It helps to be proactive in many situations, and the COVID-19 pandemic is one of them.

The important rules still hold true: maintaining a healthy social distance of 6 feet, washing hands frequently, wearing facial coverings and avoiding large gatherings.

However, now that COVID vaccines are beginning to be administered, that’s another important tool to combat the coronavirus that has adversely affected all facets of society: schools, businesses, homes – just about everywhere.

Unfortunately, not everyone who wants a vaccine can get it now. Priority phases have been set to allow certain people on the front lines to be vaccinated first, and that’s understandable.

To help the situation, Marquette County Health Department Emergency Preparedness has created a survey for businesses and agencies that want to be put on a COVID-19 vaccination list.

People in health care, including those with direct patient contact that involves outpatient and urgent care services as well as ambulatory care and home health care, have top priority.

Other prioritized groups include health care workers with indirect patient care with specialized skills critical to the functioning of the health care system, K-12 school and child care staff with direct contact with children, people working in critical infrastructure and workers in homeless shelters, corrections facilities, congregate child care institutions, and adult and child protective services.

Workers with unique skills sets such as non-hospital laboratories and mortuary services also fall into a priority group.

The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey. com/r/MqtCoCOVIDVaccine. It must be completed by Jan. 11.

We recommend people in these groups check out the survey. The sooner more people are vaccinated, the better it is for the community as a whole.

In the meantime, follow social distancing protocols, wash your hands a lot, wear a facial covering and avoid large gatherings.

You don’t have to live in fear, just live in safety.