Joint Information Center
Wednesday, April 14
As of 8 a.m on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, Calhoun County has a cumulative total of 10,534 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD), with a total of 228 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 13, 2021, 66,179 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, 15,755 first dose and 10,217 second dose shots. Last week, between April 4-10, the Public Health Department administered 2,767 vaccine doses. Our first dose totals include all who are vaccinated by CCPHD with 1 dose of any vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.
 
Walk-In Clinics Available for COVID-19 Vaccine
Battle Creek Clinics for first-dose Pfizer vaccine will take place this week on Wednesday (4/14), Thursday (4/15), and Friday (4/16) at the YMCA Multi Sports Complex. 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. Appointments for the second dose will take place three weeks later on Friday, May 7, 2021.

These walk-in clinics will be held at 86 Cherry St. Battle Creek, MI in the YMCA Multi Sports Complex at the hours listed below:
  • Wednesday, April 14, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 15, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
  • Friday, April 16, 8:30-11:30 a.m.


Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Paused
The Calhoun County Public Health Department is pausing all use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA and CDC have recommended this pause, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed it. The Health Department is stopping all use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until more is known. There is no impact on use of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. The halt in administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine comes after six reports of a rare blood clot following receipt of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered to date in the U.S. These adverse events appear to be extremely rare. The CDC and the FDA recommended the pause out of an abundance of caution.
Keep up with Calhoun County vaccine efforts at
Get your questions answered
Do minors ages 16-17 need consent to receive vaccinations?
Yes. Minors ages 16 and 17 will need a parent or legal guardian to accompany them to their appointment in order to provide consent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is recommended for people aged 16 years and older.

Do I have to pay for the vaccine?
No. You will not be charged any fees for the vaccine, regardless of whether you have health insurance coverage or not. If you do have insurance coverage, the vaccine provider may charge your insurance an administrative fee, but YOU will not have to pay anything. (If you are uninsured, this fee will come from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider’s Relief Fund, NOT you.)

Can I choose which vaccine I get?
Do not wait for a specific brand. All currently authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and CDC does not recommend one vaccine over another. While supplies are scarce, it is unlikely that you will be able to choose which vaccine you receive from your medical provider. You should not wait; you should take whichever vaccine is available to you. CDC does not make a preference for one vaccine over another. Individuals 16 and 17 years of age must receive the Pfizer vaccine only. Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are only recommended for those 18 years and older.

All COVID-19 vaccines go through the same process to receive emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). There is no data to suggest one vaccine is safer than another. Currently CDC is not recommending for certain groups to receive one vaccine over another. The recommendation is to receive the vaccine that is currently available to you.

Will getting a COVID-19 vaccine protect against new variants?
All three variants of concern are thought to have a higher rate of transmission than the SARS-CoV-2 that is circulating across the U.S. This is concerning because more cases of COVID-19 would increase the number of people who need clinical care.

Vaccination remains an important tool in stopping the spread of COVID-19, in addition to other protective actions like mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. Studies about the effectiveness of vaccines against new variants are ongoing.
  • B.1.1.7: There is little indication that B.1.1.7 exhibits any changes in the virus that would impact the effectiveness of current vaccines. B.1.1.7 has been identified in Michigan.
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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