COVID UPDATE: Walk-ins welcome at Friday vaccination clinic

Vaccination of homebound residents are now underway in Milam County. A clinic set for Friday will be taking walk-ins.

Milam County Judge Steve Young said the Milam County Health Department began homebound vaccinations in the county on Tuesday. Staff from Texas A&M University assisted in that endeavor. The Health Department is still accepting vaccine requests from homebound residents. If you know someone homebound and unable to get a shot, please call for them or have them call to get on the list at (254) 697-7000. 

A large initial dose clinic will be held Friday and walk-ins will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. All clinics this week are being held at the former Rockdale Clinic at 1700 Brazos in Rockdale.

Young announced late Tuesday that the active case count had risen from seven to 11 in the past 24 hours locally. There were four new cases reported, all verified through PCR testing. 

The combined total of PCR and antigen positive tests in the county since the pandemic began is now 2,494. Four people are hospitalized and the death toll is unchanged at 46. 

Young said that at this time not enough people are vaccinated to reach herd immunity and he urges everyone to be mindful of those around them by wearing a mask and social distancing. 

Vaccinations are also being offered at schools. Children 16 and older can get vaccinated with the Pfizer version. Parents should contact their school administration for dates and consent form information. 

The rest of the county has almost no waiting list at this time to get vaccinated. You can sign up to get a shot by calling (254) 697-7000. Once on the list, you will be called for an appointment and they will call you from that same number so be sure to answer the phone. Vaccine consent forms are available at milamcounty.net. Once contacted for a vaccine, you are encouraged to fill out those forms and bring them with you to speed up the process. 

Young said that about 30 percent of eligible residents have gotten at least one dose and around 15 percent are considered fully vaccinated here. 

Since vaccines became available to Milam County at the beginning of the year, officials have administered nearly 8,000 total shots.