COVID vaccine distribution is expected to increase significantly for the Panhandle starting next week.
1,100 doses, plus 2 requiredna dose, they are expected to arrive weekly starting next week, with doses allocated based on a percentage of the county’s population. The Panhandle Vaccine Task Force is working together to obtain vaccines and anyone who has called or completed the online survey is on the vaccination list.
Any Nebraska Panhandle residents aged 65 or over or people with medical conditions and interested in receiving a COVID vaccine, fill out the form at https://tinyurl.com/ycpxzr5d. Filling in the online link is preferred, people can call 308-262-5764 or 308-633-2866 extension 101
Over 4,700 people have signed up so far! Be sure to help your elderly family members, friends and neighbors to sign up. This will put them on the list being coordinated with local vaccine suppliers. When vaccines are available, consultations will be scheduled and individuals will be called days in advance.
We are vaccinating healthcare professionals and people aged 75 or older first. To date, 4,385 people in eligible populations have received the COVID vaccine in the Panhandle.
“There are more than 15,000 Panhandle residents aged 65 and over. We appreciate the increased allocation of the vaccine and ask everyone who called or registered online for vaccination, please remain patient. The list is coordinated with vaccine providers in the community and they are doing their best locally to get vaccines, ”said Kim Engel, Director of the Panhandle Public Health District. Engel said those on the list will be called in for an appointment and, since the vaccine distribution is based on the county’s population, it is best not to try to leave your regular provider.
COVID vaccinations are also available at the Scottsbluff Community-Based Outpatient Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) for veterans enrolled in the VA Health Care system. Vaccines are by appointment only, with no visits. Call 308-225-5330 to schedule an appointment.
A Cheyenne County woman in her 50s and a Morrill County man in her 60s are the most recent COVID deaths announced. This brings the total deaths to 158.
“We share peace and comfort with friends and loved ones in the loss of our fellow residents of the Panhandle,” said Engel.
The Unified Command confirms 62 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since the last report on Thursday, January 14. Investigations are ongoing, all nearby contacts will be quarantined.
| All ages: 62 | |
| County | Cases |
| Flag | 0 |
| Box Butte | 7 |
| Cheyenne | 8 |
| Dawes | 8 |
| Deuel | 4 |
| garden | 1 |
| Grant | 0 |
| Kimball | 5 |
| Morrill | 0 |
| Scotts Bluff | 26 |
| Sheridan | 1 |
| Sioux | two |
| Exposure Type | |
| Community | 44% |
| Close contact | 44% |
| Travel | 0% |
| Under investigation | 13% |
March 2, 2020 – January 18, 2021
- Total tests performed: 31,750
- Positive: 8,117
- Last 14 days (active) cases: 330
- Last week’s cases: 150
- Last week’s positivity rate: 27.5%
- Kills: 158
- Active hospitalizations: 10
- Total cumulative hospitalizations: 503
- Duplication time (November 10, 2020 to January 17, 2021): 67 days
Avoid the three Cs:
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- Avoid crowded places – avoid gathering in groups where you cannot keep 6 feet away from others
- Avoid close contact – wear a mask over your nose and mouth or keep 1.8 m away when spending more than 15 minutes in total with people you don’t live with
- Avoid confined spaces – Avoid enclosed spaces with insufficient ventilation
The current COVID test access can be found at www.pphd.org.