Health officials say 40-percent of people in Greene County over the age of 12 are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department says that still leaves 60-percent of people who have not been vaccinated.
It took about two weeks for the county’s vaccination rate to go from 20 to 30-percent.
But it took nearly two months for it to go from 30 to 40-percent.
The delta variant is driving a major surge in new cases and hospitalizations.
Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated.
As of today, 40% of Greene County residents 12+ have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In the last 7 days, 4,371 vaccines were administered @ clinics hosted by the Health Dept. and other community partners – the highest since May 23.
Full release: https://t.co/XG245SSIs9
— S-GC Health Dept. (@SGCHD) July 15, 2021
Press Release
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department is announcing 40% of Greene County residents 12 and older have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In the last seven days, 4,371 vaccines were administered at clinics hosted by the Health Department and other community partners – the highest since May 23.
While health leaders are encouraged that more individuals are seeking vaccine, 60% of Greene County residents remain unvaccinated. Our vaccination rates still lag behind state and national rates. To reach the needed level of protection for our community, at least 70% of Greene County residents must be fully vaccinated, especially as the highly contagious and aggressive Delta variant continues to cause severe illness and hospitalizations among unvaccinated individuals.
It took 53 days for our community’s vaccination rate among individuals 18+ to increase from 30% to 40%. It only took 17 days to increase the vaccination rate from 20% to 30%.
“Although our vaccination rates are slowly improving, we need the pace to increase, especially as hospitals continue to see more severe illness in young and healthy individuals. Our local health care systems are seeing numbers they haven’t seen since the height of COVID-19 hospitalizations in December and January,” said Acting Director Katie Towns.
Currently, 230 individuals are being treated for COVID-19 in Springfield hospitals. 111 are Greene County residents and 99 are in critical care. On Wednesday, 405 Greene County residents tested positive for COVID-19, pushing our 7-day rolling average to 220. The last time our community saw case numbers in the 400s was January 4.
While some individuals who are fully vaccinated have still tested positive for COVID-19, their illness is typically mild and rarely requires hospitalization. Unvaccinated individuals are urged to wear a mask and take other precautions while in public.
Everyone 12 and older is strongly encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible — including those who have previously tested positive for COVID-19. A list of vaccine opportunities can be found at vaccine417.com or by calling the Health Department’s COVID-19 call center at (417) 874-1211.
