This week, three of the state’s top officials provided an update on the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine the state anticipates receive in the coming weeks. The state’s Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun provided an update on the health aspect, including outlining the state’s goal of 70% of Michigan adults being vaccinated by the end of 2021. Additionally, Dr. Khaldun outlined the early distribution protocols when the state receives the vaccine:

• • Phase 1a – Healthcare providers, Long-term care workers and residents
  • Phase 1b – Essential workers (ex: food & agriculture, police, corrections officers)
  • Phase 1c – Residents over the age of 65 and those at high-risk

Exact timelines for distribution are reliant on how quick the vaccine is manufactured and how the Federal government allocates the vaccine to each state. The state expects the general population will begin receiving the vaccine in late spring.

On the funding aspect, State Budget Director Chris Kolb provided an overview of the additional funding the legislature will need to appropriate to successfully distribute the vaccine, as well as funds for the state’s response to the pandemic. The administration is requesting $72 million to begin the vaccination effort, which will include funding for staffing local public health departments and health providers to administer the vaccine, among other costs.

Additionally, the administration is requesting two appropriation requests from the legislature:

A supplemental request for funds critical for COVID response activities that can no longer be funded with Coronavirus Relief Funds after December 30 under Federal law:

• • $68m for testing and efforts to limit COVID-19 in prisons
  • $41m for contact tracing and statewide testing
  • $40m to continue the $2/hour wage increase for direct care workers for another 3 months
  • $25m for COVID-19 wastewater surveillance to detect outbreaks
  • $15m for PPE, antigen tests, and other medical supplies
  • $11m for hospital surge staffing and added costs
  • $11m for nursing home rapid response teams, COVID care and response centers, and special behavioral health care units

An additional supplemental request of up to $100m for an economic stimulus:

• • Half of the funding will be provided to families that have been hit hardest by the pandemic
  • The other half of funding will go to small businesses for emergency health and safety requirements

Director Kolb stated the funding for the requests will come from projected lapsed funding from the current fiscal year, lower than projected Medicaid caseloads, and higher than estimated revenue collections during the 2020 Fiscal Year. Additionally, some costs could shift due to future Federal funds if Congress passes an additional stimulus.

For more information, please visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine.

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