COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

Last Updated: 1.25.21

For the past few weeks, Munson Healthcare has been focused on providing vaccinations for employees, credentialed providers, and contractors. Now, we are working with our regional health departments to coordinate offering the COVID-19 vaccine to the next priority groups. We are committed to providing vaccines to this tier as quickly as possible, but at this time there are still limited vaccines available in northern Michigan.

Expanded COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility for Tier 1B

Munson Healthcare has expanded COVID-19 vaccination efforts to include:

• All individuals aged 80 and older who reside within our service area. The Munson Healthcare Service Area includes the following counties: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Roscommon and Wexford.
• Those aged 65-79 who share a household with a person aged 80 or older within the Munson Healthcare Service Area are also eligible to receive a vaccine.

Individuals do not need to be an established Munson Healthcare patient to receive a vaccination. 

How to Schedule a Vaccination

• If you meet the age and residency criteria above, please call 231-935-SHOT (7468) to schedule a vaccine appointment at a Munson Healthcare clinic. 
• Call lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 7 days a week. The call lines will be very busy, so please call early and be patient.
• Anyone who schedules a vaccine appointment will be asked to provide proof of age and residency at the time of the appointment. Acceptable forms of ID include:
  • Government-issued birth certificate
  • Valid U.S. passport book or card
  • Valid driver's license or state ID
  • Delayed birth certificate
  • Social Security documentation
• Please call to schedule a vaccine only if you meet the above criteria. Individuals who do not meet the above criteria will not be allowed to schedule a vaccine appointment or will be turned away at the service site.
• You may schedule multiple vaccination appointments at Munson Healthcare clinics at the same time as long as all individuals share a household and meet current age criteria. Regional health department scheduling may be different.
• There is no pre-registration at this time for Munson Healthcare vaccine clinics. Only those who meet current age and residency criteria will be allowed to schedule a vaccine appointment. Regional health department scheduling may be different.
• Regional health departments will also be scheduling this same age group for COVID-19 vaccination. You may schedule with Munson Healthcare or your regional health department, but please make only one vaccine appointment. This ensures vaccine supply is allocated properly and allows us to continue working toward our goal of offering the vaccine to all of northern Michigan.

Contact Your Regional Health Department

As we learn more, we will continue to keep you updated. We know these are stressful times, and many people in our communities are eager to protect themselves from COVID-19. We appreciate your patience as we work with our regional health departments to get the vaccine to our Tier 1b populations. Below are some FAQs with the latest information that we know.  

Vaccine Availability in Northern Michigan

Learn more about the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine in northern Michigan, including:

• When to expect the COVID-19 vaccine in Northern Michigan
• Who is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine first
• When the COVID-19 vaccine will be available to the general public
• Why safety precautions and wearing PPE is critical to combating the virus, even after getting the COVID-19 vaccine

Vaccine Safety

Learn more about why the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, including:

• How a safe vaccine can be developed so quickly
• The process of approving the COVID-19 vaccine
• The potential side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine
• Why you should continue to wear a mask after getting the COVID-19 vaccine

About Different COVID-19 Vaccines

Learn more about authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines as they become available, including:

• The effectiveness of different COVID-19 vaccines
• Possible side-effects of different COVID-19 vaccines
• How different COVID-19 vaccines are administered

Questions You May Have Once the COVID-19 Vaccine is Widely Available

Learn more about how the COVID-19 vaccine works and what to expect, including:

• Why the COVID-19 vaccine cannot give you COVID-19
• Why the COVID-19 vaccine will not cause you to test positive
• Whether the COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from getting COVID-19
• Whether you may need to pay to get the COVID-19 vaccine