined plans Friday for distributing COVID-19 vaccines once they become available.
The plan includes giving first priority to frontline health care workers, emergency personnel, and people who live in nursing homes.
Though not in the first tier, childcare and K-12 school staff would also be high on the list.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun is the state’s chief medical executive. She cautioned this is an “interim” plan to distribute the vaccine.
“And I emphasize ‘interim’ because it is very possible that this may change – as with everything with COVID-19, we’ve had to pivot, be nimble, and evolve as we learn more,” she said. “This is not first come-first served. This is about principles, and principles of keeping critical infrastructure open.”
Khaldun said the goal is to have 70% of Michigan adults fully vaccinated by the end of next year.
Robert Swanson is the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services immunization director. He said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control will decide how much vaccine each state gets.
“And we do expect ongoing weekly allocations from CDC, and so we will get additional doses to cover all health care workers in the coming weeks,” he said.
The first vaccine kits are expected to be delivered to Michigan clinics and hospitals next week.
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