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Coronavirus

MDHHS launches vaccination partnership with universities and colleges, expands mobile vaccination sites with community partners in neighborhoods

LANSING — With all Michiganders eligible to receive one of the three safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is continuing its efforts to equitably distribute and increase vaccine accessibility. This now includes vaccine allocation to universities and colleges and expanded mobile sites in communities across the state. “Vaccinations are the best tool we have to fight COVID-19 and end this pandemic,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “We are committed to making vaccine ...

UIA stops new wave of imposter claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

LANSING — Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), like other states across the country, remains under attack by criminals. Since Friday, Apr. 2, Michigan has seen a dramatic increase in new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims likely filed by criminals that have been halted for identity verification. No payments have been sent to the approximately 100,000 flagged claims. “Because of the additional fraud protections we developed last year at the onset of these coordinated attacks on state unemployment agencies, these fraudulent claims have been stopped and no ...

UGL receives COVID-19 response funds

UPPER PENINSULA – Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center (UGL) receives $3,840,000 to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment in communities hard hit by the virus and to increase operational capacity. On March 25, the White House announced a historic investment of $6 billion dollars in the nation’s community health centers. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will release funds to nearly 1,400 health centers that provide primary care and preventive health services to 30 million people in urban and rural medically underserved communities. “These ...

Aspirus offering COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Laurium

LAURIUM – Aspirus Health is offering a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Friday, Apr. 16 from 3 to 6 p.m., at Aspirus Laurium Clinic, 205 Osceola Street. The clinic will offer the Pfizer vaccine, the only COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in teens age 16 and 17. “Now that everyone 16 and up is eligible to receive the vaccine in Michigan, this clinic is a great opportunity for teenagers who are not eligible for other COVID-19 vaccines to get access,” said Kathy Bowman, Director of Clinics for Aspirus. “We re excited to be able to offer the vaccine to this age group and our ...

AG Nessel warns Michiganders of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine surveys

LANSING – For Michiganders who have received or plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning them to avoid current vaccine survey scams offering a reward in exchange for personal information. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), in collaboration with a number of other federal agencies, recently issued alerts to the public due to an increasing number of victims receiving email and/or text messages after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. In the messages, people are prompted to participate in a fraudulent ...

Finlandia hosting #CrushCOVIDWeek

HANCOCK — Finlandia University will be hosting #CrushCOVIDWeek on campus from April 5 through April 9 in the hopes of getting more students, faculty, and staff signed up for COVID-19 vaccinations. “The first week in April marks the beginning of vaccine eligibility for many of our traditional students, something many of them have been looking forward to for months,” said Dean of Students Erin Barnett. “After such a challenging academic year, we want to celebrate this milestone and also raise awareness on the safety and importance of the vaccine. Our nursing students will also ...