(WXYZ) — Wayne County Health Officials say the county is headed in the right direction when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, but there are supply chain problems.
Related: COVID-19 vaccine guide: Distribution locations, FAQs and more
Today at 1:30 p.m., those officials will meet via Zoom to discuss the number of Pfizer and Moderna doses available for distribution, as well as a timeline for future vaccinations.
The bulk of the doses provided to Michigan thus far are going to hospital systems, with Wayne County getting a small fraction of them. The chair of the commission's committee on health and human services is stressing patience right now, and expects regardless of vaccine progress, most of us will need to wear masks for several more months.
Wayne County Commissioner Tim Killeen is also the chair of the Wayne County Commission's Committee on Health and Human Services. He said he expects a few more growing pains in getting the county all of the COVID-19 vaccines it needs.
First, because this is part of a national effort requiring many moving parts, and second, because the incoming Biden administration may mean additional changes here and there.
The county received its first shipment of just under 2,000 doses back on Dec. 17.
“Wayne County itself only gets a small fraction of all the doses of vaccine, overwhelmingly the hospital systems get them," he said.
On Monday, the state started moving into phase 1B for vaccinations, including those 65 and older, as well as frontline essential workers, first responders, teachers and more.
The city of Detroit, which has its own health department separate from Wayne County, is using TCF Center as a vaccine distribution site. Starting Wednesday, vaccinations are expected to begin for residents by appointment.
For non-Detroiters in Wayne County eligible for a vaccine, you can learn more about providers and the vaccine at waynecounty.com/covid19.
“Until we get to 75 percent we’re wearing these things," Killeen said. “Even if you get the vaccine you’re going to have to mask up anyway for a while.”
It likely won't be until March or April that the general public will have access to the vaccine, and supply has been an issue for other counties as well.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
Visit our The Rebound Detroit, a place where we are working to help people impacted financially from the coronavirus. We have all the information on everything available to help you through this crisis and how to access it.