Kalamazoo racing to get people vaccinated amid surge of new infections

As rates of new COVID-19 infections rise in Kalamazoo County, health officials are working overtime to get as many people vaccinated as possible.

At a recent drive-through clinic held at Kalamazoo Central High School, health workers administered more than 400 doses of vaccine. It’s just a small part of a larger effort to protect eligible residents from COVID-19 before new infections rates spiral out of control.

The efforts seem to be showing fruit. County health officials say they expect to inoculate nearly 10,000 people this week. Already, county facilities are administering more than 2,000 shots per day, according to state records.

They’re racing against the clock. On April 5, the state will open up vaccine eligibility to every resident age 16 and older. That may make it difficult to prioritize more vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and people with health conditions.

“We’re reaching out proactively to the patients with medical conditions and we’re letting the providers and the healthcare workers guide that,” said Dr. Wael Khouli, the interim medical director for the Family Health Center, in an interview with WWMT.

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