The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, with the help of our amazing partners and volunteers, has administered a total of 27,943 doses to our residents and redistributed more than 3,470 doses to approved COVID-19 vaccination enrolled providers to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine.  

Percentage of residents (5 years and older) who have received their initial dose and completed their primary series:       

• Benzie- 71.9% have received their initial dose, 67.3% have completed their primary series.  

• Leelanau- 85.2% have received their initial dose, 79.0% have completed their primary series. 

• Michigan- 66.5% have received their initial dose, 61.2% have completed their primary series.  

• United States- 83.5% have received their initial dose, 71.5% have completed their primary series. 

What is the status of the COVID-19 Vaccination process?  

Below are the current COVID-19 vaccine rates as of July 27th, 2022.  

For more information on COVID-19 vaccine percentages and age group, see our COVID-19 vaccine dashboard or MDHHS’s vaccine dashboard. 

Who is currently eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine? 

• Individuals 6 months and older. Check with your medical provider about specifics. 

• If you have had a COVID infection, you should still receive the COVID vaccine and booster doses. Speak to your physician about the best time to be vaccinated after infection. 

What are the current recommendations for COVID-19 boosters? 

COVID vaccine updates: 

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met on July 19, 2022, and recommended the use of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine as a two-dose primary series in adults aged 18 years and older. The Novavax vaccine is administered intramuscularly (IM) in the deltoid muscle as a primary series of two 0.5 mL doses given 3 to 8 weeks apart. 

On June 24th, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine be used as an option for children ages 6 through 17 years. 

On June 17th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include use in children down to 6 months of age. 

On May 19th, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. 

Who is eligible for a second booster? 

Four months after receipt of a first booster dose, the following options are available to individuals who choose to receive a second dose: 

• A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to individuals 50 years of age and older.  

• A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals 12 years of age and older.  

• A second booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals 18 years of age and older. 

Who Is Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised? 

Many conditions and treatments can cause a person to be immunocompromised (having a weakened immune system). People are considered to be moderately or severely immunocompromised if they have: 

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood 

• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system 

• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system 

• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome) 

• Advanced or untreated HIV infection 

• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress their immune response 

Talk to your healthcare provider about COVID-19 vaccination and your medical condition. 

MDHHS (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services) has created an eligibility assessment tool to assist residents in identifying if they are eligible for a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, or if they are up to date.  

The brands of vaccines that we have available at our clinics are Pfizer (12 years and older), Moderna (6 months and older), and Johnson and Johnson (18 years and older). We have ordered the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine and will release more information when we start offering Novavax. 

These clinics will be open to first, second, additional, and booster dose appointments and offers all vaccines unless otherwise noted. Parent consent is required for minors. Upcoming clinics in the Health Department can be found below:

Anyone may call the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department’s public health information line at 231-882-2197 if they have questions or are not able to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child. Additional vaccination sites can be found at vaccines.gov.   

COVID-19 Testing 

The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department is partnering with Honu labs to offer free, walk-in COVID testing. Both rapid antigen tests and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests are available. 

To pre-register for a testing clinic: 

• To pre-register for testing in Leelanau, click here 

•  To pre-register for testing in Benzie, click here 

Home Rapid Test kits and KN-95 mask are available at both Benzie and Leelanau County offices from 8 am-4:30 pm. Home Rapid Test kits can also be ordered online at https://special.usps.com/testkits or https://www.accesscovidtests.org/. (For zip codes: 49613, 49616, 49617, 49621, 49628,49635, 49643, 49683, and 49684)