MDHHS continues to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 10, 2021

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS continues to increase community access to COVID-19 vaccines and
testing with 22 neighborhood testing and vaccination sites
Safe and effective vaccines are offered at convenient locations at no cost

LANSING, Mich. —  To increase access to the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, the Michigan Department of the Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is partnering with 22 neighborhood testing sites across the state to now offer COVID-19 vaccines in addition to testing.

The testing sites were the result of Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist’s COVID-19 Racial Disparties Task Force, and these efforts have helped flatten the early disparate outcomes for communities of color when it comes to COVID-19. In continuation of this collaboration, MDHHS is partnering with the neighborhood sites to make it easy and convenient for residents to get both vaccinated and tested. Neighborhood sites have provided 121,247 tests since their start.

“We know the best way out of this pandemic is through strong public health interventions like wearing masks, testing, and most importantly the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “These neighborhood and community sites provide crucial and convenient access to testing and vaccines to ensure all Michiganders have equitable access to stay healthy and safe.”

The safe and effective vaccines are free and no identification or insurance is required. Language interpreting services, including American Sign Language, are available and all sites are ADA accessible.

“MDHHS is doing a phenomenal job of working with churches, schools and other local sites to keep communities safe through robust testing and making vaccinations accessible,” said Pastor Marvin Miles of the International Gospel Center. “As a community, it is important that we combat these COVID-19 variants with safe and effective vaccinations that have been proven to work. This virus has hit home to many families, including mine, so we understand the importance of a community coming together in unity to combat this disease. We want people to be able to socialize and be in safe settings that helps their own mental health, because there is a mental health aspect to this.”

Vaccinations and testing are available on a walk-in basis. To view all upcoming clinics and locations, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.