Efforts to Speed up COVID Vaccine Distribution

Efforts to Speed up COVID Vaccine Distribution

by | Feb 23, 2021 | Regional News

U.S. Senator Gary Peters
 

Friend –

Getting COVID-19 vaccines into the arms of Michiganders and Americans is an essential part of getting through this public health and economic crisis.

I’m pushing to pass critical, additional resources to aid those efforts and working closely with President Joe Biden to ensure every Michigander can be vaccinated. I was proud to join President Biden on Friday at the Pfizer facility in Portage, where Michiganders have developed, manufactured and distributed a safe, effective vaccine quickly.

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While we celebrate their remarkable work, I know that many people are also frustrated and angry at the difficulties they have experienced trying to secure vaccines for themselves or their loved ones.

I am encouraged that the Biden Administration is taking significant action to increase the availability of vaccines. The previous Administration failed to develop a comprehensive, effective plan to distribute vaccines, increase vaccine supply or leverage the federal government to ensure states could quickly get vaccines into people’s arms. Recently the Biden Administration announced they had secured an additional 200 million vaccine doses – enough to inoculate every American adult by the end of the summer. I’m also encouraged they are marshaling federal resources to stand up community vaccination sites, and it is vital that vaccines are distributed equitably as well – so that no community is left behind.

In the Senate, I am working with my colleagues to pass the President’s American Rescue Plan, which would provide robust relief to address this pandemic. It includes significant emergency support for struggling families and small businesses, to safely reopen school and to speed up vaccine distribution. The package has critical funding to educate the public as part of a national vaccination plan. It also would give FEMA needed resources that are vital to helping our state and local governments deploy COVID-19 vaccines.

This package has bipartisan support in Michigan and across the country, and is supported by mayors, governors and economic experts from across the political spectrum. I am hopeful we can pass and enact this urgently needed legislation soon.

As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I will continue working to make sure the federal government is doing everything in its power to ensure that vaccines are free and widely available to every community as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Thanks for reading,

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Oakland County Warns Of COVID-19 Related Phone Scam

by | Feb 23, 2021 | Regional News

Oakland County Warns Of COVID-19 Related Phone Scam

Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County is warning the community of a potential scam related to COVID-19 vaccine appointments. According to reports, the caller is asking questions in order to schedule a vaccine appointment, and then is asking for personal and financial information.

“Oakland County will never ask for any financial information including credit card or social security numbers,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for Oakland County. “If you are unsure if it is a scam, avoid sharing any personal information over the phone, and report it to the authorities.”

Concerned residents can report scam calls by calling the non-emergency phone number at the local police or Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

Avoid becoming a victim of phone scams or identify theft by:

  • Making a list of contact information for family members, close friends, health providers or anyone who might call regularly. This will help you know if the call is legitimate.
  • Letting a call go to voicemail if you don’t recognize a phone number. Scammers rarely leave messages.
  • Hanging up if a stranger asks for personal or financial information. If you do answer the phone, it’s OK to hang up.
  • Remembering that government agencies will always identify themselves.
  • Not sharing any personal information such as your social security number to anyone over the telephone.

For more information, visit www.oakgov.com/health or call Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. For up-to-date public health information, follow @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter.

For media inquiries only please contact Bill Mullan, Oakland County media and communications officer, at 248-858-1048.

Flags lowered to Honor 500,000 American Lives Lost to COVID-19

by | Feb 23, 2021 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

February 23, 2020

Contact: Press@michigan.gov   

 

Gov. Whitmer Lowers Flags to Honor 500,000 American Lives Lost to COVID-19

As of this order, the coronavirus has infected 581,403 and killed 15,362 people in Michigan.   

 

LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in accordance with a proclamation issued by President Biden, has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the state of Michigan to be lowered to half-staff immediately through Friday, February 26 to honor and mourn those who have lost their lives due to COVID-19.

