MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Health Department on Friday afternoon said it will begin calling individuals from the COVID-19 vaccine clinic pre-registration list to schedule appointments beginning next week.

MCHD staff will be calling those on the pre-registration list beginning on Tuesday to schedule appointments for Friday. The department says there will be approximately 800 appointment slots available, and registrants will be contacted based on their placement on the list, using both online and phone registrations.

If you’re on the pre-registration list, MCHD says to pay attention for a phone call from 906-475-9977 or a similar number. MCHD staff will make two attempts to contact you, and will leave a message on the first attempt to prepare you for the second call.

If you happen to miss both calls, your name will remain on the list for the next round of appointments.

MCHD asks that if you are scheduled for an appointment, do not arrive more than five minutes before your appointment time. If you need to cancel for any reason, or have received your vaccine elsewhere already and remain on the pre-registration list, dial 906-475-7847 with as much advance notice as possible.

MCHD vaccine clinics continue to be available to those ages 65 and older. For those in that age group who would like to be placed on the pre-registration waiting list, visit www.mqthealth.org or call 906-475-7847 to get registered. Phone lines are staffed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice. You will receive an email confirmation if you choose to register online. Be sure to check your junk mailbox, and do not register more than once.

MCHD states that vaccine allotments have remained inconsistent and more information about future clinics will be released once it becomes available.

≤ LMAS District Health Department continues to vaccinate essential workers and elderly

The Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft District Health Department said Friday afternoon that those ages 65 and older along with some critical infrastructure continue to be its top priorities in its COVID-19 vaccine allotments.

As of Thursday, LMAS says 13,000 doses of vaccine have been distributed across its four-county jurisdiction, with 9,295 of those, or 71.5%, administered. It’s worth noting that the number of vaccines administered lag behind distribution numbers due to the time needed to log each record into the Michigan Care Improvement Registry, LMAS stated in a release.

Since receiving its first doses in December, LMAS, its four area hospitals, the Sault Tribe and some pharmacies have worked to vaccinate health care workers, individuals 65 years of age and older, and part of vaccination 1B Group B which includes first responders, corrections staff, day care personnel, pre-K-12 grade school staff and those who work in Child Protective Services.

“These groups continue to be our focus as we work to complete the full COVID vaccine series of two shots with anyone who wants the vaccine and is 65 and older or who works in the 1B Group B job category,” LMAS said in a news release.

If you live within LMAS’ four-county jurisdiction and qualify under the 65 and older or 1B Group B categories and you have not yet received your COVID-19 vaccine, you may register to get on a waiting list in your county.

Alger County residents can visit LMASDHD.org to access the online waiting list forms for each category. You may also call LMAS directly at 906-387-2297 if you need assistance.

Schoolcraft County residents can contact Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital at 906-341-3775 to schedule a vaccine appointment or get on its waiting list.

If you reside in Luce County, you can schedule a vaccine appointment online at http://bit.ly/hnjvaccine or leave a message at the COVID-19 Vaccination voicemail box by calling 906-293-9289. A staff member at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital will contact you to schedule your appointment.

Lastly, for those in Mackinac County, visit LMASDHD.org to access the online waiting list forms for each category. You may also call Mackinac Straits Health System at 906-328-2159 or LMAS at 906-643-1100 if you need assistance.

All vaccine clinics for all four counties can be found at www.LMASDHD.org.

≤ MDHHS creating more options for vaccine sign-ups

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Friday morning announced that it is collaborating with various community partners to ensure that anyone can sign up to get a vaccine when it becomes available to them, recognizing that residents, particularly those ages 65 and older, have varying degrees of technology access and understanding.

“Our goal is to ensure that every eligible Michigander who wants a vaccine will get one,” MDHHS director Elizabeth Hertel said in a release. “We know that residents across Michigan have different needs when it comes to access, so we’re partnering with groups like local health departments, hospitals, pharmacies and 2-1-1 to provide multiple access points for signing up for a vaccine.”

MDHHS encourages all residents to visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine for the most up-to-date information about vaccine eligibility, safety information and clinic locations.

The department has set up a COVID-19 hotline for residents who don’t have access to the internet or struggle to use a computer. The number for the hotline is 888-535-6136 and is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Local health departments and hospitals across the state have created their own waitlists and registration processes based on eligibility per the Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization Guidance and will contact residents to schedule appointments as supply allows. Residents may also contact additional vaccination sites as they become available, such as local pharmacies and others.

The 2-1-1 line has also partnered with MDHHS to help direct local residents to vaccine clinics who may not have reliable internet access. This builds upon the partnership between MDHHS and 2-1-1, which was already assisting residents with connecting to local testing sites.

2-1-1 is a free, confidential service that connects residents to local community-based organizations across the state. It offers thousands of programs and services for people seeking answers to various topics. The state currently has seven regional 2-1-1 contact centers to manage Michigan’s most up-to-date and comprehensive database of health and human services with over 7,000 agencies offering over 36,000 services statewide.

“Just as many other local, state and federal systems have adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2-1-1 has been working collaboratively with the state of Michigan to help residents across the state with testing, emotional support and now the vaccine rollout,” said Hassan Hammoud, executive director of 2-1-1, in the release.

MDHHS also recently announced a partnership with GetSetUp, a national education technology company. Together, MDHHS and GetSetUp will help older Michiganders walk through the state’s COVID-19 vaccine website, with a goal of helping older residents who are eligible for the vaccine find their local health department to register online for an appointment or to be put on a waitlist.

For the latest state COVID-19 data and information, visit www.Michigan.gov.coronavirus or www.CDC.gov/Coronavirus. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.Michigan.gov/ COVIDVaccine.

Ryan Spitza can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is rspitza@miningjournal.net.