The latest data shows 47% of Michiganders have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, with 33% of Michiganders being fully vaccinated. The state shares that it has repeatedly hit its daily dose goal of 100,000 shots, moving us closer to the state’s goal of equitably vaccinating at least 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older as soon as possible.   

In addition to the latest numbers we now have access to new information as the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has added a new methodology to its COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard. The dashboard now shows the number of doses delivered directly to federal programs.

As of Friday, the dashboard showed about 1.9 million doses have been delivered to providers participating in select federal programs. Of those, more than 162,000 have been delivered to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). 

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund is moving a proposal to its board in May to address disparities in equitable distribution of vaccines through partnerships with FQHCs and local public health departments.

The Health Fund would partner with the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) and the Michigan Association for Local Public Health (MALPH) to provide funding to public health centers and departments and in turn to community-based organizations (CBOs).

“Health centers and health departments are in a really unique position because they have experience working with highly vulnerable and under-vaccinated populations,” Becky Cienki director, behavioral health at the Health Fund said. “What they don’t always have is relationships with community-based organizations where they can support their efforts on the ground.”

Cienki shared that the project will allow for a more formalized and resource filled relationship for CBOs to continue vaccine outreach in highly vulnerable communities. 

As vaccines are deployed around the state concerns about equitable access and distribution continue. The Detroit Free Press recently highlighted at the Ford Field vaccination site only 7.3% of shots administered have been for Detroit residents. 

Of the vaccines administered at Ford Field, 61.1% of doses have been given to White Michiganders and 10.8% have been given to Black Michiganders. 

Up North, the Protect Michigan Commission has selected COVID-19 student ambassadors to promote vaccine awareness among their peers as well as focusing on information sharing with Native American communities. The commission is highlighting vaccination efforts by the Bay Mills Indian Community, which announced a campaign to encourage Native Americans in the U.P. to register for the vaccine. 

We continue to highlight efforts led and in partnership with CMF members to increase access and education around the vaccine. CMF recently reported work supported by the Kresge Foundation, Dart Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Saginaw Community Foundation and Michigan Health Endowment Fund.

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?

Learn more about the Protect Michigan Commission which is focused on raising awareness about the safety and effectiveness of approved COVID vaccines. Kyle Caldwell, CMF’s president and CEO, serves on the commission along with other leaders from across the state as an advisory group to Governor Gretchen Whitmer and MDHHS.