 

“As we lower the flags to honor and remember the 500,000 American lives, my heart is with the families of loved ones who passed away from this vicious virus,” Whitmer said. “Our nation grieves as we continue the fight to eradicate COVID-19. The quickest way out of the pandemic is through equitable distribution of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. That’s why we are encouraging every Michigander to make a plan to get vaccinated when a vaccine becomes available. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we will get through this pandemic together.”

 

The State of Michigan recognizes and mourns the lives lost to the coronavirus by lowering flags to half-staff. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff.

 

To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.

 

Flags should be returned to full-staff on Saturday, February 27, 2020.
Lt. Governor Gilchrist Toured Vaccination Operation at U of M

Lt. Governor Gilchrist Toured Vaccination Operation at U of M

by | Feb 23, 2021 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              
February 22, 2021
Media Contact: Press@Michigan.gov   
                              

PHOTOS: Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II Toured Vaccination Operation at University of Michigan

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist returned to his alma mater to see how the vaccination rollout was progressing and thank the hardworking Michiganders distributing the COVID-19 vaccine

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Today, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, along with Dr. Mark Schlissel, president of the University of Michigan, toured the University of Michigan vaccination operation, which is being operated out of the ‘Big House,’ University of Michigan’s football stadium.

“Governor Whitmer and I have made it a priority to tour and further understand how these vaccination sites are operating and to ensure that we’re equitably distributing the vaccine. I was proud to visit my alma mater and see this lifesaving work in real-time,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “It’s clear that our public health professionals, doctors, nurses, the Michigan National Guard, and volunteers are doing everything they can to get shots in arms, but they need more resources. It’s time for the legislature to come to the table and work with Governor Whitmer to pass the MI COVID Recovery Plan. This plan will allocate $90 million in federal funding to help us ramp up vaccine distribution in Michigan, bring us closer to our goal of 50,000 shots in arms per day and help us end the COVID-19 pandemic once and for all.”

As of last week, Michigan has administered 1,787,509 vaccines, moving the state closer to Governor Whitmer’s goal of equitably vaccinating at least 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older as soon as possible. As part of these efforts, Michigan is working to administer 50,000 shots per day through Governor Whitmer’s MI COVID Recovery Plan, partnering with private organizations and nontraditional venues like the Big House to create more opportunities for Michigan residents to receive a vaccine.

 

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EGLE offers scrap tire cleanup

by | Feb 22, 2021 | Environmental

EGLE Main GovD banner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 22, 2021
Kirstin Clemens, EGLE scrap tire coordinator, ClemensK@Michigan.gov, 517-614-7431
Jill A. Greenberg, EGLE spokesperson, GreenbergJ@Michigan.gov, 517-897-4965

EGLE offers scrap tire cleanup, market development grants for 2021 

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has announced availability of grants that promote and support the cleanup and reuse of scrap tires in Michigan. Grants also are accessible through EGLE for the development of markets that reuse scrap tires in Michigan.

Scrap tires pose a fire risk and a human health risk as mosquito breeding grounds. Through grants, scrap tires can be processed and used in paving products for roads, manufactured products and energy production.

The Scrap Tire Cleanup Grant is available for property owners to clean up old or abandoned scrap tire piles. EGLE will give priority to collection sites where tires were accumulated prior to Jan. 1, 1991, as well as collection sites that pose an imminent threat to public health, safety, welfare or the environment. Local units of government and non-profit organizations are also eligible for funding for cleanup days and roadside cleanup grants.

Scrap Tire Market Development Grants are available to fund up to 50 percent of total eligible costs for projects that demonstrate new or increased uses of scrap tires in manufactured products or paving projects. EGLE will prioritize proposals based on the amount of scrap tire material being used in developing the project or product, demonstration of a new use of scrap tire material and demonstration of a viable market for a proposed product.

To receive an application package for a grant, visit the Scrap Tire Cleanup Grant website or the Scrap Tire Market Development Grant website, and select the appropriate link or contact us at EGLE-ScrapTire@Michigan.gov.

EGLE will accept Cleanup and Market Development Grant Applications with all supporting documentation received on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Friday, April 2, 2021.