Michigan Expands COVID-19 Vaccinations To People Over 50

LANSING, MI — Michigan is set to expand its COVID-19 vaccination rollout to include all state residents age 50 and older.

Michiganders age 50 and older with medical conditions or disabilities, and caregiver family members and guardians who care for children with special health care needs, will be able to receive COVID-19 vaccinations starting Monday.

Vaccine eligibility will again expand on March 22 to include all Michiganders 50 and older, officials said.

“The more people we can get the safe and effective vaccine, the faster we can return to a sense of normalcy,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday. “I urge all eligible Michiganders to get one of the three COVID-19 vaccines to protect you, your family and your community.

"We’ve already administered over 2.3 million doses to Michiganders of all races and backgrounds, and yesterday’s announcement that our national supply will be enough to protect all Americans by the end of May is incredible news," Whitmer said. "And as always: Mask up, practice safe social distancing, and avoid large indoor gatherings where COVID-19 can easily spread from person to person. We will eliminate this virus together.”

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More than 590,000 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Michigan as of Tuesday, according to data provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The COVID-19 death toll in the state stands at 15,558.

More than 541,000 Michiganders have recovered from the virus, according to state data.

To date, more than 40 percent of Michiganders age 65 and older have been vaccinated, according to state health officials.

Over 2.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Michigan as of Wednesday. The state recently got a boost by way of the approval of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, 82,700 doses of which were expected to begin arriving in the state as soon as Wednesday, health department spokesperson Lynn Sutfin told Patch in an email Tuesday.

The vaccine is deemed 85 percent effective in preventing severe disease, officials said Wednesday.

Wednesday's announcement comes a day after Whitmer announced the state is easing some of its restrictions on restaurants and bars and other businesses. Many of the changes, which take effect Friday, involve capacity limits at businesses. Those capacity changes include:

• Restaurants and bars are allowed to be at 50 percent capacity up to 100 people. Tables must be 6 feet apart with no more than six people per table. There is now an 11 p.m. curfew.
• Indoor non-residential gatherings where people interact across households are permitted up to 25 people, allowing public meetings and other small indoor gatherings to resume.
• Outdoor non-residential gatherings where people interact across households are permitted up to 300, allowing larger outdoor events to resume.
• Indoor entertainment venues are allowed to be at 50 percent capacity, up to 300 people.
• Exercise facilities are allowed to be at 30 percent capacity, with restrictions on distancing and mask requirements.
• Retail is allowed to be at 50 percent capacity.
• Casinos are allowed to be at 30 percent capacity.
• Indoor stadiums and arenas are allowed have 375 if seating capacity is under 10,000, and 750 if seating capacity is over 10,000.
• Outdoor entertainment and recreational facilities may host up to 1,000 patrons.