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How Beaumont Health is responding to the increasing demand for COVID vaccinations

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Posted at 7:45 PM, Jan 13, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-13 19:54:39-05

(WXYZ) — As coronavirus vaccines arrive in hospitals and medical centers across the state, Beaumont hospitals are working to meet the unprecedented need in metro Detroit.

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In Wednesday's 7 UpFront segment, we speak with Beaumont Chief Operating Officer Carolyn Wilson about the health system's vaccination response and what they're seeing as doses are given out to Michigan residents.

Over the weekend, Beaumont Health tripled its server capacity in response to overwhelming demand for the vaccine, a release states. The demand came in response to Beaumont hospitals announcing vaccinations for people age 65 and older.

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“In the health care information technology space, having thousands of patients trying to register at once is unprecedented and our servers were maxed out. It’s similar to what happens when people try to purchase concert tickets as soon as they go on sale and everyone cannot get through at the same time,” Beaumont Health Chief Information Officer Hans Keil said. “I’m proud we more than tripled our capacity so quickly. We are rapidly working to add even more.”

At the moment, the Beaumont Service Center in Southfield is equipped to vaccinate more than 3,200 people per day, with plans to continue expansion.