Courtesy Photo Alcona Health Center's Associate Medical Director Bernie O'Brien receives his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in January.

ALPENA — Northeast Michigan’s health care providers continued with their vaccination clinics as the state on Monday expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, which includes those 50 and older and those 18 and older with pre-existing medical conditions.

Richard Bates, regional vice president of medical affairs with MidMichigan Health, said it’s good to see eligibility expanding. He said health system officials are seeing an uptick in the number of people interested in receiving the vaccine.

Bates said the mass vaccination clinic at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena is filling for the week, but was not full as of Monday afternoon.

Melinda Amlotte, community outreach and marketing manager with Alcona Health Center, said the federally qualified health center was prepared for the expanded eligibility on Monday. She said the Health Center is part of a pilot program with the federal government and gets its vaccine supply from the federal government instead of the state.

“We have the vaccine and we are ready to go,” she said. “We are currently vaccinating, with the expansion (Monday), we are vaccinating those 18 to 49 with a pre-existing medical condition or disability, anyone 50 or older, certain essential workers are eligible now, and also caretakers, family members of children with special needs.”

Bates, with MidMichigan Health, said as vaccine availability has ramped up, the health system is receiving more consistent shipments from the state. Those shipments have included vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson.

“I think as we have stabilized at least so we can plan for the number of vaccine doses that we receive every week, we’re better able to staff our clinics and schedule patients,” he said.

Bates said MidMichigan Health has administered nearly 47,000 doses of vaccine as of Sunday and has received 1,900 first doses and 1,800 second doses of the Moderna vaccine this week. It was not immediately clear how many doses of those vaccines were destined for the Alpena hospital.

Nearly 32,300 vaccines were administered in Northeast Michigan as of Sunday, according to data from the state health department.

On April 5, the state will expand its eligibility requirements again so anyone 16 and older can sign up to receive the vaccine.

Amlotte said Alcona Health Center is encouraging those 16 and older to sign up for the vaccine early. She said people don’t have to wait until April 5 to sign up for their vaccine.

Bates said MidMichigan Health is also scheduling appointments for, or waitlisting, those who become eligible to receive the vaccine on April 5. He said the Health System’s vaccine supply determines how many people can be scheduled for a clinic.

Bates said whatever vaccine is available is the vaccine that people should make an appointment to get.

“People are talking about whether or not there is going to be another surge possibility,” he said. “Along with masking and social distancing and handwashing, the most important thing we can do to hopefully mitigate any surge is to get vaccinated.”

“We want northern Michigan to have a great summer for all the economic reasons and for people to enjoy themselves and it takes everybody participating to do that.”

Call MidMichigan Health’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-800-445-7356 to schedule an appointment. Register for Alcona Health Center’s hotline by calling 989-736-9819 or online at alconahealthcenters.org.

This story has been updated to reflect that MidMichigan Health has administered 47,000 doses of vaccine as of Sunday.