OPINION

COVID-19 vaccines are here.
Will Michigan distribute them fairly?

Story, interviews and art by
This piece expresses the views of its author(s), separate from those of this publication.
PRESIDENTIAL ATTORNEY RUDY GIULIANI MADE IT SEEM LIKE CONTRACTING A CASE OF COVID-19 IS A BREEZE.
GIULIANI MADE HIS COMMENT TO A NEW YORK CITY RADIO STATION AFTER LEAVING GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL,
WHERE HE WAS TREATED FOR THREE DAYS EARLIER THIS MONTH.
GIULIANI WAS TREATED WITH MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES, LAB-
PRODUCED PROTEINS THAT FIGHT MILD TO MODERATE CASES OF THE VIRUS.  
THESE DRUGS LIKELY CONTRIBUTED TO HIS  SPEEDY RECOVERY.
"I FEEL JUST ABOUT 100 PERCENT RIGHT NOW."
BUT THE drugs are NOT READILY AVAILABLE TOTHE AVERAGE CITIZEN.
OTHER TRUMP ASSOCIATES ALSO GOT THE SCARCE ANTIBODIES AFTER GETTING THE VIRUS.   
CHRIS CHRISTIE
BEN CARSON
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS TREATED WITH THE SAME ANTIBODIES WHEN HE GOT THE VIRUS IN OCTOBER.
one MONTH BEFORE THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION approved THEIR EMERGENCY USE. 
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT the new  vaccines are distributed fairly - especially when it comes to communities of color that have historically received inferior medical treatment?
THE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT RECEIVED BY TRUMP AND HIS ASSOCIATES RAISES  AN IMPORTANT CONCERN AS AMERICA LINES UP TO GET 
COVID-19 VACCINES: 
she was never offered the scarce antibodies giuliani got. instead, SHE RECOVERED AT HOME WITH PRESCRIPTIONS FOR STEROIDS AND ANTIBIOTICS. 
SHE WAS BATTLING THE VIRUS WHEN THE FDA ISSUED EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES FOR TREATMENT OF COVID-19.
LAUREN SOWELL OF DETROIT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19 IN EARLY NOVEMBER.
SOWELL, 28, HELPS PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS AND ADVOCATES FOR VICTIMS OF SEXTRAFFICKING. 
SHE FELT LIKE HER SKIN WAS ON FIRE.
SHE BELIEVES MONEY, STATUS AND JOB TITLEs WILL FACTOR INTO WHO ACTUALLY GETS THE VACCINES FIRST.
SOWELL'S CONCERN IS SHARED BY ELIJAH SANDERS OF PONTIAC. HIS 55-YEAR-OLD STEPFATHER, KEVIN STIMAGE, AN ORDAINED MINISTER, CONTRACTED THE VIRUS AND DIED EARLY EASTER SUNDAY MORNING.
“AMERICA IS WHERE
HEALTH CARE IS FOR THE PRIVILEGED...
SOWELL IS SKEPTICAL THAT  VACCINES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED ACCORDING TO PLAN.
“IT WILL NOT
GO DOWNTHE
WAY THEY SAID
IT SHOULD,”

SHE SAID.
...INSTEAD OF A HUMAN RIGHT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE...EITHER SOMEONE WHO HAS MONEY WILL GET THE VACCINE BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE DOES, OR THOSE WHO ARE MINORITIES WILL BE DISENFRANCHISED.
“BECAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE STORY OF AMERICA.”

what about subsequent phases when vaccines become more readily available to the general public? There are already reports of people trying to buy their way to the front of the vaccine line.
How will officials in michigan make sure communities of color aren't left behind WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRIBUTION OF THE POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING VACCINES?
the state HAS OUTLINED A PLAN FOR ADMINISTERING THE COVID-19 VACCINES in phases. the first Phase  PRIORITIZES THE 600,000 WORKERS IN THE HeALTH CARE INDUSTRY AND PEOPLE IN ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS. 
"BECAUSE (INITiALLY) THERE'S SUCH A LIMITED SUPPLY...IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT EASIER TO MONITOR WHO GETS WHAT."
BILL NOWLING,
COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR FOR WAYNE CO. EXECUTIVE WARREN EVANS

 

"THE WAY WE ARE PRIORITIZING OUR GROUPS IS BASED ON KEEpING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OPEN (AND) DECREASING DEATH AND SERIOUS DISEASE, BUT IT’S ALSO BASED ON MINIMIZING AND MITIGATING THE HEALTH INEQUITIES."
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL'S SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX "USES 15 CENSUS VARIABLES TO HELP LOCAL OFFICIALS IDENTIFY COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NEED SUpPORT BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER DISASTERS."
the index includes factors such as poverty, race and access to transportation to help  determine how resources are allocated.
it will be considered as the state distributes vaccines to  local health departments.
“WE ARE GOING TO BE USING THINGS SUCH AS THE SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX, particularly WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE VACCINE IS MORE AVAILABLE." 
DR. JONEIGH KHALDUN,
CHIEF MEDICAL EXECUTIVE AND CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR for health, MICHIGAN department of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
 "THE...
Pandemic has held a mirror UP to our society and reminded us of the deep inequities in this country."
"the aggressive action we have taken...has no doubt saved thousands of lives, especially among people of color."
THIS MONTH, THE governor launched the protect michigan commission to
"ensure a diverse set of voices are at the table to help ensure that the vaccine is distributed in a way that prioritizes an equitable and fair distribution." 
GRETCHEN WHITMER,
GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN
THIS MONTH, THE TASK FORCE RELEASED
AN INTERIM REPORT tHAT SHOWED the state has made significant progress
in protecting communities of color during the pandemic.
the task force's next steps include "Building A mobile testing infrastructure that can also be extended for other health services such as vaccine administration."
"in the beginning, this virus hit communities of color, and the black community in particular, harder than any other community."
michigan has been proactive in focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. in april, gov. gretchen whitmer CREATED THE MICHIGAN CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE ON RACIAL DISPARITIES, CHAIRED By LT. GOV. GARLIN GILCHRIST.
"as the vaccine becomes more publicly available, the next phase of our work will focus on equitably distributing a safe and effective vaccine in a way that reaches those who need it the most."
GARLIN GILCHRIST,
Lt. GOV. of michigan
in detroit, vaccine distribution will be managed by hakim berry, the city's chief operating officer, who oversaw the city's covid-19 testing site at the state fairgrounds. 
"...detroit will be a national leader again when it comes to making sure that every detroiter who wants to be vaccinated has the ability to have it done quickly and conveniently."
"detroit was a national leader in providing universal access to free covid-19 testing."
HAKIM BERRY
the city is planning drive-thru vaccination sites at the tcf center and the comerica park parking deck and eventually expects to vaccinate up to 5,000 city residents every day.
there's a light at the end of the tunnel. all of us will need to be patient, trust that the process will be fair and wait our turn in line for a vaccination.
AND officials in MICHIGAN MUST CONTINUE TO take steps to make sure the vaccination process will be fair to MINORITY communities.
in the meantime, follow doctor's ORDERS, which ARE:
"wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining distance and not gathering in groups."
DR. JONEIGH KHALDUN