COVID-19 vaccine eligibility is widening in April, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announcing Friday that all Michiganders over the age of 16 will be eligible starting April 5.
Efforts to expand vaccine rollout in Michigan are underway as officials aim to vaccinate enough people in Michigan to attain some sense of normalcy this year. Starting March 22, all Michiganders 50 and up will be eligible for the vaccine. On April 5, it opens up to everyone 16 and old
Now, the question on every Michigan resident’s mind: How can I get my dose?
Those interested and eligible can choose where to receive their vaccines, whether through city or county vaccine sites, through their health provider or at chain pharmacies. Michiganders are encouraged to not be picky about which vaccine to get and instead accept whatever is most convenient.
“I urge all eligible Michiganders to get one of the three COVID-19 vaccines. It is essential to getting our country back to normal, so that we can all hug our families, get back to work, go to restaurants, send our kids to school, play sports and get together again,” Whitmer said in a news release Friday. “And as always: mask up, practice safe social distancing and avoid large indoor gatherings where COVID-19 can easily spread from person to person. We will eliminate this virus together.”
How to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Michigan: Local health systems
Hospitals vary in their vaccine rollout thus far, some are registering patients by invitation only as vaccines become available according to those who are most vulnerable. Others are using a random system. Some are registering patients for vaccines through the electronic patient portal, such as My Chart.
Ascension Michigan: Ascension St. John Hospital, Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Warren and Madison Heights, Ascension Providence Hospitals in Novi, Southfield and Rochester, Ascension River District Hospital, Ascension Genesys Hospital
Beaumont Health: With hospitals in Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Dearborn, Trenton, Grosse Pointe, Troy, Taylor and Wayne
Detroit Medical Center: Hospitals include Detroit Receiving, Harper University Hospital, Sinai-Grace Hospital, the DMC Heart Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan
Garden City Hospital
Henry Ford Health System: With hospitals in Clinton Township, Detroit, Jackson, West Bloomfield and Wyandotte
McLaren Health Care: McLaren Bay Region, McLaren Bay Special Care, McLaren Caro Region, McLaren Central Michigan, McLaren Flint, McLaren Greater Lansing, McLaren Lapeer Region, McLaren Macomb, McLaren Northern Michigan, McLaren Oakland, McLaren Orthopedic Hospital, McLaren Port Huron, McLaren Thumb Region, McLaren St. Luke’s, and Karmanos Cancer Institute
Sparrow Health System: Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Sparrow St. Lawrence Hospital, Sparrow Carson Hospital, Sparrow Ionia Hospital, Sparrow Eaton Hospital, Sparrow Clinton Hospital, and Sparrow Specialty Hospital
St. Joseph Mercy Health System: St. Mary Mercy Hospital Livonia, St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital
Memorial Healthcare Owosso Hospital
Michigan Medicine: University of Michigan Medical Center, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Von Voightlander Women’s Hospital
Veterans Affairs Hospitals: John D. Dingell V.A. Medical Center, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Wayne County COVID-19 vaccine registration
Medical practices can sign up to receive vaccine doses through the county’s site. For more information on COVID-19 vaccinations in Wayne County, click here.
Oakland County COVID-19 vaccine registration
Residents are required to complete this form to receive a vaccine and will be contacted by the county once they are eligible and vaccines are available. To sign up for email updates, go to oaklandcountyvaccine.com or text OAKGOV COVID to 468311. The county will contact those who have registered when they are eligible to receive a vaccine. If you are unable to complete the online form, call the hotline at 800-848-5533.
Macomb County COVID-19 vaccine registration
Residents can make vaccine appointments online. You will be alerted once a vaccine is available for you.
Washtenaw County COVID-19 vaccine registration
Anyone who meets those eligibility requirements and does not have a primary health care provider with Michigan Medicine, the St. Joseph Mercy Health System, the VA or IHA, or who is eligible because of your employment, can request an appointment from Washtenaw County here. Or call 734-544-6700.
To find more information on coronavirus data and vaccine rollout in your county, use this interactive map on the state’s site.
Kroger COVID-19 vaccine registration
Starting this week, vaccines will be available at Kroger stores in Michigan to those who meet state eligibility requirements, the retailer announced Saturday.
Once on the grocer’s vaccine portal, users will have to answer questions on its virtual assessment tool to determine eligibility. After completing the questionnaire, you can then select a location out of 103 participating Kroger pharmacies to make an appointment to receive your vaccine.
Those who fall within the state’s eligibility guidelines can make an appointment at kroger.com/covidvaccine or by calling 866-211-5320.
Rite Aid COVID-19 vaccine registration
Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations are offered to those who meet state eligibility requirements at Rite Aid locations throughout Michigan. Those who qualify and are interested cannot make appointments at specific stores, and are rather instructed to follow the pharmacy’s vaccine scheduler portal.
There, users are required to fill out a questionnaire to determine eligibility, with questions regarding medical conditions and occupation.
After eligibility requirements are met, users will be able to book their appointments from a list of locations and time slots.
Meijer COVID-19 vaccine registration
To register to receive your vaccine through the Grand Rapids-based grocer, Michiganders have three options: Register online, by texting “COVID” to 75049 or by calling your local Meijer pharmacy.
After completing registration, Meijer will reach out to you to schedule an appointment once a dose is available. Meijer is following state eligibility requirements. Once a vaccine is available, Meijer will text an invite link with clinic dates and times.
Users can choose one of three responses to the invite link: “I accept” to reserve a vaccination, “I defer” to decline the present offer but be kept on the list for future clinic offers, or “Remove me” if you are no longer interested or have received your vaccination elsewhere.
Vaccination appointments may take place at a Meijer pharmacy or an offsite location where vaccinations are being offered through the company.
Second dose appointments will be automatically scheduled by Meijer according to national guidelines.
What do I need to bring for COVID-19 vaccine appointment?
Most sites require photo ID and proof of occupation if necessary for those who may be receiving their vaccine outside of the county they live in. Those receiving their second dose are typically required to bring your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.
Do I need to pay for the COVID-19 vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccination will be free to everyone interested in getting one in 2021, federal officials have said. From the CDC’s website:
The federal government is providing the vaccine free of charge to all people living in the United States. Vaccination providers can be reimbursed for vaccine administration fees by the patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund. No one can be denied a vaccine if they are unable to pay a vaccine administration fee.
