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COVID-19 vaccine scramble: Patients, doctors frustrated by shortages and line-jumping

Michigan top 20 in the nation for vaccinating citizens

DETROIT – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Dr. Joneigh S. Khaldun reiterated Michigan is not getting enough COVID vaccine doses to meet the demand.

They did say that Michigan is in the top 20 in the nation when it comes to actually getting people vaccinated. That’s little consolation for those most in need of the vaccine -- who are struggling to get it while others jump the line before they are eligible.

READ: Some Michiganders cutting in line for COVID vaccine ahead of those in need

An elderly woman, at high risk for COVID, has been unable to get a vaccine appointment. She said she couldn’t believe a friend of hers, who is in their 40′s and a stay-at-home mom, was able to get an appointment.

Dr. Carl Lauter is an infectious disease doctor at Beaumont Hospital. Lauter said there is no point in getting mad and he’s not surprised that people are cutting in line.

“We have people who can’t wait to get the vaccine, who feel they are special. There is a way to game the system,” Lauter said.

The Pfizer vaccine has five doses, but Beaumont said they are getting a sixth dose out of the vile. Lauter said Beaumont bought thousands of special syringes to get the sixth dose -- only to have Pfizer change its label from five to six doses and deliver fewer doses in recent days.

Watch the video above for the full report.

READ: Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases


Questions about coronavirus? Ask Dr. McGeorge


About the Authors
Shawn Ley headshot

Shawn Ley is an Emmy-Award winning reporter. In more than 20 years covering stories in television news, Shawn’s reporting has taken him from war-torn eastern Europe, to reporting from an F-16 fighter jet and now to the fast and furious breaking news of Detroit.

Kayla Clarke headshot

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.

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