Kent County Spectrum Health and Mercy Health in Collaboration With Vaccinate West Michigan Launch Large-Scale Vaccine Site in Downtown Grand Rapids
Kent County, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health, in collaboration with Vaccinate West Michigan, have come together to create a COVID-19 vaccination clinic that will allow large numbers of people to be vaccinated at one central location. Vaccinations will begin on Monday, Jan. 25, at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Avenue in Grand Rapids.
The West Michigan Vaccine Clinic will be offering vaccines by appointment only based on vaccine availability. While this is a large-scale facility, current vaccine supply does not allow for full use of this capacity right now. The clinic will begin with a small number of appointments, consistent with the amount of vaccine available. The goal is that as more vaccine becomes available, more people will be scheduled for appointments at this location.
The size and configuration of DeVos Place is well suited for a large-scale undertaking of this kind. The site was selected because it is on bus routes, accessible by multiple interstate highways, has adequate parking and is centrally located. At this time, individuals designated by state and federal criteria are being vaccinated, including those 65+ and certain essential workers such as teachers and childcare workers. Appointments are also continuing for Phase 1a individuals including health care workers, doctors, dentists and their staff.
The Kent County Health Department, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health also will continue to offer vaccine clinics at their respective locations across the region and will continue to increase appointments at those sites based on availability of vaccine.
- Scheduling
Vaccines will be provided by appointment only. The first step in scheduling is to register for the COVID-19 vaccine by going to wmvaccineclinic.org. Once you register, we will notify you when you are able to schedule.If you are eligible for a vaccine and unable to use the online tools to complete your registration, call 833.755.0696. Call volumes are extremely high. Registering online is the fastest, easiest and preferred method. Only use the phone line if you are eligible for a vaccine and do not have access to the internet or have received a notification to schedule. This will allow those who are most in need to reach our team.If you previously filled out your COVID-19 vaccine questionnaire through Spectrum Health, rest assured we have your registration, and you are on the list for vaccination. You do not need to complete the questionnaire again.
- Visitor Information
In an effort to keep the number of people onsite to a minimum, individuals scheduled for an appointment are asked to come to DeVos Place by themselves unless they need assistance or require a legal guardian or a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare, to accompany them. Vaccine recipients are asked to wait in an observation area for 15 minutes after inoculation. Childcare is not available onsite, however scheduled adults with children will be allowed to enter the vaccination clinic so that as many eligible adults can be vaccinated as possible. Masks and social distancing will be required. Individuals with appointments will be asked to arrive promptly at their scheduled time to avoid unnecessary delays.
- Parking
Parking will be available in the ramp under DeVos Place, which is accessible from Michigan St and Lyon St. Additional parking options will be identified as people are contacted with their appointment information.
- Bus routes
DeVos Place can be reached by taking the Silver Line, Laker Line and #11 Plainfield bus routes.
- Volunteers
Organizers are looking for volunteers to assist in various roles at the clinic. More information about how to sign up for volunteer opportunities will be coming soon.
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About Kent County
The County of Kent government serves a diverse population of more than 650,000 residents, making it the fourth largest county in Michigan. The County provides a wide range of essential services in the following areas: law enforcement, correctional facility, three court systems, elections, social services, public health, park system and vital records. Additionally, it has operating agreements for the maintenance of County drains, solid waste and road, mental health services, and with the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and John Ball Zoo. To learn more about Kent County services, visit www.accesskent.com.
About Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health System, a not-for-profit, integrated health system, is committed to improving the health and wellness of our communities. We live our mission every day with 31,000 compassionate professionals, 4,600 medical staff experts, 3,300 committed volunteers and a health planserving more than 1 million members. Our talented physicians and caregivers are privileged to offer a full continuum of care and wellness services to our communities through 14 hospitals, including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, 150 ambulatory sites and telehealth offerings. We pursue health care solutions for today and tomorrow that diversify our offerings. Locally-governed and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, our health system provided $550 million in community benefit in calendar year 2019. Thanks to the generosity of our communities, we received $37 million in philanthropy to support research, academics, innovation, and clinical care. Spectrum Health has been recognized as one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems by Truven Health Analytics®, part of IBM Watson HealthTM.
About Mercy Health
Mercy Health is a regional, multi-campus, Catholic health care system serving West Michigan and the lakeshore with 3 hospital campuses, 736 hospital beds, and more than 8,000 colleagues, as well as hospice, home health and long-term care service offerings. Mercy Health has annual operating revenues of about $1.4 billion and returns about $80 million to its communities annually through charity care and community benefit programs. Mercy Health Physician Partners, a multi-specialty medical group, employs more than 960 physicians and advanced practice professionals in more than 80 physician offices in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Holland and along the West Michigan lakeshore. Mercy Health, a member of Trinity Health, is committed to being a trusted health partner for life, transforming the communities we serve, by providing high-quality care that is the most accessible, compassionate and personalized in West Michigan. Visit us at MercyHealth.com.