Berrien County Vaccine Update

Photo by Leyla Dumke

Biology Teacher Mrs. Kelsey Froelich recieved her vaccine.

Berrien County received the much anticipated COVID-19 vaccine that has been distributed across the country. In our area, the Spectrum Health Lakeland hospital has been administering the vaccine.

According to the Berrien County Health Department’s (BCHD) website, the county will be taking a “phased approach” to integrating the vaccine to the population to ensure high-risk individuals are prioritized.

“While timing of distribution is not yet certain and depends, largely, on vaccine supplies, vaccinations for individuals included in Phase 1A have been underway since late December 2020. Individuals in Phases 1B will be prioritized for vaccination in early January 2021, followed by Phase 1C,” the site explained, “Michigan has set an initial operational goal of vaccinating 70% of people age 16 years of age and older, or about 5.6 million people, for COVID-19 by the end of 2021.”

There are two versions of the vaccine available. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine was produced by the American pharmaceutical company Moderna and is a two-dose series that is for those 18 years and older. The two-dose Pfizer vaccine is also available, manufactured by another American pharmaceutical, Pfizer, and is safe for anyone 16 and older.

As of January 26, www.michigan.gov reports that there have been a total of 14,100 vaccines given in the county: 7,800 Pfizer strain and 6,300 Moderna. More will be administered as the phase plan continues.