By CHRISTIE MASTRIC

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Sault Tribe officials announced the tribe received 975 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday from Pfizer.

Sault Health Director Dr. Leo Chugunov said he had expected only 185 doses.

Chugunov said the unexpectedly large shipment left Sault Tribe Health Division staff and him scrambling to reschedule appointments and obtain more needles and syringes, which some shipments of the vaccine didn’t contain.

The health division plans to distribute the vaccine according to a priority list. Division team members, elders and non-health division critical workers are at the top of the priority list.

Meanwhile, those who received a vaccine from the initial Pfizer shipment are scheduled to receive their second dose on Tuesday. Anyone who received the vaccine from the first Moderna shipment is to receive the second dose on Jan. 19.

Tribal health officials’ outreach efforts include a message on its website, and they plan to place ads with local radio stations and reach elders by phone to arrange for vaccinations.

The health division letter to elders reads:

“Next week, the Sault Tribe Health Division in Sault Ste. Marie will be holding a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic by appointment only for Sault Tribal Elders age 60-plus. No non-Native spouses will be scheduled at this time. Please bring a tribal ID to your scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointment. If this is your second COVID-19 vaccination, please also bring your vaccination card with you to your appointment.

“Future COVID-19 vaccination appointments for Sault Tribal Elders (60-plus) are being scheduled at the rural tribal sites. Please call the tribal health center nearest to you for more information.”

It listed the following as contact numbers:

≤ Newberry: 906-293-8181;

≤ Manistique: 906-341-8469;

≤ Munising: 906-387-4721; and

≤ St. Ignace: 906-643-8689.

Officials ask that Sault Tribe membes who are 60-plus-years-old and have not already contacted the Sault Tribe Health Division regarding their COVID-19 vaccination to call 906-632-5200, ext. 45200, to schedule their COVID-19 vaccination appointment.

Calls will be taken from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Monday to assist people with scheduling appointments. Vaccinations will be performed:

≤ at Big Bear Arena in Sault Ste. Marie from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday;

≤ at Big Bear Arena from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday; and

≤ at Big Bear Arena from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday.

No criminal evidence found

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Wednesday released a 29-page report outlining the findings of her department’s criminal investigation into allegations that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services unlawfully directed the procurement of a contract for COVID-19 contact-tracing to an alleged political ally.

Her office announced that the investigation was requested by state Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, on April 28, although he did not provide the department with any information, documents or other evidence to further the investigation.

A team of three criminal investigators and four assistant attorneys general with expertise in criminal and/or procurement law conducted numerous interviews with 17 individuals, and obtained and reviewed thousands of emails and other documents as part of the investigation.

Following a thorough review of all physical evidence collected and all statements taken, the Department of Attorney General found no evidence of criminal conduct, specifically stating, “It is our recommendation that any request for criminal charges arising from the procurement of the contract to perform contact-tracing for COVID-19 positive cases … be denied….”

Nessel said in a statement that she appreciated the concern Runestad raised, but also appreciated the reality under which this contract was pursued.

“With the benefit of hindsight, there may have been a better way to accomplish the department’s ultimate purpose, but we found no evidence of criminality,” she said. “Instead, it appears the imperfect process used here was mainly a result of the department’s attempt to get a contact-tracing program underway as quickly as possible in light of the dire public health crisis.”

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net