Update: On January 11th, the State of Michigan expanded into the first two groups of Phase 1b and the first group of 1c (age 65 years or older and prioritized frontline workers). At this time, please do not call your provider’s office for vaccine scheduling.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine scheduling below.
We are committed to health equity and enabling everyone—no matter what their race, ethnicity or economic status—to receive the vaccine. This includes both our team members and the community we serve. The COVID-19 vaccine will help to protect you, your family, loved ones and the community. Once it is available to you, we recommend receiving the vaccine so we can start to move past the pandemic to better health.
Availability and scheduling
Spectrum Health Lakeland is working with State and local health departments, area hospitals, pharmacies and other partners to implement the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services plan for a phased approach to distribution. Groups within 1a, 1b (75 years of age or older and prioritized frontline workers), and 1c (65 years and older) are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine as supplies become available.
A summary of the distribution phases according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services guidance is listed below. For complete descriptions of each phase visit Michigan.gov.
How to schedule vaccinations
Let us know you want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine so you can be scheduled when eligible. At this time, please do not call your provider’s office for vaccine scheduling, instead use the instructions below:
To start, fill out the vaccine survey found in your Lakeland MyChart account under “questionnaires” in the
My Record section. If you do not have a Lakeland MyChart account call 800.LAKELAND (525.3526).
Or, fill out the vaccine pre-registration form found at bchdmi.org/covid19. If you need assistance with this form or
don’t have internet access, call 800.815.5485.
Please note: completing either the Lakeland or BCHD vaccine survey does not mean individuals will be scheduled for an appointment immediately.
Completing the Lakeland MyChart survey
Step 1: Log in or create a Lakeland MyChart account.
We will use Lakeland MyChart as a primary means of confirming your eligibility and notifying you when you are able to schedule. You do not need to be a Spectrum Health Lakeland patient to use this service. Click here, to go directly to the login page.
Step 2: Fill out the COVID-19 vaccination survey found in Lakeland MyChart.
All Spectrum Health MyChart users ages 16 and older will have a COVID-19 vaccination survey available to them in their MyChart account located in questionnaires under My Record. The survey will ask if you are interested in the COVID-19 vaccine and will help us understand what vaccination phase you are in. Please note: completing this survey does not mean you will be scheduled for an appointment immediately.
Directions for viewing instructions on desktop:
To find the COVID-19 Vaccination Survey on a desktop follow the steps below.
- Upon logging in to Lakeland MyChart you may see an announcement banner on the welcome screen. Click the green “Take Survey” button on the banner.
- Or, use the menu to locate “Questionnaires” under the My Record section.
- After clicking “Questionnaires” you will see “COVID-19 Vaccination Survey.” Click on the survey and follow on-screen instructions to begin as shown below.
- If you have other assigned questionnaires in Lakeland MyChart, you may need to scroll to “Optional Questionnaires” to see “COVID-19 Vaccination Survey.”
Directions for viewing instructions on mobile:
Login to your Lakeland MyChart account. Once logged in, use the menu in the upper left corner to locate the section My Records. Next, click “Questionnaires."
After clicking “Questionnaires” you will see the “COVID-19 Vaccination Survey.” Click on it to begin.
Follow on-screen instructions to complete your survey.
If you have any technical trouble, call Lakeland MyChart technical support at 800.LAKELAND.
Directions for viewing on the Lakeland MyChart App:
You can also access the survey through your mobile device or by downloading the Lakeland MyChart App. Once logged in, navigate to menu and click on “Questionnaires."
You will see "COVID-19 vaccine survey." Click on the survey link to begin.
Follow on-screen instructions to complete your survey.
What happens next?
The Berrien County Health Department and Spectrum Health Lakeland are using these lists to confirm eligibility and notifying community members when a vaccine is available. There is a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines. After you have submitted your questionnaire it may take weeks or months to receive a notification that you are able to schedule due to vaccine supply and your eligibility.
Please note: After you've completed your survey you will not receive a “confirmation” email or notification of your status on the list. Please wait to be contacted directly.
You will be notified when there is vaccine available and it is time for you to schedule your appointment according to the communication preference you've selected, either phone or email/MyChart. Even when you become eligible, appointments may not be available right away, so we continue to ask for your patience.
Spectrum Health Lakeland is committed to the safety and health of our communities and will follow state and national guidelines when scheduling patients and holding clinics.
Things to know about your appointment
- You should expect this appointment to take between 30 and 60 minutes.
- Please wear a mask to your appointment.
- Arrive at your scheduled appointment time. We will not be able to accommodate early arrivals.
- Further instructions will be provided prior to your appointment and upon arrival.
Understanding the phase rollouts
The following are descriptions of the priority categories according to CDC guidance.
- Phase 1a
- Health care workers
- Residents of long-term care facilities and staff
- Phase 1b
- Persons 75 years of age or older not covered in Phase 1a
- Pre-Kindergarten through high school teachers, support staff and child care workers who usually have direct contact with children.
