Ontonagon vaccination rate at 25%

By RICHARD JENKINS

rjenkins@yourdailyglobe.com

HANCOCK — More than 25% of Ontonagon County residents over the age of 16 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the latest vaccine numbers that the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department released Monday.

A total of 1,291 people, or 25.6%, have received the needed vaccinations, according to the WUPHD. Another 1,615 of the county’s 5,003 residents over the age of 16 have received their first vaccination dose. Nine hundred and ninety seven of the county’s 2,154 residents over the age of 64 have received both doses of the vaccine, while 1,257 residents have received at least one dose. These numbers represent 46.3% and 58.4% of Ontonagon’s seniors respectively.

In Gogebic County, 1,896 of the county’s 11,903 residents over the age of 16, or 15.9%, have been fully vaccinated. Another 3,081 have received the first vaccine dose. Gogebic County’s numbers include the 1,198 of the county’s 3,998 residents over 64 have received both vaccine doses, while 2,191 seniors have received one dose of vaccine.

In the five counties the WUPHD serves — Gogebic, Ontonagon, Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties — a total of 16.6% of residents over the age of 16 and 37.2% of residents over the age of 64 that have been fully vaccinated. A total of 24.2% and 58.7% of those respective populations have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Michigan expanded the people eligible for the vaccine Monday to include those over the age of 50 with medical conditions or disabilities, as well as caregivers or guardians of children with special health needs. The state announced last week it plans to expand the eligibility criteria further on March 22 to include all residents over the age of 50.

Gogebic County has had a total of 943 positive cases and 345 additional probables over the course of the pandemic, according to Monday’s update; these include seven active cases and 48 deaths. Ontonagon County has had 359 positive cases, 54 probables, 20 deaths and four active cases, according to the WUPHD’s update.

The five-county region has had a total of 4,072 positives and 1,065 additional probables over the course of the pandemic, as well as 59 active cases and 142 deaths.

Information from the state of Wisconsin’s COVID-19 website on Tuesday shows 1,580 or 27.8% of Iron County residents over the age of 16 have received at least one dose of the vaccine. One thousand residents, or 17.6% of the county’s adults, are fully vaccinated. Of the county’s 65 and older residents, 60.6% or 1,104 residents have received at least one vaccine dose.

The Associated Press reported Monday 19.7% of Wisconsin’s population, and more than 60% of the state’s senior population, have received at least one dose of vaccine. Information on the state of Michigan’s coronavirus website shows 20.9% of residents over the age of 16 have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The national average is 18.1% of the population has received at least some vaccine, according to the AP.

Wisconsin is expected to expand its vaccine eligibilities later this week, the AP reported, with an announcement from state health officials that roughly 2 million additional people will become eligible for the vaccine expected Thursday.

The announcement would be the largest expansion of vaccine eligibility in the state since the vaccinations started in December, according to the AP.

The determination of who will be included in Thursday’s announcement is still being worked out.

Editor’s Note: The Associated Press contributed to this story.