Michigan surpasses 4M COVID-19 vaccine doses administered

Outreach vaccine clinic

People wait a minimum of fifteen minutes after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccine outreach clinic inside Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. The clinic was put on by the Kalamazoo County Health Department with volunteers from Mt. Zion. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)

Michigan has administered more than 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine since mid-December when the first shots became available in the U.S.

The state administered more than 495,000 doses last week, marking the second consecutive week of at least that many shots going into arms. That’s about 70,750 doses per day, up from 52,936 per day three weeks earlier.

As of Sunday, March 28, approximately 32.5% of the state’s residents 16 years and older had received their first dose of vaccine, and 19.2% had completed their recommended doses (two for Moderna and Pfizer, one for Johnson & Johnson), according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Our rollout continues to pick up steam and we will not rest until we reach our goal of equitably vaccinating 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and up. Michigan continues to make significant strides – administering four million vaccines in less than four months – as we work to ensure every Michigander has access to the vaccine,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a prepared statement.

“In line with President (Joe) Biden’s goals, all Michiganders 16 and up will be eligible to receive the vaccine starting April 5. We will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever and celebrate Independence Day together with friends and family. We will become the state that beat this damn virus.”

Michigan has surpassed its goal of 50,000 shots per day 34 times. Eligibility has expanded over time, and will expand again Monday as the governor noted.

The most vaccinated age groups thus far are the 65-74 year olds, of which 66% have gotten their first dose and 47% are fully vaccinated, and the 75 and older group, of which 66% have gotten their first dose and 50% are fully vaccinated.

About 39% of residents 50-64 have gotten their first dose, compared to 22% of residents in their 40s, 19% of residents in their 30s, 12% of residents in their 20s and 4% of residents 16-19 years old.

Due to incomplete data, the state still doesn’t have an accurate breakdown of vaccinations by race and ethnicity. Thirty percent of doses have gone to residents with unknown race data, compared to 54% of doses going to white residents, 5% going to black residents, and less than 2% each going to Asian/Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and American Indians/Alaska Natives.

In total, the state received 559,960 doses of vaccine last week, up from the previous high of 494,540, which came during the first week of March. It had been receiving less than 300,000 doses per week until the last week in February.

Michigan got its largest shipment of Johnson & Johnson vaccine during the first week of March when it got 90,600 doses. In the four weeks to follow, the state has gotten a combined 34,800 of the single-dose vaccine.

The state has, however, received an increase in Pfizer’s vaccine in recent weeks. After receiving 166,140 doses the first week of March, Michigan got 310,050 the week ending March 20 and 336,960 the week ending March 27.

Local health departments have administered the most shots to date, followed closely by hospitals. Pharmacies have administered the third-most doses of vaccine, though they’ve given more shots out than hospitals since early February.

“We continue to meet or exceed our goals as more and more Michiganders become eligible to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine,” said. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist in a prepared statement. “With every vaccine administered, we get one step closer to eliminating this deadly virus once and for all. 

“I’m asking every Michigander to make a plan to get the vaccine when it is your turn. We can all be part of the solution that saves lives and helps us get back to normal. Soon we will be able to see and hug our friends, families, and loved ones, but for now we must continue taking smart precautions like wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing our hands.”

The uptick in vaccinations comes as Michigan is in the midst of another surge in new cases, due in part to the spread of more contagious coronavirus variants.

Read more on MLive:

Who and where Michigan’s coronavirus surge is hitting hardest

Michigan’s active coronavirus outbreaks are up 14% in March 29 report

12K people getting COVID-19 vaccine at DeVos Place clinic for ‘busiest day yet’

Key differences separate ‘anti-vaxxers’ from Michiganders hesitant to get COVID-19 vaccine

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