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Large Numbers Of People Can Now Get Vaccinated At EMU Convo Center Thanks To Health Partnership

Jeremy Borton (St Joe's)

Two local health organizations are coming together to help expand COVID-19 vaccination efforts at Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center.

The Washtenaw County Health Department currently operates a COVID-19 vaccination clinic out of the facility.

St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arborhas announced it will begin supplying the facility with additional staff and volunteers.

Credit Jeremy Borton (St Joe's)

The Chief Medical Officer at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor and Livingston, Dr. David Vandenberg, says that will allow it the clinic to stay open 7 days a week for between 10 and 12 hours a day.

“We anticipate we could get as many as 2000 vaccines a day, 7 days a week,” Dr Vandenberg says.

Dr. Vandenberg says that would dramatically increase the community’s capacity for administering the vaccine, once more doses of the treatment become available.

Credit Jeremy Borton (St Joe's)

Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 16, St. Joe's will begin providing staff at this location, with the goal of transitioning its vaccine clinic currently located in the hospital lobby to this larger site.  This will allow staffing and resources to be realigned to gear up for mass vaccination over the coming months.

“Running this community vaccination clinic is a huge undertaking," says Dr. Juan Luis Marquez, medical director, Washtenaw County Health Department.  "We are grateful to partner with St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor to both continue and expand our community vaccination efforts.  As supplies increase and vaccine becomes more available to a larger number of people, we are well-equipped to get our community vaccinated as efficiently as possible.”

Credit Jeremy Borton (St Joe's)

Through the new partnership, St. Joe's Ann Arbor will be providing 20 paid colleagues a day to help at EMU as vaccinators, vaccine educators, and vaccine preparation.  The hospital also will be providing a portion of its vaccine supply to this new site, after completing current scheduled appointments taking place through February 25.

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— Taylor Pinson is a writer/reporter for 89.1 WEMU News.  Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him studio@wemu.org

Taylor Pinson is a former WEMU news reporter and engineer.
Taylor Pinson is a former WEMU news reporter and engineer.
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