MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Health Department has provided rollout phases and estimated starting times for the COVID-19 vaccination process in the Upper Peninsula.

The MCHD said vaccine has been distributed to many provider organizations across Michigan, and continues to be distributed and received. It encourages people age 16 and older to get vaccinated.

However, because of limited supply, vaccine distribution must follow strict guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the MIchigan Department of Health and Human Services to ensure people with the highest critical need are vaccinated first.

Dr. Bob Lorinser, medical director of the Marquette County Health Department, Dickinson-Iron District Health Department, Western Upper Peninsula Health Department and Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties, said questions about vaccine allocations abound statewide and nationwide.

“Whatever Michigan gives to the U.P., we’ll handle,” Lorinser said.

These are the timeline estimates regarding when people can receive the vaccine:

≤ December and January vaccinations have already started, and are being given by hospital and health department personnel. The purpose of Phase 1A Priority One is to keep critical health care infrastructure open and functioning.

Also in December and January, Walgreens, CVS and health department personnel will administer vaccine. The purpose of this Phase 1A Priority Two is to prevent outbreaks and protect residents in long-term care facilities.

≤ Beginning in mid-January, vaccinations will be performed by multiple providers as part of Phase 1A Priority Three, which will focus on health care infrastructure not included in Phase 1A Priority One. These include clinics, dentists’ offices, pharmacies and other sites.

≤ Phase 1B will begin in mid- to late January, focusing on frontline essential workers and people age 75 and older. These workers are those who interact with the public and whose jobs cannot be performed at home. Examples include firefighters, police officers, corrections workers, teachers and support staff, day care workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, and employees in the food and agriculture as well as the manufacturing sectors.

≤ Phase 1C will begin in mid-February. This priority group includes people age 65-74, those age 16-64 with medical problems that increase their risk of severe illness with COVID-19, and other essential workers, such as non-frontline essential workers.

The group includes adults of any age with the following conditions who are at increased risk of severe illness, hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit, intubation or mechanical ventilation, or death from the coronavirus: cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart conditions, immunocompromised states, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Phase 2 — a mass vaccination campaign for anyone age 16 and over who has not yet been immunized — is expected to start at the end of March to early April.

The MCHD stressed that these time frames of availability are strictly estimates and depend entirely upon vaccine supply and distribution to local vaccine providers.

Individuals included in each phase might change based on additional information and guidance from state and national experts.

The MCHD said people do not need to make a reservation in advance to receive the vaccine unless they are directed to do so by their providers or health department.

Vaccination allocation within Michigan varies in quantity by region and within regions based upon metrics determined by MDHHS. As a result, the quantity of vaccine available within the U.P. might vary among local health department jurisdictions.

Public service announcements will be widely distributed before the start of each phase.

VA facility begins vaccinations

The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain on Monday began COVID-19 vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine following the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization for this vaccine.

“Iron Mountain VA is eager to offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel and community living center residents,” said John Jamison, OGJVAMC public affairs officer, in a statement. “As vaccine supplies increase, our ultimate goal is to offer COVID-19 vaccination to all veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.”

The first vaccines were distributed to the highest-risk veterans and health care personnel. John Moddie, a 94-year-old former prisoner of war, World War II veteran and resident in long-term care, was the first veteran to receive the vaccine at the facility.

“I am grateful to get the vaccine,” Moddie said in a news release. “It shows that we are being well taken care of.”

As vaccines become available for more groups of veterans, Veterans Affairs care teams will reach out to eligible vets to schedule vaccinations. There is no need to preregister or come to a facility to sign up.

The OGJVAMC recommends that employees and veterans, even after receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, continue wearing face coverings, practicing physical distancing and washing hands often.

Veterans can get up-to-date information on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs COVID-19 vaccine webpage at www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informed, which launched on Dec. 11. They may sign up to receive regular updates on the vaccine on the VA’s Stay Informed page at www.va.gov/healthcare/.

OGJVAMC was one of 113 VA medical centers across the country to receive the first limited supply of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Sites were identified based on need for the vaccine according to CDC’s 1A prioritization and capacity to store the vaccine at minus-20 degrees Celsius.

GetSetUp to help older adults

Through its partnership with the national education technology company GetSetUp, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Aging and Adult Services Agency is offering a series of holiday-themed social hours this week and next week.

The special classes will help older adults connect with family and friends this holiday season, including a special Christmas social hour at 11 a.m. Friday.

“Older adults are at greater risk for complications related to coronavirus and have had to follow public health guidelines closely, including social distancing,” said Dr. Alexis Travis, senior deputy director of the Aging and Adult Services Agency, in a news release. “Over the course of this week and next, we hope older Michiganders will join some of these social hours as a means to connect with loved ones and make new connections through this safe, virtual community.”

GetSetUp focuses on creating economic and learning opportunities for older adults. The partnership creates a new free resource for Michiganders age 60 and over as the state continues to face the pandemic.

Holiday-themed social tours and courses include:

≤ Connect with Family and Friends This Holiday Season: noon today;

≤ Social Hour — Christmas Traditions: 11 a.m. Friday;

≤ Social Hour — Seasonal Games: 2 p.m. Saturday;

≤ Social Hour — Holiday Recipe Swap: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday; and

≤ Social Hour — Dancing to Music of the 1960s & 1970s: 4:30 p.m. Dec. 31.

Registration is required. Classes and social hours are offered online and via telephone. To register, visit Getsetup.io/michigan or call 888-559-1614.

Bill prohibits water shutoffs

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 241 into law.

The bill, creating the Water Shutoff Restoration Act, promotes access to clean water and protects Michiganders from the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring that every occupied residence has access to clean running water so that they can regularly wash their hands consistent with CDC guidance.

The bill prohibits water shutoffs due to nonpayment and mandates that water services be restored to residences where shutoffs have occurred, in most circumstances, through March 31.

Whitmer also signed Senate Bill 1246 amending the Open Meetings Act to allow public bodies to meet electronically and remain in compliance. It also extends current remote attendance provisions to March 31.

Once public bodies are again able to meet in person, the bill requires compliance with social distancing and cleaning guidelines if they choose to hold in-person meetings.