KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo County Health Department on Monday warned of an unauthorized link sent to some offering the chance to apply for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The vaccine is currently only available to health professionals or others in Phase 1A, said Lyndi Warner, a spokeswoman for Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services.
The vaccine registration link sent to individuals in that group was incorrectly shared with outside organizations outside Phase 1A, priority 1, in the distribution plan, Warner said.
“This was not authorized by the health department,” said Warner.
The vaccine is only available to those listed in the state’s first phase, including health professionals, first responders and those who work in long-term care facilities, the health department spokesman said. This is the first of four phases described by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for the distribution of the vaccine.
Community members should not register using a link from someone other than a health department employee, as anything else could be a scam or an unauthorized link, Warner said. The health department will never ask for someone’s social security number, credit card number or any financial or personal health information, she said.
“We are excited about the community’s enthusiasm for the vaccine,” said Warner. “We are asking for patience as we move forward in the phased approach, as described by the MDHHS.”
Educators and other school staff are considered essential frontline workers and will be vaccinated as part of Phase 1B, Warner said.
“Although we do not yet have an exact date for the start of Phase 1B, planning is underway,” said Warner. “When Kalamazoo County is ready to start vaccinating other phases or priority groups, the health department will correspond directly with the organizational leadership and provide additional information about vaccine clinics.”
In announcing the start of vaccinations at Methodist Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, health system officials predicted a provisional start date in February 2021 for Phase 1B of vaccinations, followed by Phase 1C in March and Phase 2 starting in the summer.
Phase 1B also includes essential frontline workers and individuals 75 years of age or older. Phase 1C includes other essential workers, people aged 65 to 74 and individuals aged 16 to 64 with underlying medical conditions.
The last phase of the vaccine distribution plan, Phase 2, includes all other adults 16 years of age and older.
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