Vaccine finally available for seniors

After weeks of delays and limited supplies, the COVID 19 vaccination will finally be available for senior citizens in Steele County.
Public Health Director Amy Caron said about 200 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available for people 65 and older beginning this week. Seniors are encouraged to go to the county’s website at co.steele.mn.us and click on the public health link to sign up.
Caron said seniors who do not have a computer or may not be computer savvy should first ask a family member or friend to help them sign up on-line. As a last resort, people can call Public Health at 507-444-7650 to have a staff member help. But Caron warns that the department does not have proper staffing for everyone to call in.
The link will be updated on Fridays for vaccinations for the next week.
“This is really great news,” said Caron. “I didn’t think we would be to this point as quick as we are.”
The public health director said the county is still dealing with limited supplies. But Caron is hopeful things will start opening up even more in the coming weeks as a third vaccine from Johnson and Johnson was approved by the FDA late last week. She said it’s still unknown when Steele County will receive the newest vaccine, which is different than the first two as it requires only one dose.
“I would think we would start to work with bigger amounts of vaccine soon,” Caron said.
As of Monday, Steele County has administered 1,602 doses of vaccine. Caron said about 400 additional doses will be given out in two different clinics this week.
Caron said her staff is extremely focused on vaccinations and wanting to get the vaccine out within 72 hours of receiving it. “It’s my reason for my existence right now,” she said. “I hope we keep rolling along.”
Meanwhile, the spread of COVID appears to have slowed down significantly as there were only 27 new cases over the past week. There have been 2,998 cases with 11 deaths since the pandemic began a year ago.
It’s the same case for other neighboring counties. Dodge County had 10 new cases over the past week, bringing the county’s total to 1,521. Freeborn County reported 48 new cases (2,805) and Mower County had 51 new cases (4,041).
 
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COVID-19 VACCINE WATCH
 
 
Steele: 1,602
Dodge: 1,112
 
Source: Steele County Public Health
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