From Tim Sneller -- 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am honored to have been officially sworn in this week as the State Representative for the 50th House District. This is my third and final term, and I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Burton, Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc Township and Mundy Township. Thank you for your trust in me. I hope you and your family have a safe and happy holiday!

In This Edition:

• Futures for Frontliners Program – Deadline Dec. 31
• COVID-19 Vaccine Info
• Helpful Resources

Futures for Frontliners Program – Deadline Dec. 31

On Sept. 10, Michigan officially launched the Futures for Frontliners program, providing a tuition-free pathway to higher education or a high school diploma for the essential workers who have helped keep our state moving throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This opportunity is a way for the state to give back to all of the frontline and essential workers who have stepped up to ensure that our communities are still able to function during these troubling times. If you or someone you know is an essential worker, don’t let another day go by, apply today! For more information and to apply, visit Michigan.gov/Frontliners. Applications are due December 31, 2020.

Pursuing Higher Education

To be eligible, essential workers wishing to enroll in community college or job training through this program must:

• Be a Michigan resident
• Have worked in an essential industry at least part-time between April and June 2020
• Have a high school diploma
• Have not yet completed a college degree (associate or bachelor’s)

Pursuing a High School Diploma

To be eligible, essential workers wishing to finish their high school diploma or equivalent through this program must:

• Be a Michigan resident
• Have worked in an essential industry at least part-time between April and June 2020
• Not already have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Not be currently enrolled in high school

I was officially sworn-in as the State Representative for the 50th House District on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.

COVID-19 Vaccine Info

On Friday, Dec. 11, the first COVID-19 vaccine in the country was approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Over the weekend, Pfizer—Michigan’s very own—and their German partner BioNTech began shipping doses of the vaccine from Kalamazoo across the country. Despite this incredibly welcome news, we simply cannot afford to let our guards down and throw caution to the wind. We must still remain diligent about following proper social distancing guidelines, wearing masks, washing hands and limiting interactions with members outside of our households.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how diseases without vaccines can devastate an economy and public health. The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is committed to following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for prioritization of distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, with input from state public health and health care leaders and reviewed correspondence from the public. Distribution in Michigan will be in a phased approach, with an emphasis on ensuring the continued functioning of the health care system and essential services in the community, and protecting people at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness.

Vaccination Approval Process

Vaccines are approved only after they have been held to the highest safety standards. By the time a vaccine like the one to be used to combat COVID-19 is granted approval, the data has been reviewed by the country’s top public health, medical and immunization experts. Here’s how a new vaccine is typically developed, approved and manufactured:

In an incredible feat, the COVID-19 vaccines have been developed faster than any before thanks to the unprecedented, worldwide collaboration among scientists, medical doctors, health and government officials, and manufacturers. This collective effort has allowed researchers to shorten the typical vaccine timeline without sacrificing safety or quality.

Initial Vaccine Distribution & Administration Plan

Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Michigan will follow the CDC’s phased approach, including the following phases:

Phase 1A: This phase includes paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home, as well as residents of long-term care facilities.

The first priority of this phase is to keep critical health care infrastructure open and functioning through the vaccination of staff who perform direct patient care and work in critical areas, including emergency medical service providers, emergency departments and intensive care units. Phase 1A also focuses on preventing outbreaks in long-term care facilities by vaccinating workers who have direct contact with large numbers of vulnerable residents, including staff who come in and out of the buildings. Vulnerable residents in long term care facilities will also be prioritized for vaccination during this phase.

Phase 1B: This phase includes some workers in essential and critical industries, including workers with unique skill sets as non-hospital or non-public health laboratories and mortuary services.

Additional essential workers will be the focus of this phase, in order to keep critical infrastructure open and functioning. This will include K-12 school and child-care staff with direct contact with children, some workers in 16 sectors of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program, homeless shelters, corrections facilities, congregate child care institutions, and adult and child protective services. Other workers with unique skill sets not already covered, including non-hospital laboratories and mortuary services, are also included in this phase.

Phase 1C: This phase includes people at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness due to underlying medical conditions, and people 65 years and older.

In addition to individuals age 65 years and older, this phase includes individuals over the age of 18 with COPD, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, obesity or another condition that puts them at high risk of a negative COVID-19 outcome. Please note that pregnant persons are not recommended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at this time.

Phase 2: This phase is a mass vaccination campaign for all adults.

All other individuals who did not fit into the previous groups for whom the vaccine is recommended are included in Phase 2. The vaccine is expected to be available to the general public when supply substantially increases in 2021.

COVID-19 vaccinations will be administered by the following entities: Hospitals, Pharmacies, Local Health Departments, Emergency Medical Services, Michigan National Guard, and Outpatient Clinics. For answers to frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in Michigan, click here. For additional information, visit michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine.

Helpful Resources

• Coronavirus Info - Michigan.gov/coronavirus.
• Michigan 2-1-1 - https://www.mi211.org/.
• Unemployment Benefits - Michigan.gov/UIA.
• Small Business Assistance - www.michiganbusiness.org/covid19 and sbdcmichigan.org/small-business-covid19.

Government Links for Residents of Michigan’s 50^th House District

• State Representative Tim Sneller - www.RepSneller.com
• 50th House District Map - http://www.housedems.com/district-50-map
• State Senate - http://www.senate.michigan.gov/
• State House of Representatives - http://www.house.mi.gov/
• Michigan Legislature - http://www.legislature.mi.gov/
• U.S. Senate - https://www.senate.gov/
• U.S. House of Representatives - http://www.house.gov/
• Genesee County - http://www.gc4me.com/
• City of Burton - http://burtonmi.gov/
• City of Grand Blanc - http://www.cityofgrandblanc.com/
• Township of Grand Blanc - http://www.twp.grand-blanc.mi.us/
• Township of Mundy - http://mundytwp-mi.gov/