By Ruth Keifer, MSc, ARM, Vice President of Loss Control
Our Michigan manufacturers are a tough and eager breed, our loss control team is starting to get a lot of “when can I get vaccinated” questions from you and your employees. Since this is the current hot topic of the month, we will address the question for you and your employees. Since the over 60 year olds have already had the eligibility to obtain a vaccine, we will address the other age groups.
First we need to establish what is considered a preexisting medical condition: According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) medical conditions that place individuals at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19 are eligible for vaccination and include: 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 < 40 kg/ m2 ); severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 ); pregnancy; sickle cell disease; smoking; and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The following medical conditions might place an individual at an increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19, and are therefore also eligible for vaccination: asthma (moderate-to-severe); cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain); cystic fibrosis; hypertension or high blood pressure; immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant; immune deficiencies; HIV; use of corticosteroids or use of other immune weakening medicines; neurologic conditions, such as dementia; liver disease; overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2 , but < 30 kg/m2 ); pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues); thalassemia (a type of blood disorder); and Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
With the above medical information, this may be sensitive information to your employees and they may not want to disclose their medical conditions with you and may choose to keep their vaccination intentions to themselves. This is becoming a sensitive subject so care is needed. Current time-lines:
- 50 and over with pre-existing medical conditions/ disabilities – Open Enrollment Now
- All 50 and over along with anyone 16-49 with medical conditions or disabilities – March 22
- 16 and over – April 5th
Prioritization Schedule:
With that said, there is still a prioritization schedule in place and persons in the priority blocks of 1A – 1B will be placed ahead of groups that are below that. Please see the chart that highlights the various groups and time-lines.
Where to go to get the shot: Those eligible to receive the vaccine should check their local health department or hospitals (your primary care provider) for availability. After speaking to many of you, the additional vaccination sites such as Meijer, Rite Aid, or Cardinal Health in the Upper Peninsula have been the best bet to register for a shot. Don’t forget, your local churches and municipal buildings are also having pop-up vaccination days and those are working out too.
Additionally, If you are a Lions fan and are in the metro Detroit area or can take a day-trip down to Ford Field, the Lions, Henry Ford Health, FEMA and Meijer are teaming up for an 8-week walk-in clinic and will be administering 6,000 doses a day starting March 24. Anyone in the state of Michigan can register, you do not need to be a Wayne county resident to register. They will be operating from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days a week. You may sign up through Meijer’s app or website for an appointment at Ford Field.
Good luck to all those who are eligible and happy vaccine hunting, appointments are tough to get, but are getting easier as supplies increase. Please reach out to your Loss Control Consultant if you have any further questions regarding eligibility for your employees.
