Hill County sees 30 percent 16 and older immunized, another 43 percent on the way

Vaccination against COVID-19 in the area continues despite a significant drop in traffic at the Hill County Health Department’s weekly vaccine clinics.

Hill County Public Health Director and Health Officer Kim Larson said, at the Hill County Health Board’s bi-weekly COVID-19 update last Friday, about 30 percent of the eligible population in the county is fully vaccinated and a further 43 percent have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Larson said these numbers are very good, but the traffic at her department’s weekly vaccine clinics has dropped significantly.

She said the vaccines are extremely effective and will be important for the people of Hill County who want their lives to return to normal.

She said as many people as possible need to get the vaccine if the community is going to get to a point where normal life can really resume.

She said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the only vaccine available only requiring one dose, is available at Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods’ pharmacy and people interested should call them for details.

She said Western Drug Pharmacy has access to the Moderna vaccine, and she believes Walmart’s Pharmacy does as well.

Larson said Rocky Boy’s Health Center has access to all three vaccines and are offering them to anyone willing to travel there.

She said, Fort Belknap Public Health came to Havre Thursday with doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the only one approved for 16- and 17-year-olds, and vaccinated many young people in the community, but she doesn’t yet have the numbers on the clinic.

She said the Hill County Health Department, as of last Thursday night, was dealing with five active COVID-19 cases and was tracking 14 people in quarantine.

Larson said over all the case numbers in the county are encouraging, with only five new cases last week and none the week before.

The next COVID-19 update will be April 23 at 1 p.m.