The Allegan County Health Department is preparing for the wide rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. The department has released the following:
Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) staff who will be vaccinating other individuals and supporting upcoming vaccine clinics received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week. Pictures of staff receiving their vaccination are attached to this press release.
ACHD vaccine clinics for groups in Phase 1A are starting the first week of January 2021 by appointment only. Phase 1A include paid and unpaid individuals serving in health care 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 in long-term care facilities. Health care workers who have not been vaccinated through a hospital or other organization should complete the “I Want the COVID-19 Vaccine” form found on www.allegancounty.org/covid. ACHD will send an email to the address provided and give instructions for making a vaccine appointment.
ACHD recommends individuals working or living in Allegan County who do not fall in the 1A Phase for vaccination prioritization, also complete the “I Want the COVID-19 Vaccine” form on www.allegancounty.org/covid. Once ACHD has begun the vaccination phase an individual may be eligible for, ACHD will send an email to the address the individual provided and give instructions for receiving the vaccine. Individuals with technology or internet barriers may call the ACHD COVID-19 Hotline at 269-686-4546 to provide their information.
“This vaccine brings hope as we move to the next phase of the COVID-19 response,” states Allegan County Medical Director Richard Tooker. “There have been over 3,100 individuals living or working in Allegan County who have signed up to receive a vaccine. Knowing this information now will help quickly direct communications to individuals when their phase can start making vaccine appointments.”
Distribution of the vaccine will be in a phased approach since it will take several months before there is enough supply to vaccinate everyone. To find out where everyone falls on the vaccine prioritization guidance, visit www.michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine.
Attached: Pictures include Erin Radke, Public Health Nurse for the Allegan County Health Department and Sharon Weems, Personal Health Assistant for the Allegan County Health Department
