On Dec. 23, the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Monroe County. Monroe County Health Department Administrator John Wagner reported the county had received 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine. The health department held a vaccination clinic at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, offering the vaccine first to medical workers with patient contact.
Randolph County’s health department received a shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 16 which was divided among the county’s three hospitals to be administered to frontline healthcare staff. On Dec. 23, Randolph County Health Department Administrator Angela Oathout reported,”The Moderna vaccine was delivered to the hospitals today. The hospitals will continue to vaccinate the highest priority groups in ‘Phase 1a.'”
She also added that “There have not been any reports from recipients suffering adverse reactions from the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Despite the first doses of vaccine arriving to the area, there were unfortunately several more COVID-19 related deaths reported in the past week.
Since Dec. 18, there have been seven deaths reported in Randolph County – two reported on Dec. 18, one on Dec. 21, one on Dec. 22 and three on Dec. 23. This brings the county’s total amount of deaths up to 43.
Monroe County hasn’t reported a death since Dec. 16. The total number of deaths there is up to 56.
As of Dec. 24, Oathout noted that there were 255 active cases in Randolph County with 5 individuals hospitalized. The total amount of confirmed positive cases is up to 3,163.
In Monroe County, the total number of confirmed positive cases, as of Dec. 24, was 2,944 with 25 individuals hospitalized.
For more on the current COVID-19 situation, please see this week’s print edition or check the North County News Facebook page for updates.
Pictured first in line to get their COVID-19 vaccines on Dec. 23 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds are Monroe County Health Department employees Brian Eckert, John Wagner and Elizabeth van Uffelen. Administering the shots were nurses Kim Castello, Kim VonDerHarr and Liz Nonn. Photo courtesy of the Republic-Times.