Oakland County Commissioner Kristen Nelson (D-Waterford Township) has sponsored a resolution urging the nation’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase the vaccine supply for Oakland County and the State of Michigan. The resolution was unanimously approved by the Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee on January 12. It will go before the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for approval at its next full meeting on January 21.
“The vaccination process is a critical step in saving lives, safely resuming in-person interactions, and keeping our economy moving,” Nelson, who chairs the Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee, said. “Oakland County has the capacity to administer 2,500 vaccines a day, but we are receiving less than that amount per week.”
The federal government oversees the ordering, distributing and tracking of the COVID-19 vaccines. All doses of the vaccine are ordered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I am very frustrated, Oakland County is not receiving enough of the vaccines to even come close to meeting today’s demand,” Commissioner Michael Spisz (R-Oxford) said. “A lot of people worked very hard to be prepared to meet the needs of our 1.2 million residents. We can only operate at about 15 percent of our capacity, so I ask leaders at all levels, help us help others, so we can be successful.”
To date, Michigan has received more than 725,000 doses of the vaccine. The Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) has received 5,850 of those doses.
“Not only will getting shots into people arms slow and stop the spread of this disease, but it’s our best option for returning to normalcy and our great quality of life here in Oakland County,” Karen Joliat (R-Waterford Township) said.
The OCHD has completed vaccinating priority Phase 1A individuals, which includes emergency medical personnel, healthcare workers, and residents of long-term care facilities. It has expanded vaccination appointments to Phase 1B individuals, which includes resident 65 years and older and some front-line essential workers. However, an insufficient supply of vaccines means that once appointments are available, they are immediately booked.
“It’s encouraging to see our community’s interest in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine,” Leigh-Anne Stafford, Oakland County health officer, said. “The demand has been overwhelming, and the Health Division is prepared to vaccinate as many people as possible once we receive more vaccines. We are asking for patience as we advocate for an increased vaccine supply.”
The most up-to-date information about vaccines from the Oakland County Health Division can be found at www.oaklandcountyvaccine.com. The website allows those eligible, based on the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, to make appointments to receive the shot. It also contains addition information related to the vaccine and links to COVID-19 resources.
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