More people now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines
More Muskegon County residents are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations following a Wednesday announcement from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Vaccines in Muskegon County are being distributed in four phases as they become available. Muskegon County vaccine quantities are still limited and are being distributed as quickly as possible.
Public Health – Muskegon County will continue to prioritize available vaccines to those at greatest risk of COVID-19 exposure and negative health outcomes, Muskegon County Public Health Officer Kathy Moore said following Wednesday’s announcement.
“We are excited that more Muskegon County residents are now eligible to receive a vaccination,” said Moore. “We will continue to make sure our limited supply of vaccines gets into the arms of those most at risk as quickly as possible.”
Public Health – Muskegon County has been working with its partners to vaccinate Muskegon County residents covered in Phase 1A. Phase 1A includes paid and unpaid persons working in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home, as well as residents and workers in long term care facilities.
Wednesday’s announcement will allow vaccination to begin for those covered by Phase 1B and those 65 and older. Phase 1B also includes Muskegon County's frontline essential workers, including first responders, frontline state and federal workers and jail and prison staff; and pre-K-12 teachers and childcare providers.
Anyone 65 and older are encouraged to take action by filling out the Public Health - Muskegon County Vaccination Request form. This secure form will help streamline the vaccination process and help Public Health – Muskegon County identify eligible individuals when vaccines are available.
Vaccinations for other individuals eligible in Phases 1A and 1B will be coordinated through their employer. Those individuals DO NOT need to fill out the Vaccination Request form and should follow instructions provided to them by their employer.
Vaccinations for those not included in Phase 1A and 1B are expected to occur later in 2021. Information on the vaccination process can also be found at www.MaskUpMuskegon.org. Individuals can also sign up for vaccine news updates by visiting www.MaskUpMuskegon.org.
