Emmet County vaccination data shows more than 70% eligible have received first shot

According to the Health Department of Northwest Michigan's COVID-19 vaccination data, more than 70% of residents age 12 and older in Emmet County have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Emmet County's 70.3% is among just a handful of counties in the State of Michigan that are above the 70% barrier.

Leelanau County ranks as the highest in the state with individuals age 12 and over who have initiated their vaccination series at 79.4%, followed by Oakland County, 72%; Washtenaw County, 72%; and Grand Traverse County, 71.9%

"It is a great achievement and certainly something to celebrate," said Amanda Thompson, director of family health services with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. "According to the state COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, 70.3% of residents 12 and older in Emmet County have initiated their COVID-19 vaccination.

"Our other counties — Antrim, Charlevoix, and Otsego — are not far behind," Thompson added. "We would love to see these numbers continue to increase and are working hard with other partners to continually offer clinics for anyone who wants to get their COVID-19 vaccination."

Across the health department's four-county region, 64.7% — or more than 61,340 people 12 and older — have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, compared with 61.0% across the State of Michigan as of the week ending Sept. 11.

While Emmet County is at 70.3%, Charlevoix County is at 66.7%, Antrim County is at 61.5% and Otsego County is at 57.9% of those age 12 and above who have received at least one dose.

Data from the health department also revealed that in Emmet County residents age 65 and above are at an 89.9% one/initial dose rate, while those aged 50-64 are at 74.1% followed by those between ages 40-49 at 64.4%

Individuals aged 12-15 in Emmet County are at a 47.6% rate for initial doses, followed by those aged 16-19 at 57%, ages 20-29 at 51%, and 30-39 years of age at 61.8%.

In Charlevoix County, 85.2% of residents age 65 and above have received at least one dose, followed by those aged 50-64 at 72.2%, 40-49 years old at 58.3%, 30-39 years old at 55.8%, 20-29 years old at 43.3%, 16-19 years old at 60.4% and 12-15 years old at 38%.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services first-dose tracker, as of Sept. 13 a total of 5,388,966 Michigan residents age 16 and above have received at least their first dose.

Michigan's total population of individuals age 16 and above is 8,096,917, meaning 66.6% of that population have initiated their vaccination series. The state has a goal of reaching 70%, or 5,667,842 individuals, of the population age 16 and above who have begun their vaccination series.

Thompson said the Health Department of Northwest Michigan continues to offer weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics across its four-county jurisdiction.

For a complete list of dates and times available, visit the health department's website, www.nwhealth.org, to make an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.

In addition, the health department is partnering with the state to offer testing clinics as case investigations are ranging from 20-40 per day locally in the four-county jurisdiction, Thompson added.

On Monday, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan reported a total of 85 new cases of COVID-19 from Friday, Sept. 10, through Monday, Sept. 13.

Of that number, 16 new cases were confirmed Friday including three in Antrim, three in Charlevoix, six in Emmet and four in Otsego County, while on Saturday 31 new cases were identified including five in Antrim, 13 in Charlevoix, five in Emmet and eight in Otsego County.

On Sunday, 12 new cases were reported including two in Antrim, seven in Charlevoix, one in Emmet and two in Otsego County, while on Monday 26 new cases were confirmed including five in Antrim, five in Charlevoix, 10 in Emmet and six in Otsego County.

Additionally, one COVID-19 associated death was reported Saturday in Charlevoix County.

As of Sept. 14, the state of Michigan has reported a total of 976,505 cases of the virus and 20,535 deaths.

For more information, visit www.nwhealth.org.