UP Health System partners with the Marquette County Health Department and Area Schools to assist with COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts

Pictured left to right: Gwen Gentz, RN; Jamilyne Spruytte, Clinic Administration; William Saunders, MAPS Superintendent; and Gar Atchison, CEO | UP Health System – Marquette.

Marquette County teachers have the highest rate of vaccination in the state according to a recent survey

February 26, 2021, MARQUETTE COUNTY, MI | Since the COVID-19 vaccine administration process began in December 2020, UP Health System – Marquette and UP Health System – Bell have been carefully following prioritization guidance from the CDC, the federal government, our state, and our local health department. When educators in our area became eligible to receive the vaccine, our hospitals were proud to administer vaccinations to this priority group and help ensure that educators can safely continue their important work in the classroom.

Through partnerships with the Marquette County Health Department and Marquette County schools, large-scale vaccination clinics have resulted in at least 88.06% percent of Marquette county’s teachers successfully vaccinated or scheduled for vaccination – the highest rate in the state, according to a recent survey by the Michigan Education Association.

“In November and December, COVID-19 cases were on the rise – paralleling some of the highest rates in the country – and there were real concerns with that,” shared William Saunders, Superintendent of Marquette Area Public Schools. “Getting our teachers and staff vaccinated as soon as possible ensures the health and safety of our employees, as well as keeping our students safe in the classroom.”

UP Health System is committed to our mission of Making Communities Healthier®, and vaccinating teachers – as well as other frontline, essential workers in our community – is one tangible way we are advancing our mission amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

UP Health System has also partnered with other community organizations, such as local police and fire departments, to ensure the priority groups identified by the health department can receive the vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“I believe the overall success we’ve had with administering COVID-19 vaccinations is rooted in the strength of our partnerships at the local level, and our collaboration with the health department and local school districts is just one great example of this,” says Gar Atchison, Market President of UP Health System.

For more information and some helpful tips about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available to you, visit https://www.mgh.org/covid-19-information/covid-19-vaccine-faq.