- First responders not covered in Phase 1A (e.g., firefighters, police, conservation officers, inspectors)
- Corrections workers (e,g, staff in prisons, jails, juvenile justice facilities)
- Workers in homeless shelters, congregate child care institutions, and adult and child protective services
- Other essential frontline workers
- Phase 1c
- People aged 65-74 years old
- People aged 18-64 years with COVID-19 risk factors/pre-existing conditions
- All remaining essential workers
- Phase 2 - People aged 16-64 years not covered above.
NOTE: The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for use in individuals 16 years and older while the Moderna vaccine is authorized for use in individuals 18 years and older). If you have a fever (temperature greater than 100.3 F), you will not be vaccinated at this time.
More about the vaccine: Frequently asked questions
Get up-to-date information on the COVID-19 vaccine and its safety, efficacy and science in the frequently asked questions and links to additional resources below. Check back as more information on the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.
What is the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines work by tricking the immune system to fight off an infection. They do this in different ways. Some use weakened versions of the virus that are unable to cause illness (chicken pox and measles); some use dead virus (influenza); and the COVID-19 vaccine uses pieces of the virus to target a specific protein on the surface of the virus.
Note: You cannot get COVID-19 from a vaccine. The vaccine would contain proteins or other biological substances to stimulate the immune response, but not the coronavirus itself.
How does the vaccine work?
The COVID-19 vaccines use mRNA, or messenger RNA, a genetic material that contains instructions for making proteins. The mRNA in the COVID-19 vaccine is designed to trigger our bodies' cells to produce pieces of COVID-19 virus proteins. Our immune systems then make antibodies against these proteins. Those antibodies may either block infection or weaken infection to a mild form. You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine.
How is the vaccine administered?
Health care personnel and patients will receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a shot into the muscle of the upper arm. A second dose is then administered either three or four weeks later.
Does Spectrum Health have the COVID-19 vaccine?
Spectrum Health has the capabilities to receive, store, distribute and administer vaccines when they become available and we will be one of five health systems in the state to receive the vaccine first for our team members. We have been planning for months and are ready with freezers located at sites throughout our health system.
When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine and who gets the vaccine first?
The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as large quantities are available; however, not everyone will be able to get vaccinated right away.
We will be following the federal government’s phased approach for vaccinations to ensure that those most in need are prioritized. This phased approach means Spectrum Health team members who have patient contact will be able to receive the vaccine first. More information is available from the CDC about priority groups.
We do not have information at this time regarding when additional supplies of the vaccine will be available for the broader community. We will share that when we know more.
It is understandable that you might be concerned if you cannot get vaccinated right away, and that is why it is critical for all of us to continue preventative measures.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
The FDA carefully reviews all safety data and only authorizes vaccine use if there’s sufficient evidence strongly suggesting that patients have benefitted from the vaccine and that it meets safety standards. The FDA has rigorous scientific and regulatory processes in place to help ensure the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine
Is the COVID-19 vaccine effective?
The COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be effective, based on initial clinical trials. Because the vaccine is authorized for an emergency use during the pandemic, the vaccine’s maker will continue to collect data to demonstrate whether the vaccine is effective over longer periods of time.
Can the vaccine mRNA affect your DNA?
No. Our DNA is located in the nucleus of each cell. The vaccine mRNA does not get into the nucleus. Soon after a cell makes the pieces of the virus proteins, the cell breaks down the mRNA into inactive pieces..
Why should I get the COVID-19 vaccine once it is available to me?
By getting the COVID-19 vaccine you will be protecting yourself, your family, community, and loved ones. Once it is available to you, we recommend you get the vaccine so we can move West Michigan past this pandemic.
Does the vaccine have side effects?
There are usually mild to moderate side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. The most common side effect caused by the vaccine includes pain at the site where the vaccine was given, which is in the arm. Other side effects may include a headache, fever, chills or muscle aches.
What should I do if I'm pregnant, breastfeeding or considering pregnancy?
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is important to engage in a discussion and shared decision-making with your provider regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Have a conversation to see what's best for you and your family.
What do we know about the vaccine and infertility?
We have no evidence that the vaccine will affect fertility in males or females. Both the Moderna and Pfizer trials have identified several vaccine recipients who became pregnant during the clinical trial and have had pregnancies that continued without incident.
Do I need the vaccine if I’ve recovered from COVID-19?
Yes, currently those who have recovered from COVID-19 are still encouraged to get a vaccination. At this time we do not know how long natural immunity lasts after having a case of COVID-19. Currently it is believed that people may be naturally immune for at least 90 days.
Do I need the vaccine if I’m a young, healthy individual?
Studies show that younger, healthy individuals are less likely to develop a severe case of COVID-19. However, there is no way to determine which specific risk factors may play a role in how your body reacts to the virus. Some people who have mild COVID-19 go on to experience lingering symptoms for many months. In addition, it is possible to transmit the virus to other people even if your case is mild or without symptoms.
Why do I still need to follow precautions if I get the vaccine?
At this time, we do not know the impact vaccination will have on transmission of the virus. This will only be answered with studies after widespread vaccine rollout. Safety measures, including mandatory masking, social distancing, and pre-procedure COVID-19 testing will still be required until more information is available.
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