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| Members of the Westland Fire Department helped administer COVID vaccinations last week. |
City fire personnel worked side by side with soldiers from the Michigan National Guard to administer more than 2,000 doses of the COVID 19 Moderna vaccine to seniors on Monday and Wednesday.
Seniors from both the Plymouth and Canton communities were also scheduled for vaccinations against the pandemic-level virus this week and more than 550 Romulus residents 65 and older were vaccinated at the Romulus Athletic Center last month.
More vaccination clinics are planned in area communities, according to a spokesman from Wayne County, as more vaccine becomes available. Vaccination appointments for this week have been filled, according to the county statement, although residents should continue to access the county website for more information about the availability of area clinics.
The Wayne County Health Department distribution site at Vista Tech last week was staffed with more than 38 volunteers who averaged 250 vaccinations per hour.
“Over the past few days my office has received numerous calls regarding the dedication, professionalism and compassion of the Westland firefighters who aided in the administration of vaccines this week,” commented Mayor William R. Wild. “I appreciate Wayne County Executive Warren Evans for scheduling this event. I am extremely proud of our team and know we will continue to work together until every Westland resident who chooses to be vaccinated has the opportunity.”
The City of Westland will continue to build and maintain a registration list in anticipation of future vaccination events, determined by Wayne County, Wild said. Westland residents who are still waiting to receive their vaccinations have four options to register. They can call Wild's office at (734) 467-3200;visit www.cityofwestland. com and complete an online registration form; use the Westland Click and Fix app or register in person at Westland City Hall, located at 36300 Warren Road.
Residents are encouraged to first contact their healthcare provider directly to ask them about getting vaccinated, or sign up to get it through their personal hospital system or through the VA for veterans, if eligible.
“Even if they are not currently giving the vaccinations, residents are encouraged to keep trying, as availability is changing daily,” Wild said.
A list of local healthcare providers is available at www.cityofwestland.com. Other communities are also taking names for a wait list for the vaccine. When appointments become available, they will be notified by either the community or by Wayne County personnel.
Testing for coronavirus is also currently available in Canton, Plymouth, Wayne and Westland.
Canton Township, in cooperation with the Wayne County Health Department and Memorial Healthcare, is offering COVID-19 Testing at Heritage Park, 46202 Heritage Park Road, Canton. At this time, this is site is conducting testing only. Testing will be available from, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturdays. To pre-register go to www.MemorialClarity.com.
Rapid drive-through COVID-19 testing is also available at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth. RapidBio, a molecular diagnostics laboratory, is partnering with the arena and Wayne Health to provide drive-through collection and rapid test results for COVID-19. The company said it is using the sensitive qPCR assay combined with “highly automated equipment” to provide the potential to process 5,000 COVID-19 tests per day and the ability to expand further, with results delivered in 24 hours or less. “This new partnership allows us to provide results to our patients faster than ever before,” explained Phillip Levy, M.D., M.P.H., who leads the Mobile COVID Testing Program for Wayne Health. “The sooner people know their COVID status, the quicker they can take the necessary steps to keep themselves safe and stop the spread.”
USA Hockey Arena is located at 14900 Beck Road in Plymouth Township.
Testing for COVID-19 is also available to the public in both Wayne and Westland. The cities have cooperated with Wayne County to provide the testing sites in an effort to reach the goal of 8,000 tests each day.In Wayne, the cost-free testing with reportedly shorter waiting times is open at the HYPE Recreation Center from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The athletic center is located at 4635 Howe Road in Wayne.In Westland, testing will take place in the parking lot at the Westland Friendship Center, located at 1119 Newburgh Road. Residents will have no out of pocket expenses for testing. However, if insurance information is available, it will be collected for the laboratory testing fees. There is no pre-registration or appointment needed, officials said. Minors must be accompanied by a parents or guardian and patients can expect to receive their results within 2-3 days, which will be shared via email, phone call or text message. The Westland COVID-19 testing is open from 9 a.m.until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Health professionals advised individuals not to take any fever reducing medications prior to testing. When arriving at the drive-through clinic, individuals should have a form of identification ready. Visitors are asked that they leave their car windows up until asked to lower them. In Wayne, both drive-through and inside testing is available. Individuals older than 5 are eligible to be tested, but must be accompanied by an adult. There is no doctor's order or pre-registration necessary. As in Westland, there is no cost but if insurance information is available, it will be collected. Individuals who may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are encouraged to get tested and quarantine until test results are received. Symptoms can develop up to 14 days after exposure to the virus, health professionals said.
