Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Biden to see Pfizer plant as weather delays shipping vaccine

By Associated Press • Feb 19, 2021

Joe Biden Oval Office exterior photo — Evan Vucci / Associated Press

Extreme winter weather is dealing the first major setback to the Biden administration’s planned swift rollout of coronavirus vaccines just as the national vaccination campaign was hitting its stride.

The disruptions caused by frigid temperatures, snow and ice left the White House scrambling to work with states to make up “lost ground” even as President Joe Biden was set to visit a Pfizer vaccine manufacturing plant near Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Metro Health offering COVID-19 vaccinations in hardest hit Grand Rapids zip codes

By Patrick Center • Feb 17, 2021

Metro Health Community Center exterior photo — Metro Health - University of Michigan Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention track COVID-19 infection rates. In Grand Rapids, nine of the top 10 zip codes hardest hit by COVID-19 surround Metro Health – University of Michigan Health’s Community Clinic. More than half of Kent County COVID-19 cases have been recorded here.

General sorry for 'miscommunication' over vaccine shipments

By Associated Press • Dec 21, 2020

Gen. Gustave F. Perna portrait — wikipedia

The Army general in charge of getting COVID-19 vaccines across the United States is apologizing for what he calls "miscommunication" with states over the number of doses to be delivered in the early stages of distribution. Gen. Gustave Perna says he failed but he's pledging to "move forward." Perna's remarks came a day after a second vaccine was added in the fight against COVID-19, which has killed more than 312,000 people in the U.S.

Kent County Health Department answers COVID-19 vaccine questions at VaccinateWestMI.com

By Patrick Center • Dec 16, 2020

picture of Kent County Health Department sign — WGVU

Kent County along with health departments, healthcare providers and area universities are partnering with the launch of VaccinateWestMI.com.

“Thank you for checking out this website to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine.”

Dr. Adam London is director of the Kent County Health Department.

Spectrum Health frontline workers receive first doses of COVID-19 vaccine

By Patrick Center • Dec 15, 2020

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine photo — Morry Gash / Associated Press

Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health received its first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine early Monday morning and began vaccinating staff at 12:04pm.

Per Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, frontline hospital workers across the country are receiving the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

At Spectrum Health the first groups getting the shots are the Emergency Room, Intensive Care and COVID-19 Units.

“So far, I feel fine. Not even a sore arm. It’s been about three-and-a-half hours.”

COVID-19 vaccine shipments begin in historic U.S. effort

By Associated Press • Dec 14, 2020

The first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites across the United States on Sunday, as the nation’s pandemic deaths approached the horrifying new milestone of 300,000.