News File Photo Devin Spivey, community health director and epidemiologist with District Health Department No. 4, is pictured in this June 2021 file photo

ALPENA — Local public health officials are asking parents to put the COVID-19 vaccine on their back-to-school list this fall.

District Health Department No. 4 officials announced in a news release that children ages 12 and older who receive their first dose of the vaccine in the next few weeks could be fully vaccinated by the time school begins.

Devin Spivey, community health director and epidemiologist with District Health Department No. 4, said vaccination is the best tool available to protect the public, including children 12 years and older, from COVID-19.

“Under current guidelines, fully vaccinated children exposed to a COVID-19-positive person would not be recommended to quarantine unless they begin to show symptoms,” she said. “As we start a new school year, this could mean less disruption for families and peace of mind for parents who have children that participate in extracurricular activities such as sports or band.”

Health Department officials encourage parents to talk to their health care provider about vaccinating their child. Call 1-800-221-0294 to make an appointment to receive a vaccine at the Health Department.

Additionally, Health Department officials announced that, because of low case rates, they would discontinue daily updates of the health department’s COVID-19 data dashboard. Instead, health officials will update the dashboard twice a week — on Mondays and Thursdays.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has reduced its reporting to Tuesdays and Fridays.