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Kent County's West Michigan Vaccine Clinic ends May 21st

Courtesy cmich.edu

Friday, May 21st is the final day of operation for the West Michigan Vaccination Clinic. The Kent County Health Department says a new strategy is necessary reaching herd immunity.

Kent County’s goal for reaching herd immunity is vaccinating 362,000 residents age 16 and older.

“Right now, we’re at about 50% of total population in that 16+ age group who’s been fully vaccinated. So, we definitely have a long way to go to reach that 70%.”

Brian Hartl is supervising epidemiologist with the Kent County Health Department.

“We’re definitely seeing a fall-off in the numbers of people entering the vaccination process. We’re still administering quite a few vaccines each day, about 4,500.”

Hartl says 80% of those are second dose appointments. That leaves roughly 1,000 people each day receiving their first dose.

With the mass vaccination approach exhausted, the final day of operation for the Grand Rapids’ West Michigan Vaccination Clinic inside DeVos Place, is Friday, May 21st.

While walk-in clinics at other locations will continue, the health department is taking a new approach hitting the road with three mobile units purchased with Cares Act funding.

Those units will arrive at area events and coordinate with area employers.

“If we vaccinate 20-30 people at one event that’s going to be a great deal of success for us at this point.”

The health department is also distributing vaccines to doctors providing them directly to their patients.