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Commission focuses on vaccination access

MARQUETTE — Getting more Upper Peninsula youths vaccinated for COVID-19 is a goal of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Protect Michigan Commission, which on Thursday also highlighted regional strategies for promoting vaccinations among Native Americans and the general U.P. population.

“One of the key things and challenges that we’re facing across Michigan is getting young people vaccinated as quickly as possible,” said PMC Chairwoman Kerry Ebersole Singh in a news conference with regional health officials. “Teenagers are the fastest-growing segment of Michigan’s population who are contracting COVID-19.”

Data for the U.P. shows that 8% of teens ages 16 to 19 have already received a vaccine dose, she said.

Still, challenges remain.

“We know young people, unfortunately, are not always likely to listen to advice from their parents,” Singh said.

So, the PMC has recruited student ambassadors to spread the word about vaccines and proper hygiene.

One of those is Jillian Skewis, 18, a Negaunee High School senior. Skewis, who plans to study nursing at Northern Michigan University, and the other student ambassadors are urging their peers to get vaccinated and continue to practice preventative measures such as properly wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing to reduce the spread of the virus until the vast majority of people have been vaccinated.

Skewis acknowledged she was excited when it was her turn to sign up for a vaccine.

“I did this because I view it as a way for me to protect myself and others from the spread of COVID-19,” she said.

As a senior in high school, she also saw vaccination as an opportunity to ensure she wouldn’t miss out on several activities during the last months of the school year, such as the prom, graduation, Scholarship Night, track season and most importantly, school.

When COVID-19 cases spiked in the fall, she also saw several elderly persons suffer from the disease.

“I had volunteered to serve as a COVID-19 student ambassador because I believe that hearing from a peer is so much more important,” Skewis said. “People who are the same age are able to relate with you and your experiences from receiving the vaccine.”

Another participant in Thursday’s conference was Amber Brittain, a nurse who works in the UP Health System – Marquette Emergency Department.

“It’s been difficult to watch patients suffer, die and still have long-term effects of COVID,” Brittain said.

She is a firm believer in Michiganders getting vaccinated.

“It is the fastest, safest way through this pandemic to have our elders and our skilled nursing facilities see their loved ones again, to go to a store without a mask on, to get back to life,” Brittain said.

Nick Derusha, president of the Michigan Association of Local Public Health and the health officer for the Luce-Mackinac-Alger-Schoolcraft District Health Department, said U.P. residents over age 60 have done a “great job” getting vaccinated.

Another age group appears to be doing well, too.

“This week, Marquette and Ontonagon counties became the first counties in the U.P. and among the first in the state to have more than 50% of residents over the age of 16 with at least one dose of their vaccine,” Derusha said. “Alger County is also close to achieving that milestone.”

He called the rates a collaborative effort with U.P. hospitals, tribal partners, retail pharmacies and others.

However, Derusha said there still is a lot of work to do.

“All across the U.P., we see those vaccination rates decrease in each of the younger age groups, all the way down to less than 5% in the 16-to-19 age groups,” he said.

Whitney Gravelle, president of the Bay Mills Indian Community Executive Council, said existing social, economic and health inequities have led to higher rates of illness and death among Native Americans because of COVID-19.

“At the same, despite all of that, vaccination rates among Native Americans have been higher than average to date,” Gravelle said.

The BMIC and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians have administered 18,000 vaccines at its clinics, said Gravelle, who also urged more vaccinations.

“The vaccine is our best chance to defeat COVID-19, and the recent pause in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will not impact our tribal vaccine clinics,” she said. “For the next several weeks, we will be using the Moderna vaccine at our clinics, which are not only open to tribal citizens but also anyone who is 18 years or older in the state of Michigan.”

Janey Joffee, Upper Peninsula Health Plan director of population health, said UPHP has been involved in member education and outreach to promote vaccinations. It also has helped members navigate online vaccination appointments to overcome internet-access issues, and has been coordinating volunteer drivers to transport people to their appointments.

