First COVID-19 vaccines depart Capital Regional International Airport

At least 34 deaths tracked across Greater Lansing over the last week.

Frontline healthcare workers at two Michigan hospitals were the first in the state to receive their COVID-19 vaccines this week after they were federally approved and sent out for distribution.

The nation’s first batch of coronavirus vaccines reportedly arrived at the Capital Regional International Airport on Sunday morning, shortly after leaving Pfizer’s manufacturing facility in Portage. Those initial doses were set to be distributed across Michigan and all 50 states, with the top priority given to frontline health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

After that, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services plans to expand vaccinations to essential workers and those who are at high-risk of contracting COVID-19.

Sparrow Health System in Lansing was preparing to administer its share of the vaccine to dozens of its workers this week, but the number of doses expected to arrive was far from enough to cover all high-priority employees, according to reports in the Lansing State Journal.

The Michigan National Guard will also staff about 50 COVID-19 “vaccination and testing teams” that will report to four hospitals as early as this week to help out with ongoing distribution efforts.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also created the bipartisan Protect Michigan Commission within the Department of Health and Human Services, a mass vaccination campaign to raise awareness of the safety and efficacy of the recently approved COVID-19 vaccine across the state of Michigan.

In related news …

The East Lansing City Council has approved an expedited approval process and temporary elimination of fees for the creation or expansion of outdoor seating or local restaurants. Restaurants adjoining any plaza, parking lot or other public space can apply for a temporary permit that allows them to temporarily create or expand outdoor seating through March 2021.

As the pandemic rages on in Greater Lansing, Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail is urging residents to also be cautious of the flu season with vaccinations, hand washing and other steps.

“We need to do everything we can to lessen the spread of the flu and prevent flu-related hospitalizations so as not to overwhelm the region’s healthcare system,” Vail said this week.

Michigan State University received $2.1 million in grant funding last week to test for coronavirus in wastewater, which has the potential to be an early warning system for COVID-19. More than 100 wastewater sites will be monitored for the virus to assist with preventative measures.

Small businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus can apply for grants of up to $15,000 through the Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative. About $600,000 is set for businesses across Eaton, Clinton and Ingham counties. Those grants will be awarded on a “first-in” basis to businesses at michiganbusiness.org/relief.

Essential workers interested in applying for Michigan’s “Future for Frontliners” program that offers tuition-free college must apply in the next two weeks to be considered eligible for assistance. The program is designed to offer certain frontline workers the option of free college tuition toward an associate degree or industry-recognized certificate at community college.

Whitmer joined a bipartisan coalition of governors from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin on Tuesday urging residents to wear masks and practice social distancing as the holiday season approaches. “Until the vaccine is available to everyone and until we eradicate this virus once and for all, we must continue working to project one another,” she said.