MANISTIQUE — The LMAS District Health Department has shifted COVID-19 vaccine priority to anyone age 50 and older.

Any residents in Luce, Mackinac, Alger, and Schoolcraft Counties, age 50 and older, regardless of health status, can now be added to waitlists for the COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments will begin to be scheduled during the week of March 8. Family members and guardians who care for children with special medical needs are also able to receive COVID vaccinations.

To get on a waitlist or signup for an appointment time, visit LMASDHD.org and click on the appropriate waitlist button. For Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, call 906-341-3775 or use their appointment scheduler at https://signup.com/go/hvsOZXi.

If you or a family member needs assistance scheduling or getting on a waitlist in any of our counties, call the LMAS offices Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone numbers are:

Alger 906-387-2297

Luce 906-293-5107

Mackinac 906-643-1100.

You may also reach LMAS through its Facebook page via Messenger at Facebook.com/LMASDHD.

“We appreciate the opportunity to open up COVID vaccinations to more of our district residents. However, we do not yet have a clear picture of whether those vaccinated can spread COVID-19 to others, so even when you are fully vaccinated, you need to continue to properly wear a cloth face covering (fully covering your mouth and nose), stay home when you don’t feel well, get tested, maintain distance, wash your hands, and limit your gatherings to no more than 15 people from three households. Also, if LMAS contacts you, and instructs you to isolate or quarantine, please follow those instructions,” the department said in a press release.

“We must all continue to do these small things to take care of each other. The vaccine will only help us move past all of this is if we all continue to follow all of the protocols to protect each other,” the department added.