“UPHP is committed to supporting equitable access to the vaccine and has implemented focused efforts to ensure racial and ethnic minority populations are outreached to and assessed for any potential barriers impeding vaccine uptake,” Joffee said.

Whitmer created the Protect Michigan Commission in January. The appointees represent a diverse array of industries, professions and backgrounds. Housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, they are charged with helping to ensure every Michigander has a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19 once the opportunity becomes available. Their goal is facilitating at least 100,000 shots in arms daily.

Extended benefits to end

Due to Michigan’s lower unemployment rate, the U.S. Department of Labor notified the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency to confirm that the state’s Extended Benefits program will no longer be payable after Saturday.

Extended benefits are available when Michigan’s total unemployment rate averages 6.5% or higher for three consecutive months, said the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

The EB program goes into effect when the unemployment rate is high and provides an additional 13 to 20 weeks of benefits for those who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits and other extension programs.

“Fortunately, with the federal extensions that were implemented on March 27, claimants who were on the Extended Benefits program most likely will be able to receive benefits through other federal programs such as Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance,” said Liza Estlund Olson, acting director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency, in a news release.

Other state assistance programs are available for Michiganders who need assistance with making ends meet. Through the MDHHS, claimants can apply for health care coverage, food and cash assistance and other assistance programs, as well as find other helpful state and local resources through the MI Bridges site at www.michigan.gov/MIBridges.

Michiganders looking for employment are encouraged to visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect at MiTalent.org for a listing of more than 77,000 available jobs. The Michigan Works! system has service centers across the state with free job search resources, including workshops, virtual job fairs or career exploration and training. Call 800-285-9675 or visit michiganworks.org.

State to receive funding

U.S. Sens. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills, and Debbie Stabenow, D- Lansing, announced on Wednesday that the U.S. Department of the Treasury will provide about $175.86 million to the state of Michigan as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative.

This funding comes after the senators successfully led efforts to enact significant funding for the program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act that was signed into law in March, they said. Peters and Stabenow also championed the original language that established the program in the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 as members of the U.S. House and Senate, respectively.

“As we work to emerge from this unprecedented public health and economic crisis, it has never been more important to ensure that Michigan small businesses have the resources needed to stay afloat,” Peters said in a statement. “This funding will directly help our small-business community create jobs, adapt operations and lead economic recovery efforts across the state.”

Stabenow also issued a statement, saying, “The COVID-19 crisis has taken an incredible toll on small businesses in our state and made us appreciate even more their importance to our communities and our economy. Given the stress of this pandemic on so many small businesses, access to capital is more important than ever. This funding will help our small businesses stay open, create jobs and help our economy recover.”

Alliance reacts to emergency rules

The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance has issued several statements regarding the six-month extension of the emergency rules from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

The alliance represents 16 chambers and economic development organizations and over 7,000 member businesses from across northern Michigan, including the Lake Superior Community Partnership.

“The alliance and all of our member organizations are frustrated to see the MIOSHA emergency rules extended after we have been working to advocate against such an extension,” said Stacie Bytwork, chairperson of the alliance and president and CEO of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. “Our businesses are eager to get back to work and continue our economic recovery from this pandemic.”

Sarah Hagen, vice chairperson of the alliance and president of the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce, said, “Our member organizations urge the public to continue supporting local businesses and do their part to stay safe so we can continue reopening. The alliance will continue to advocate for eased restrictions for our offices and other businesses.”

The alliance reiterated to its member businesses that despite the six-month extension, that does not necessarily mean six more months of prohibitions on most in-office work. The emergency rules can be modified or withdrawn at any time in response to changes in COVID-19 spread, it said.

Online tool available

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority has launched an online tool to help streamline the application process for renters and landlords seeking COVID emergency rental assistance.

MSHDA currently has about $282 million in federal funds available to help tenants avoid eviction and landlords recoup owed rent. Another $340 million is available to be appropriated by the state Legislature.

Renters making 80% of the area median income or less are eligible. For other eligibility criteria and a link to the secure online application site, visit Michigan.gov/CERA. Landlords or tenants can fill out the CERA application and upload required documents.

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