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Leaders of all ages help launch walk-in vaccination clinic at Mott Community College

Featured photo: Dr. Mona Hannah-Attisha (left) and MCC President Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea (right)

Featured video: Dr. Mona Hannah-Attisha

Written by Tanya Terry

Video and photos by Anthony Davis

One author, activist and “champion for Flint;” Dr. Mona Hannah-Attisha, said on May 5 at a presentation at Mott Community College (MCC) it is “within our reach to have a normal summer.” She said this shortly after telling a small group of people at the college she was able to hug MCC President Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea because they were both fully vaccinated.

“Brighter days are actually ahead, but there are still critical efforts that we must take to slow the spread of COVID,” she said.

Many who spoke during the presentation expressed the belief the Mott Walk-in Clinic Vaccination Station would help the Flint community get to these brighter days faster.

The clinic is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays at the MCC Event Center on MCC’s main campus, in Flint. Walk-ins are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays, but appointments will be needed on Fridays.

Hannah-Attisha said the three vaccines we have available to us from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are miracles of modern science.

Hannah-Attisha also said the best public health work happens when strong partnerships and people come together like what was seen at Mott Community College on that day.

“The work that is happening with Hurley Medical Center, with the Genesee County Health Department, all of the Flint-area health systems and community partners in Genesee County along with the support coming from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Governor Whitmer’s Protect Michigan Commission has been tremendous and is saving lives,” she said.

According to Hannah-Attisha, more than 72% of residents over age 65 have received at least one dose, more than 54% of those ages 50-64 have received at least one vaccine dose and more than 45% of those ages 16+ have received at least one vaccine dose in Genesee County.

She said we still have a long way to go to reach the herd immunity level, however.

Hannah-Attisha encouraged parents to bring their high school aged children with them to get their shots, especially if they are 16 or 17, because most vaccination sites require a parent or guardian to be present.

She also stressed the importance of getting the second dose for those who get Pfizer or Moderna vaccines so vaccine recipients can get the full protection of the vaccines.

“In conclusion, we’re not out of the pandemic yet. Things are definitely looking brighter. But, with every person that gets vaccinated we are closer and closer to getting out of this tunnel.”

The COVID-19 vaccine site is being offered to the public at large by MCC, in partnership with Hurley Medical Center, the Genesee County Health Department and Michigan Health Clinics.

Dr. Mona Hannah-Attisha and MCC President Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea

Walker-Griffea acknowledged Dr. David Stockton and Michigan Health Clinic for their commitment to ensuring the COVID-19 vaccination site was made available to everyone who wants it. She thanked MCC’s “point person” on the endeavor, MCC Chief of Public Safety Michael Odette.

Walker-Griffea said the reason appointments were going to be required on Fridays was to ensure no doses of the Pfizer vaccine Michigan Health is administering would be wasted.

She thanked Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her tremendous leadership during this unprecedented crisis and for creating the Protect Michigan Commission, made up of leaders from across the state.

Eli Isaguirre

The stakeholder engagement coordinator for the Protect Michigan Commission effort here in Genesee County, Eli Isaguirre, said the commission is charged with helping to ensure every Michigander has a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19 once the opportunity becomes available. The commission’s goal is facilitating at least 100,000 shots in arms daily, and they are hopeful of getting to the 70% vaccination rate in Michigan by the Fourth of July.

“If we do, we can start to return to normal in terms of going to restaurants and ball games and family gatherings,” Isaguirre said. “With that said, there are communities in Genesee County where we see opportunities where we need to improve on getting people vaccinated.”

According to Isaguirre, vaccination rates are lowest, with generally fewer than one in five having received one or more doses of a vaccine in: NE Flint near Riverside Park, apartments south of Lippincott Boulevard and east of Dort Highway, neighborhoods between the Flint River and Dort Highway north of Mott Community College (Longway Boulevard), neighborhoods between Flint Powers Catholic High School/Kettering University/Hurley Medical Center and much of the neighboring Mt. Morris and Genesee Township.

Dondre Young

“Now, let’s keep it real,” said Dondre Young, chair of the Protect Michigan’s Commission’s statewide Youth Advisory Board.

“We know young people, unfortunately are not always likely to listen to advice from their parents, or grandparents, teachers, politicians or, for that fact, from Dr. Mona-or from hardly anybody else but their peers; the friends and classmates they hang out with every day,” Young continued.

Young explained this was one reason the Protect Michigan Commission introduced the state of Michigan’s COVID-19 Student Ambassador Volunteer Recruitment Campaign. Another reason for the campaign is because of the recent surge and trends being seen in Michigan.

The Protect Michigan Commission is recruiting student champions across the state to help promote awareness among their classmates, along with the importance of being vaccinated. Six of these teens from the Flint area were given their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine by Hanna-Attisha during the May 5 presentation.

Some of the teens had experienced a family member having COVID-19.

Alyssa Young and Dr. Mona Hannah-Attisha

Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Young, who is a graduating senior at Hamady High School, experienced two of her sisters being infected with COVID-19. One was hospitalized in Pennsylvania and placed on a ventilator for more than three weeks.

“I was sad,” Young said, referring to her feelings when she found out her sisters had COVID-19.

“I was crying every day, calling trying to make sure they were OK,” she added. “…That’s all I could do is just cry because I couldn’t do nothing to help them.”

Young was excited that, unlike many others, both her sisters did recover from the disease.

“A lot of people were dying, passing from COVID. So, I was glad God wrapped His hands around my sisters and saved them so they could be better-like they are today…It (knowing my sisters had COVID) affected me big. That’s why I really wanted to get the vaccination. How I’m encouraging others is by saying ‘everybody I just feel should get a vaccine because it’s making it safe so we can go back to our normal lives, we can be around each other and we don’t have to worry about it.’”

Make an appointment at MCC’s COVID Vaccination Station via this google form at https://forms.gle/AWfZsCMCqgc81NZm9. For persons without a gmail account, it is recommended to visit the Vaccination Station on Wednesday or Thursday. The Vaccination Station will offer either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, depending upon availability. Hurley Medical Center will provide resource support. Vaccinations will be available to individuals 16 years and older and minors will need permission from a parent or guardian to receive a vaccination.

Questions about the vaccination site or process can be answered at 810-835-4601 or emailed to vaccinequestions@mcc.edu.

Alyssa Young and Dr. Mona Hannah-Attisha
Alyssa Young and Dr. Mona Hannah-Attisha

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