Bridge Detroit (https://www.bridgedetroit.com/category/covid-19/page/2/)
Detroit and Michigan officials understand the importance of racial equity in distribution of the COVID vaccine, but the state currently lacks the infrastructure to achieve it. Detroit, however, is one of the few places in the state to track vaccinations by race.
An absence of data has hindered efforts to vaccinate the state, as officials have no idea about the racial breakdown of recipients, making it harder to address equity gaps and fix problems with distribution.
Frontline workers in food and beverage, security and janitorial services can now book appointments to receive the coronavirus vaccine, but the suburbs have vaccinated more than four times as many residents than Detroit.
The city of Detroit began vaccinating older adults and frontline workers for the coronavirus two weeks ago, but officials are asking Detroiters to continue following safety protocols.
Without communities of color getting vaccinated, the United States will not reach the 80 percent vaccination rate needed for herd immunity to stop the spread of the virus.
An advisory group to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tasked with identifying the causes and scope of food insecurity in Michigan — particularly as the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated the problem — made several recommendations intended to address the issue.
The City of Detroit began vaccinating residents 75 and older on Wednesday at the TCF Center. Qualified residents can call 313-230-0505 to book an appointment.
Detroit said it plans to vaccinate 5,000 people a week but the city must overcome fear, distrust and logistics to fire up the effort.
Detroit has had one of the lowest rates of COVID-19 cases in Michigan for months. Experts hope the trend holds through the new year.
On Monday, a 46-year-old pulmonologist at Spectrum Health became the first Michigan recipient of a COVID-19 vaccine. Health leaders say broad vaccination is needed to protect society, but businesses, including hospitals, do not yet appear ready to require them of workers.