Vaccines arrive in Milam County
Milam County recieved 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine on Wednesday and is working to give the vaccine to medical personnel and those 65 and older.
Milam County Judge Steve Young said yesterday that the county will get another shipment of the vaccine next week and will be working hard to get everyone vaccinated.
"Today, we had over 300 people call in to get on the waiting list for the vaccination," he said Wednesday night. "If you want to get on the list, please email Denise Wallace at dwallace@milamcounty.net or call (254) 697-7000 and ask for Ms. Wallace. She will want your contact information and thereafter she will put you on the list. The shots will be given to the list on a first come, first serve basis. As we get more of the vaccine, we hope to have walk in clinics, but at this point, we just don’t have enough."
Young said that Brookshire Brothers in Rockdale is giving vaccinations as well.
"Today, it changed its vaccination protocol," he said. "They are no longer taking appointments by phone. One must download the consent form from the Brookshire site, complete the form and hand deliver the form to the Brookshire pharmacy in Rockdale. Brookshire will then put your name on the list and will later contact you with a date and time to come in for the shot."
The Moderna drug is a two-shot vaccine, meaning that a booster shot is necessary 28 days after the first shot. Those who are vaccinated will be given a card depicting the type of vaccine they received and when the booster shot can be given. It is imperative that both shots be received. Further, the drug cannot be intermingled with another drug, such as the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine will be provided at no cost, although there may be an administration charge for those with insurance.
"While vaccinations are totally voluntary, we highly recommend that everyone receive a vaccination," Young said. "Even if you have previously been infected by the virus, you should still get the shot. This is our best chance to get this terrible pandemic under control. In order to establish herd immunity, we need 70-90 percent of the Milam County population to be vaccinated. We have been under the gun for almost a year and now we have a ticket to safety, so please do your part and get the shots."
Testing Report for Wednesday, December 30, 2020:
"We again have big testing numbers to report," Young said. "We tested 74 individuals in Milano with 37 positive results, which is almost identical to the testing results of Tuesday. This week alone, in just three days we tested 244 individuals with 122 positive results for a positivity rate of 50 percent. In the last 30 days of testing we have now tested 1,342 individuals with 429 positive results, with an overall positivity rate of 32 percent. Our next testing will be in Rockdale on Monday, January 4, 2021."
The county had 37 new confirmed cases to report today; two new PCR cases and 35 new probable cases. No one was hospitalized and 18 individuals were discharged from active lists.
Milam County Cases as of Wednesday, December 30, 2020:
1. Confirmed PCR cases 887 up 2
2. Confirmed active PCR cases 51 – down 5
3. Confirmed probable (antigen) cases 582 up 24
4. Confirmed active probable cases 101 – up 24
5. Total confirmed cases in Milam County 152 – up 19
6. Currently monitored individuals 347 – plus 55
7. Hospitalizations 18 no - change
a. 4 persons on ventilators – no change
b. Cumulative hospitalizations since the pandemic started 112 – no change
8. Deaths 11 – no change