LANSING, MI - The state of Michigan has a goal to vaccinate 70% of residents over age 16. As a way to reach this measure, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced today that Michigan will be moving into the next phase of vaccination. Starting on Monday, January 11th, Michigan residents aged 65 and older, as well as K-12 teachers and childcare providers, will be eligible for vaccination.

“The more people we can get the safe and effective vaccine, the faster we can return to a sense of normalcy,” said Governor Whitmer. “I urge all seniors to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible and that all Michiganders to make a plan to get vaccinated when it becomes available to you. And as always: mask up, practice safe social distancing, and avoid indoor gatherings where COVID-19 can easily spread from person to person. We will eliminate this virus together.”

To find local health departments and other vaccine clinics in your area, make sure to visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine. Any essential workers, teachers, and childcare workers will be notified by their employers about when and where they can get vaccinated. However, due to the limited number of vaccines in the state, appointments will also be limited. As more vaccines become available, so will the number of appointments.

MDHHS is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for the prioritization of vaccine distribution. The phases are as follows:

-Phase 1A: Paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home as well as residents in long term care facilities.

-Phase 1B: Persons 75 years of age or older and frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure.

-Phase 1C: Individuals 16 years of age or older at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection and some other essential workers whose position impacts life, safety and protection during the COVID-19 response.

-Phase 2: Individuals 16 years of age or older.

The phases listed may change depending on additional vaccination products that become available as well as any changes in vaccine effectiveness. It should also be known that vaccination in one phase may not yet be complete before vaccination in another phase begins. The timing of vaccination phases depends on the amount of supply Michigan has, how the vaccine is allocated from the federal level to the state level, and the capacity to administer the vaccine. Decisions about moving forward to the next phase are made at the state level.

Again, for more information on the vaccine, visit Michigan.Gov/COVIDVaccine. The link will be listed below.