Michigan has started listing local health departments accepting appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Vaccine eligibility expandsMichigan will see a big expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility starting on Monday, March 22. As of Friday, 27.1% of residents, including about 2/3 of the 65 and up group, had received at least one dose of a vaccine. The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 624,811 as of Saturday, including 15,897 deaths, state officials report. AdOn Saturday, the state reported a total of 562,775 recoveries from the virus. According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 29.7 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 541,200 deaths reported from the virus.

Beaumont Health is assuring the public that its server capacity has been broadened to account for an influx of patients interested in scheduling appointments for COVID vaccinations after its system crashed Friday night. See: Michigan enters new vaccine phase Monday amid lagging rolloutAvailability of the COVID vaccine in Michigan varies depending on the region. The expansion of eligibility criteria creates an even higher demand for the vaccine -- which has already been struggling to meet demand since its nationwide authorization. On Wednesday, Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun told Michigan residents that when it comes to getting vaccinated, they’ll need to be patient. Eligible residents should not go to any of the clinics for a vaccine without an appointment.

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Staff at Washtenaw County Health Department received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. “I’m so excited to be vaccinated, and I don’t have to wait because it’s my job to vaccinate others,” said Christina Zilke, registered nurse and nursing supervisor with Washtenaw County Health Department in a release. The Health Department received an initial supply of 1,950 doses of the Pfizer Inc./BioNTech vaccine. READ: First Michigan Medicine employees receive COVID-19 vaccineNurse practitioner Cathy Wilczynski vaccinates Washtenaw County Health Department medical director Juan Marquez (left) and emergency preparedness administrator Cindra James (right). (Washtenaw County Health Department)“We’re feeling both grateful and optimistic as we begin this vaccination process,” said Jimena Loveluck, MSW, health officer for Washtenaw County in the release.

We could have a second COVID-19 vaccine as early as next week if the FDA decides whether to authorize Moderna’s vaccine for emergency use. Live stream: FDA panel meets to vote on Moderna COVID vaccine authorizationA key FDA panel is set to vote Thursday on whether to recommend the approval of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. A favorable vote form this panel could clear the path for Moderna’s vaccine to become the second approved for use in the United States. On Friday, the United States granted an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Read more: Which COVID-19 vaccine should you take once both are approved: Pfizer or Moderna?

We could have a second COVID-19 vaccine as early as Friday if the FDA decides whether to authorize Moderna’s vaccine for emergency use. If authorized, health officials say they are ready to ship just less than six million doses of the Moderna vaccine across the United States. Michigan expects to receive 173,000 doses of the vaccine from Moderna. On Friday, the United States granted an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. With the authorization, the vaccine will ship via FedEx and UPS, with the two carriers splitting the country in half.

After granting Pfizer’s emergency use authorization request for its coronavirus vaccine, the FDA addressed some of the public’s major concerns regarding the vaccine during a news conference Saturday. We want to know: What concerns or reservations do you have about coronavirus vaccines? Following the Pfizer vaccine’s authorization on Dec. 11, Michigan officials have outlined how the vaccine will be distributed in the state in the coming months. Due to limited quantities of and high demand for a COVID-19 vaccine, states are planning to administer the vaccinations in multiple phases, prioritizing individuals who are at greater risk. Read more: Michigan officials: COVID vaccine to be distributed in 4 phases, prioritize frontline workersRelated news

On Friday, the United States granted an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. With the authorization, the vaccine will ship via FedEx and UPS, with the two carriers splitting the country in half. In Michigan, it will be UPS rolling out of Pfizer’s Portage cold farm with 85,000 vials slated for the state. In Michigan, a state built on hard work and innovation, a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine will be manufactured by Michigan workers at a Michigan business. My administration, led by Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, is developing a plan to distribute the vaccine, with a focus on our most vulnerable populations.

Due to limited quantities of and high demand for a COVID-19 vaccine, states are planning to administer the vaccinations in multiple phases, prioritizing individuals who are at greater risk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized widespread use of both Pfizer’s COVID vaccine and Moderna’s COVID vaccine. MDHHS officials say that it is estimated that COVID-19 vaccines will be available to everyone who is recommended to receive it by late spring of 2021. Michigan health officials are hoping to vaccinate 70 percent of residents over the age of 18 years by the end of 2021. Initially, five Michigan hospitals would be the first to get the vaccine, according to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.

TORONTO, ONT The NHL hopes to have players back in team facilities soon -- with plenty of precautions. It has not yet been determined when precisely Phase 2 will start or how long it may last, the said read. Teams are not allowed to require a player to return to a club's home city to complete any necessary quarantine measures before the workouts begin. The NHL/NHLPA Return to Play Committee has been hashing out details of what the game will look like if it's allowed to return this summer. Most NHL players have not been on the ice since the league halted its schedule, although some, including a number of Swedish players who returned home, have been skating in recent weeks.