Help your employees prepare for the COVID-19 vaccine

Effective Monday, March 22, Michigan residents ages 16 and up with preexisting medical conditions or disabilities will become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Caregiver family members and guardians who care for children with special healthcare needs are currently eligible. On April 5, all residents ages 16 and up who weren’t previously eligible will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

Most vaccine sites require an appointment scheduled online or by phone — and because vaccination appointments can be very hard to get, now’s a great time to share vaccination sign-up information with employees so they can virtually wait in line for their turn. In fact, many people have signed up for multiple waiting lists with plans to remove themselves once an appointment is confirmed.

Where can employees get vaccinated?

• County health departments: Each county health department has a vaccination plan. Individuals can select their county from the State of Michigan’s website to learn more about local vaccination procedure and potentially schedule an appointment or add their name to a waiting list.
• Retail pharmacies: Kroger, Meijer (including Ford Field vaccination site, which continues to rapidly increase dosage supply), Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart are offering vaccinations to Michigan residents. Individuals can sign up online but should be aware that appointment times can be challenging to get, and it could take time and persistence to secure an appointment.
• Hospital systems: The following Michigan health systems have added COVID-19 vaccine procedures to their websites:
  • Ascension Michigan
  • Beaumont Health
  • Bronson Health
  • Henry Ford Health System
  • McLaren Health Care Corp.
  • MidMichigan Health
  • Michigan Medicine
  • Munson Healthcare
  • Sparrow Health System
  • Spectrum Health System
  • Trinity Health (St. Joseph Health and Mercy Health)
  • University of Michigan Health

Those who need assistance signing up for the vaccine can contact Michigan’s COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136. Also, once an individual has confirmed a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, public health officials ask that they don’t schedule or confirm another with any other provider so that vaccine appointments stay open for others.

Who will be in the next phase for vaccinations?

Detailed information on Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccination phase and priority groups can be found on this PDF from the State’s website.

What qualifies as a preexisting medical condition?

According to the CDC, the following are considered underlying medical conditions and are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Down syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but less than 40 kg/m2)
• Severe obesity (BMI of greater than but equal to 40 kg/m2)
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes

To learn more about ways to help your employees navigate COVID-19 workplace protocols, reach out to Scott McLellan, Ed Murphy, Jonathon Trionfi, or another member of the Plante Moran Group Benefit Advisors team.