Trending
The Dickinson-Iron District Health Department plans in May to transition away from off-site mass COVID-19 vaccine clinics such as the Dickinson County Fairgrounds, citing a decrease in demand for shots.
The reduced demand comes even as those contracting COVID-19 are increasingly younger in age, the DIDHD reported in a news release.
"We are noticing a definite trend of a younger population being affected by COVID now compared to when the pandemic began," the DIDHD stated. "Our senior population has the highest vaccine coverage and we have noticed a major decrease in the number of seniors with COVID infection."
Only 10% of the April cases reported were age 65 or older, according to the DIDHD. The highest reported age ranges in April were 18% in ages 15 to 19, 12% in ages 40 to 44 and 8% in ages 20 to 24.
The department still will provide the vaccine -- Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson -- by appointment at its offices. To schedule, contact the DIDHD during normal business hours at 906-774-1868 for the Dickinson County office in Kingsford or 906-265-9913 for the Iron County office in Iron River. The Pfizer vaccine is available to anyone age 16 or older, while anyone age 18 and older can receive the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
"Vaccines are an important tool that will allow our community to transition to a safe, new normal," the DIDHD advised. "High vaccine coverage will get us closer to herd immunity and will only be beneficial for workplaces, schools, churches, and community services and events. Being fully vaccinated will allow freedom from quarantine requirements."
The DIDHD on Friday reported 16 more confirmed COVID-19 positives in Iron County and nine in Dickinson County along with a new death since its last update Monday.
In a Facebook post Friday afternoon, the DIDHD also listed seven new probable cases in Dickinson County and 14 recovered cases, while Iron County had six recoveries.
The agency had Dickinson County at 2,353 confirmed positives and 321 probable cases, with 2,383 recovered, 72 deaths and 219 cases still active. For Iron County, the DIDHD had 942 confirmed cases and 68 probables, with 897 recovered, 48 deaths and 65 active cases.
For the Upper Peninsula, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' coronavirus website Friday added a total of 46 new confirmed positives: 12 in Delta County; seven in Marquette County; five in Baraga and Houghton counties; four in Chippewa County; three in Luce County; two in Dickinson, Iron, Menominee, Mackinac and Alger counties; and one in Schoolcraft County; Keweenaw County's count was reduced by one. No new deaths were listed; Mackinac County had its toll lowered by one.
Using only the state's figures, the Upper Peninsula as of Friday has had 19,103 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 411 deaths.
Across the U.P., the MDHHS data site Friday had Keweenaw County at 141 confirmed cases and 31 probable, and one confirmed death and one probable death; Luce County, 177 confirmed cases and 180 probable, one confirmed death and one probable death; Schoolcraft County, 297 confirmed cases and 58 probable, four deaths and one probable; Alger County, 309 confirmed, 187 probable and two deaths, four probable; Mackinac County, 394 confirmed cases and 224 probable, three deaths; Ontonagon County, 397 confirmed, 57 probable and 20 deaths, one probable; Baraga County, 570 confirmed cases, 114 probable and 34 deaths; Iron County, 941 confirmed cases and 66 probable, 42 deaths and nine probable; Gogebic County, 1,001 confirmed cases and 361 probable, 22 deaths and 28 probable; Chippewa County, 1,028 confirmed cases and 1,343 probable, and 27 deaths, five probable; Menominee County, 1,735 confirmed cases, 313 probable and 39 deaths, two probable; Dickinson County, 2,348 confirmed cases and 318 probable, 58 deaths and 16 probable; Houghton County, 2,443 confirmed cases, 594 probable, 32 deaths and eight probable; Delta County, 3,211 confirmed cases and 629 probable, 69 deaths and 19 probable; and Marquette County, 4,111 confirmed cases, 785 probable and 57 deaths, one probable. State numbers are updated almost daily but can lag behind local reports or have other discrepancies.
The MDHHS on Friday posted 3,440 confirmed new coronavirus positives in Michigan for a total to date of 840,954. The state Friday recorded 36 deaths attributed to the virus to reach 17,611.
For Wisconsin counties in the region, the state Department of Health Services' COVID-19 data site Friday had seven in Marinette County and two each in Forest and Vilas counties.
The DHS on Friday had Marinette County with 4,111 confirmed cases, 440 probable cases and 66 deaths, three probable deaths; Vilas County, 2,234 confirmed, 145 probable and 40 deaths, two probable; Forest County, 955 confirmed, 77 probable and 23 deaths, three probable; Iron County, 575 confirmed, 117 probable and 21 deaths, 19 probable; and Florence County, 443 confirmed, 55 probable and 12 deaths. As in Michigan, state numbers are updated daily but can lag behind local reports or have other discrepancies.
Wisconsin added 789 new positives Friday for a total of 598,147 confirmed COVID-19 cases to date. The state listed eight new deaths Friday to reach 6,823.