Publication

07 May 2021

Vacc to the Future Update – May 7, 2021

Last week, Governor Whitmer unveiled a new four step plan called “MI VACC to Normal.” The plan is based on the percentage of eligible Michiganders who have the received their first vaccination. As a reminder, the MDHHS orders limiting things like in person work and restaurant capacity will be lifted as the percentage of vaccinated Michiganders increases:

  • Step 1- 55% of Michiganders (4,453,304 residents), plus two weeks
  • Allows in-person work for all sectors of business.
  • Step 2- 60% of Michiganders (4,858,150 residents), plus two weeks
  • Increases indoor capacity at sports stadiums to 25%.
  • Increases indoor capacity at conference centers/banquet halls/funeral homes to 25%.
  • Increases capacity at exercise facilities and gyms to 50%.
  • Lifts the curfew on restaurants and bars.
  • Step 3- 65% of Michiganders (5,262,996 residents), plus two weeks
  • Lifts all indoor % capacity limits, requiring only social distancing between parties.
  • Further relaxes limits on residential social gatherings.
  • Step 4- 70% of Michiganders (5,667,842 residents), plus two weeks
  • Lifts the Gatherings and Face Masks Order such that MDHHS will no longer employ broad mitigation measures unless unanticipated circumstances arise, such as the spread of vaccine-resistant variants.

As of Thursday at 3:00 pm (the last time the Michigan dashboard was updated), 4,147,193 which is 51.2% of eligible Michiganders. As of last Thursday, 3,951,368 or 48.8% of Michiganders had been vaccinated.[1] That means 195,825 eligible Michiganders received their first dose last week. At that pace, Michigan would reach Step 1 on May 30, 2021, and restrictions would be fully lifted on July 14, 2021.[2]

In other vaccine related news, Pfizer submitted a Biologics License Application or BLA for its COVID-19 vaccine to the FDA.  Submission of the BLA is the first step in getting full approval of the Pfizer COVD-19 vaccine. Pfizer requested priority review of the BLA which accelerates the review timeline to six months instead of the standard ten. Pfizer also requested the FDA expand its emergency use approval of its COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents aged 12 to 15. The FDA is expected to make a decision early next week. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has already announced that vaccinations of adolescents under the age of 16 will not be included in the Vacc to Normal plan.

[1] All vaccination numbers and percentages are based on data from the Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard’s “coverage” tab. https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214-547150–,00.html

[2] Dates include the two week waiting period after each vaccination goal is reached.