RBC I As of Tuesday, Oct. 19, Rio Blanco County Public Health is reporting 1,002 total cases of COVID-19 in the county since the start of the pandemic. Case rates have been rising in the past weeks with multiple outbreaks countywide.
There are currently 23 active cases in Meeker and 49 in Rangely, with four hospitalized. Three of those hospitalizations occurred between Oct. 11-17.
There have been seven COVID-19 deaths confirmed.
Approximately 44.3% — 2,412 — of the eligible population has been vaccinated with at least one dose, and there have been 59 reported vaccine “breakthrough” cases among those individuals.
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Rio Blanco County are 7.9% of the total cases. Of those 79 individuals who required hospitalization, seven were fully vaccinated.
Vaccination is available for the general public age 12 and up:
- In Meeker and Rangely (public health offices):
- Moderna (18 and up) and Pfizer (12 and up): Thursdays 12-5:30 p.m., walk-in, no appointment necessary. Please call 970-878-9520 with any questions or for special accommodations.
- Pioneers Medical Center is currently offering walk-in clinics for Johnson and Johnson and Moderna vaccine on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon or 2-4 p.m.
- Third doses of mRNA vaccine (both Pfizer and Moderna) are currently recommended for moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals. Please contact your doctor to see if you fall into this category. On Sept. 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially recommended Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for everyone over age 65, people whose work puts them at high risk of contracting COVID-19, and people age 18 and older based on their own decision relating to their risk from COVID. Booster doses should be given approximately six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series. Moderna booster doses were recommended unanimously by the FDA last week, and formal approval is expected by Oct. 21 from ACIP for a half dose booster for these same groups.
- Roll out of pediatric doses of Pfizer for 5-11 year olds is expected to begin by the end of the month, and planning/ordering has begun. These will be available through RBC Public Health.
- Ask about on-site clinics for businesses and organizations.
- Flu shots are now available by appointment (65+ high dose available). Drive through clinics are held from 4:30-6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday in Meeker at the Fairgrounds, and the second and fourth Thursday in Rangely in between the library and public health building. All insurance accepted.
Special to the Herald Times
