State vaccine advisory group holds 1st meeting: VA gives supply update; local group to hold ‘Let Them Play’ protest today

LANSING -- The Protect Michigan Commission, comprised of bipartisan leaders from across the state, including Marquette City Commissioner Evan Bonsall and Upper Peninsula Health Plan's Melissa A. Holmquist, held its first meeting on Friday.

The commission, which serves as an advisory group to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was established to focus on equitable distribution of a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine to help save lives and strengthen the economy.

"The work of the bipartisan Protect Michigan Commission will help Michigan reach its goal of 50,000 shots in arms per day and help ensure all Michiganders have a plan to get their vaccine once it is their turn," Whitmer said in a news release. "The safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is our way forward out of this pandemic and will allow us to return to a sense of normalcy and a strong Michigan economy."

Kerry Ebersole Singh was appointed by Whitmer to lead the commission and assist in mobilizing ongoing commission efforts.

"(Today) marked the start of the commission's mission to protect the health and safety of Michiganders by ensuring all residents who want a COVID-19 vaccine are able to get one," Singh said. "The expertise of all involved in the commission will help eradicate the spread of the virus in our state."

During Friday's meeting, the commission unveiled the state's strategy to get 70% of Michiganders age 16 and older vaccinated as quickly as possible. The strategy will follow a set of guiding principles, including:

≤ All Michiganders have equitable access to vaccines

≤ Vaccine planning and distribution is inclusive and actively engages state and local government, public and private partners and draws upon the experience and expertise of leaders to build public trust

≤ Communications are transparent, accurate and frequent public communications to build public trust

≤ Data is used to promote equity, track progress and guide decision-making

≤ Resource stewardship, efficiency and continuous quality improvement drive strategic implementation

Michigan's chief medical executive and chief deputy of health, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, is a co-chair of the Protect Michigan Commission.

"I am proud to co-chair the Protect Michigan Commission as we work collaboratively to get 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older vaccinated with the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as possible," Khaldun said. "The strategy announced (today) clarifies our state's goals and strategies and prioritizes equity, efficiency and transparency. I am proud of the work of our partners across the state in helping us reach our goal. Everyone has a role to play in ending this pandemic."

The Protect Michigan Commission will work to protect the health and safety of Michigan residents by educating communities about the effectiveness of an approved COVID-19 vaccine to eradicate the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to the news release.

"As we work to ensure that every Michigander who wants a vaccine will get one, the Protect Michigan Commission will play a vital role in reaching out to Michiganders in every part of our state," Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said in the release. "The best thing we can do right now is to work together to ensure that Michiganders, especially those with questions and those hardest hit during the pandemic, have a plan to get vaccinated. Our clearest path to healthy communities, a growing economy and day-to-day activities free from fear is through the COVID-19 vaccine."

To achieve that goal, the bipartisan commission will develop an outreach strategy to identify and work with communities around the state where there is hesitancy to the vaccine. The commission is slated to complete its work and submit a report to Whitmer by the end of the year.

Congress appropriated $90 million in additional resources for vaccine distribution in Michigan through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act in December. Whitmer's MI COVID Recovery plan will use that funding to ramp up vaccine distribution across the state, which will help achieve Michigan's goal of putting 50,000 shots in arms per day.

The funding will also provide financial support to local health departments for vaccine administration costs, which includes staffing, equipment and supplies. The state will also be receiving $575 million to expand coronavirus testing, tracing and lab capacity.

More information on the Protect Michigan Commission, including a full list of members, can be viewed at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71551_5460_105209---,00.html.

Vaccine progress being made at Iron Mountain VA

The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain says it is currently receiving a limited supply of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine each week.

Veterans who are 65 and older or are in one of following categories -- homeless, a spinal cord injury, transplant, dialysis or oncology patient, or have other high-risk comorbidities -- will be contacted to be scheduled for an appointment as more of the vaccine is delivered.

The facility will be setting up appointments by area, age, known risk factors and the availability of the vaccine, and there is no need to call and schedule an appointment at this time, according to a news release.

The Iron Mountain VA will distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to more than 18,000 veterans in the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. Over 3,100 vaccines have been administered so far, with more scheduled in the coming weeks.

"As vaccines are delivered they are administered within days, sometimes within hours of receipt," the Iron Mountain VA stated in a news release. "Therefore, the number of vaccines received directly impact the number of veterans to be scheduled."

The Moderna vaccine requires two doses administered around 28 days apart. All recipients will be scheduled for their second dose during the appointment for their initial dose. The Iron Mountain VA emphasizes that it's important for a veteran to return for their second dose after receiving their first dose.

Veterans may go to the VA's COVID-19 information page, where they can access the most updated information for the Iron Mountain VA's vaccination plan. The COVID-19 information page can be found at www.ironmountain.va.gov under the "Health Care Services" menu.

'Let Them Play' protest taking place this morning

Marquette Junior Hockey and the Marquette Senior High School hockey program will be holding a "Let Them Play" protest at the corner of Third and Washington streets in downtown Marquette today.

The groups will meet at the Marquette Commons at 11 a.m. before marching up to the Third Street and Washington Street intersection. The protest is part of a statewide initiative urging Whitmer to allow youth and high school athletics to resume play.

Winter sports athletes have been engaging in non-contact practices with an initial planned starting date for games slated for Monday.

However, organizers said Whitmer has since extended the contact winter sports pause until Feb. 21, at the soonest.

MJH and MSHS will join the Let Them Play organization in solidarity from downtown Marquette, while the blanket Let Them Play group will be holding a rally at the state Capitol building in Lansing at noon today.

According to an article from MLive.com, "Let Them Play," now a nonprofit, has raised more than $50,000 through GoFundMe and has hired a Lansing-based attorney to pursue legal action against the state.

MJH said in a Facebook post that its protest will go from 11 a.m. to noon, and other winter sports teams and organizations are welcome to join in. Masks must be worn and signs are encouraged, organizers said.

Ryan Spitza can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is rspitza@miningjournal.net.