The latest data from the state shows that over 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Michigan with 16.1% of the population vaccinated. According to data reported as of February 26, 1.3 million Michigan residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has announced several initiatives in an effort to ensure the vaccine is accessible for all Michiganders. 

Last week MDHHS announced that it is now posting race data on its COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard to "help track the effects of efforts to improve access to the COVID-19 vaccine and ensure equity when it comes to protection from the virus." 

Unfortunately, there are still gaps in the data as 39% of COVID-19 vaccine doses do not have race data recorded. MDHHS shared that its staff is working with immunization providers to improve the submission of race data for all vaccines administered. 

When it comes to Michigan residents who have received one dose of the vaccine, 43% of the recipients are white, 3.85% of recipients are Black, 1.1% are Asian or Pacific Islander and 0.3% are American Indian or Alaskan Native.

“Ensuring those who are most vulnerable are protected by the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a high priority for Michigan,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS said. “Black and Brown communities have been disproportionately affected by the virus and improving the race and ethnicity data collected for vaccinations is critical for ensuring the equitable administration of the vaccine. We will use this data to continue to drive our strategy towards making sure everyone has equitable access to the vaccines.”

Governor Whitmer created the Protect Michigan Commission, which is tasked with raising awareness of the safety and effectiveness of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, educating Michiganders and helping protect the health and safety of all Michigan residents.

Kyle Caldwell, CMF’s president and CEO, serves on the commission along with other leaders from across the state.

The commission recently launched a COVID-19 vaccination strategy to get 70% of Michiganders age 16 and older vaccinated as quickly as possible. The strategy is guided by principles that include ensuring all Michiganders have equitable access to vaccines and that data is used to promote equity, track progress and guide decision making. 

As part of this strategy, a new pilot program was launched to help remove vaccine barriers for Michiganders 60 and older who live in communities with high Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and high COVID-19 mortality rates.

In addition, 40 federally qualified health centers across the state have started to receive vaccine allocations to help vaccinate individuals age 65 and older. 

While work continues at the state level to help guide the distribution of the vaccine, a number of CMF members are also supporting efforts around vaccine awareness and education and supporting frontline workers at vaccine sites. 

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund works closely with MDHHS and in particular with the Aging and Adult Services Agency. This partnership resulted in GetSetUp, a virtual training program that offers tools and resources for older adults.

GetSetUp is now offering COVID-19 vaccine informational sessions to older adults on how to navigate the Michigan COVID-19 vaccine website as well as find their local health department to register online for a vaccine appointment or to be added to the waitlist.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to the Genesee Chamber Foundation, to provide meals to health care workers and volunteers at Genesee County Health Department COVID-19 vaccine sites.

“These volunteers and health care workers are heroes in the battle against COVID-19. They’re doing everything they can to help keep other people safe and healthy,” Ridgway White, president and CEO, Mott Foundation and CMF trustee said. “We hope this grant will make their shifts a little more comfortable and remind them that the community is grateful for their commitment.”

The grant will also help support restaurants that have been devastated by the pandemic by purchasing meals from those establishments. 

The funding will provide approximately 3,300 total meals to an average of 75 volunteers per day.

Is your organization supporting efforts connected to the education, access or distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine? We invite you to share your story with the CMF team so we can lift up opportunities for peer engagement and share emerging grantmaking practices with our entire CMF community.

Want more?

Access the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard.

Watch the COVID-19 Vaccine Town Halls.

The Health Fund is currently featured in CMF’s Impact Connected digital series which highlights their work supporting seniors amid the pandemic. We encourage you to follow along via our social channels using the hashtag #ImpactedConnected for more compelling stories in our community of philanthropy.