Joint Information Center
Wednesday, April 28
As of 8 a.m on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, Calhoun County has a cumulative total of 11,375 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD), with a total of 249 deaths attributed to the virus. This information is updated once daily, Monday through Friday, at www.calhouncountymi.gov.


COVID-19 Vaccine Information
The State vaccine dashboard shows that as of April 28, 2021, 77,415 doses have been administered to Calhoun County residents, from various sources, not just the Public Health Department.

In Calhoun County, total shots administered by the Public Health Department are, 19,333 first dose and 15,858 second dose shots. Last week, between April 18-24, the Public Health Department administered 1,253 vaccine doses. Our first dose totals include all who are vaccinated by CCPHD with 1 dose of any vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

Calhoun County is reporting 42.0% of the population have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 32.2% being completed a two-dose series. The goal is to have 70% of the Calhoun County residents vaccinated.
Drive-Thru Clinics Available for COVID-19 Vaccine
The Calhoun County Public Health Department is offering a series of drive-thru clinics in the Calhoun County area. The Pfizer vaccine is available for adults age 16+. Individuals who are 16 or 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive the vaccine.
 
  • Wednesday, April 28 from 3-7 p.m. - Harper Creek High School, 12677 Beadle Lake Rd., Battle Creek, MI (Drive-thru)
  • Thursday, April 29 from 3-7 p.m., Kellogg Community College, North Parking Lot, 450 North Ave., Battle Creek, MI (Drive-thru)
  • Monday, May 3 from 3-6 p.m., Dexter Lake Church, 1555 Michigan Ave., Battle Creek, MI (Drive-thru)
  • Wednesday, May 5 from 3-6 p.m., Woodland Church, 14425 Helmer Rd S, Battle Creek, MI 49015 (Drive-thru) in partnership with Woodland Church.


Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Update
On April 13, the Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD) paused the use of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine based on the Food and Drug Administration's and CDC's recommendation. The pause was recommended after reports of six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals following administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. All of these cases occurred in women between the ages of 18 and 59, with a median age of 37 years.

MDHHS is recommending vaccine providers across the state resume the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to vaccinate Michiganders age 18 and older. This recommendation is based on FDA and CDC recommending to move forward with administering the vaccine. As of today, fewer than 10 people — of the 6.8 million who have gotten the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to date — have reported serious blood clotting side effects. These events are extremely rare. The chance of being struck by lightning is literally twice that of getting a blood clot from the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The CCPHD does plan to resume use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. No vaccine clinic is scheduled right now with Johnson & Johnson; however, CCPHD will be announcing dates soon.


Survey Results Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Sentiment
During the first two weeks in April, the Joint Operation Center shared an online survey with community partners and the public, encouraging residents to answer questions about their opinions on the COVID-19 vaccine. Since it closed and 540 people responded, a report was put together by the company ZenCity, which developed the survey. Click here to see the full report.

510 individuals who responded were from Calhoun, living in Albion, Battle Creek and Marshall primarily, and primarily white. Nearly 73% of respondents expressed eagerness to get the COVID-19 vaccine quickly, which is much higher than the Kaiser Family Foundation's (KFF) national average of people interested in the vaccine, at 52%. The percentage of individuals absolutely not interested in the vaccine was 12.9%, which matches KFF's national average of 13% of people who will not receive the vaccine.

Residents expressed that their concerns about the vaccine are related to its newness and side-effects, as well as whether it has been delivered equitably in the community—most respondents were not sure. Another element of education that the public expressed an eagerness about is how long immunity will last. For how to make the vaccine easier to get, respondents recommended clinics be held later in the day and closer to home, which is something the Public Health Department has already begun.

The Joint Operations Center will continue to discuss these results for ways that we can use these lessons to have a more effective education campaign or vaccine offerings. Thank you to those who took time to answer our questions: This gives us a peek into how we can be most effective for residents in our COVID-19 response.
Keep up with Calhoun County vaccine efforts at
Get Your Questions Answered
How bad will the side effects be?
If you’re concerned about side effects, we hear you. An immune response to the vaccine is perfectly normal and healthy. When side effects occur, they are a sign your body is building protection to the virus, and most go away in a few days.

Common side effects include,
  • Tiredness
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Nausea

To reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot, apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area. To reduce discomfort from a fever, drink plenty of fluids and dress lightly. Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or antihistamines, for any pain and discomfort you may experience after getting vaccinated. You can take these medications to relieve post-vaccination side effects if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these medications normally.


How long does immunity from COVID-19 vaccination last?
Evidence shows us that the COVID-19 vaccines are extraordinarily effective at protecting individuals from the virus. What remains unclear, however, is exactly how long the vaccines prevent COVID-19, if booster shots may be needed down the road, or if vaccines will need to be tweaked to fight against emerging variants of the virus.

On April 1, Pfizer confirmed that immunity from their RNA vaccine is still going strong (91.3% effective) six months after the second dose. Similarly, evidence for the Moderna vaccine shows 94% effectiveness six months following the second dose. This six month marker is an important milestone and both manufacturers will continue to monitor the effectiveness of their vaccines in the coming months.

Although getting vaccinated is an important step in protecting your self, your family, and your community from COVID-19, it does not mean you should stop practicing precautions such as masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene. Those measures are still critical as we continue to battle the community spread of COVID-19.
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For updates from Calhoun County, about County operations and COVID-19 in Calhoun County, visit the County website, calhouncountymi.gov.

For updates from the City of Battle Creek, please visit battlecreekmi.gov/coronavirus.

The State’s COVID-19 Hotline is available for anyone who has questions or concerns related to the virus. The hotline is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 1-888-535-6136. For state COVID-19 information, visit michigan.gov/coronavirus.
For information, contact
Lucy Blair, Calhoun County Communications Manager

Victor Jovanovich, Public Health Department Communications Specialist

Jessica Vanderkolk, City of Battle Creek Communications Manager