Courtesy Image An illustration of the coronavirus provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

COVID-19 vaccination appointments are available for qualifying MidMichigan Health patients beginning Thursday, the health system announced Tuesday.

Patients aged 65 or older and some essential workers may sign up for an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine by calling 989-794-7600, option 1.

To qualify, patients must either be 65 or older or be a health care worker, school employee with direct contact with children, first responder, or corrections worker, or work in a congregate care institution or as an essential worker in the food processing and agricultural industries.

Those eligible may call the MidMichigan COVID hotline 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday to make an appointment.

A list of COVID-19 testing sites is available at www.michigan.gov/coronavirustest.