Berrien Co. Health Dept. vaccinates 1,300 Tuesday

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- The Berrien County Health Department hosted a mass vaccination clinic Tuesday as they hope to move along the over 20,000 people on the county’s vaccine waitlist – all of whom are 65 or older.

“We are working down the waitlist, we are emailing and calling those folks and making sure they know how to make an appointment and get them scheduled,” said Gillian Conrad, MPH, Communications Manager at the Berrien County Health Department.

1,300 residents were scheduled to make their way through Tuesday’s line after getting the call that it’s their turn for a vaccine.

If you’re still on the waitlist, the health department is asking for patience as their clinic schedule depends on how many vaccines they receive each week.

“Planning is difficult right now, we’re asking if people receive a phone call or email, if you can react as quickly as you can, that’s your best chance to get in, sometimes there’s only a couple days’ notice before that clinic,” said Conrad.

Working to get through thousands of people in each clinic and saying not one vaccine has gone to waste.

“Our goal is to utilize 90% of the vaccines that we are allocated within each week we receive that shipment,” said Conrad.

If you have yet to sign up for the Berrien County Health Department’s waitlist, click here. They are also still looking for volunteers to help with their clinics.