Ingham County Health Department (ICHD) is now encouraging residents to register everywhere possible in order to receive a Covid-19 vaccine when it becomes available, citing low numbers of dose allocations to the Department.
According to a press release, over 70,000 individuals are registered to receive a vaccine through ICHD, and the Department is only receiving 2,000 to 3,000 first-doses every week.
Currently, ICHD is vaccinating people in phase 1B – a group that still includes 18,000 individuals waiting for a first dose. Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail explained that it may take until April or May to finish vaccinating Phase 1B.
Phase 1B includes people age 65 and older; law enforcement officers; firefighters; shelter workers; corrections workers; pre-kindergarten through high school teachers, support staff who usually have direct contact with children; and child care workers who usually have direct contact with children.
In short, ICHD wants residents to register everywhere they can so that they don’t miss an opportunity to get vaccinated. If someone is lucky enough to get more than one appointment, they should make sure to cancel the one(s) they will not be showing up for.
But don’t confuse signing up with actually having an appointment. In many cases, “registering” with a vaccine program simply means expressing interest in receiving information when a vaccine becomes available at a specific location for your prioritization group. It’s no guarantee of getting an appointment.
The graphic below from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services outlines the prioritization groups and when each might expect to receive a vaccine.
Photo courtesy of MDHHS.
MDHHS provided an estimate of when each prioritization group can expect to be vaccinated.We are providing ELi readers with a list of where you can register and what to expect.
Ingham County Health Department
Fill out this form to register your interest in receiving a vaccine. Sometime after your prioritization group becomes eligible, ICHD will send you an email that contains a link to make an appointment. It may take a significant amount of time after your prioritization group is reached before you receive an email, and you then have to work with the system to make the actual appointment.
According to ICHD Health Communications Specialist Amanda Darche, ICHD only sends out as many emails as appointments available. She recommends checking your email daily and making an appointment as soon as you receive a link.
Sign up for vaccine-related information from Sparrow here. Sparrow does NOT prompt you to make an appointment. Instead, when your prioritization group is reached, it is up to you to make an appointment through the My Sparrow Portal. Anyone can make an account. You do not have to previously received care through Sparrow to make an appointment.
Like ICHD, Sparrow has also noted a limited supply of vaccine, telling the media on Friday that, “Appointments for the vaccine are currently very limited due to scarce supplies we’re receiving from the government.”
According to Sparrow Spokesperson John Foren, Sparrow often receives information on Friday about the number of vaccines it will receive for the following week. He recommends checking for appointments daily and then more frequently beginning on Friday through the weekend.
McLaren is currently limiting registration to express interest to existing patients age 65 and older. If you meet that criteria, you can complete the form here.
McLaren will contact individuals once appointments become available. An email address is required.
To register through Meijer, fill out this form. You can also text 75049 or call the Meijer Pharmacy. The number for the Lake Lansing Road location of Meijer in East Lansing is 517-332-2444.
When Meijer has an appointment available, you will receive a notification over text message. You can accept, defer, or turn down the opportunity.
Complete the eligibility checker here. Those not eligible currently cannot register. Those eligible can search for appointments. Rite Aid is not making appointments over the phone.
Possible Future Vaccination Sites
Sign up to receive notifications here. There are currently no appointments available in the area.
There are currently no appointments available in Michigan.
There are currently no appointments available in Michigan.
MSU Health Care has been approved as a vaccine distribution site, but it has yet to receive any information on when vaccines may become available. Please visit this site for information and avoid calling the pharmacy directly.
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