Jackson residents continue to roll up their sleeves to get COVID-19 vaccines. One strategy to make sure all residents have access to the vaccine is holding a vaccination clinic at the City of Jackson’s Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. The latest data from Henry Ford Allegiance Health shows that since the clinic opened in early March, a total of 1,112 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.
A breakdown of the data shows there have been 585 first doses and 527 second doses given. Of the 593 people who have received vaccines at the clinic, 89 percent were Jackson County residents, and 54.6% were African American.
The MLK Center is located in the heart of Jackson’s south side neighborhood, which is predominately African American and low income. Allegiance Health worked with the City to open a vaccination site at the center to give better vaccine access to this community. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there is increasing evidence that racial groups, such as African Americans, are being disproportionately affected by COVID-19. To achieve greater health equity, the CDC says barriers need to be removed so that everyone has a fair opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
MLK Center Director Antonio Parker says he’s happy to see so many south side residents come to the center to get vaccinated. “The Jackson community has done an awesome job of coming out to get the vaccine. I thank Henry Ford Allegiance Health for this effort and look forward to future partnerships,” Parker said. “We’re still a long way from fully defeating COVID in Jackson, so that’s why we need more people to come out and get vaccinated,” Parker said.
Dr. Courtland Keteyian, Vice President for Population Health at Henry Ford Allegiance Health, says the MLK Center is a vital partner in efforts to maintain accessibility to the COVID-19 vaccine. “We are encouraged by the consistent response we are receiving at the center’s vaccination clinic each Thursday. It’s evident community outreach is working and we are grateful because every fully immunized individual helps keep us all safe and healthy,” Dr. Keteyian said.
Vaccines are being offered at the MLK Center every Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is needed. The center is located at 1107 Adrian St. and is reached by calling 517-788-4067.
