The level of COVID-19 transmission remains high in Chenango, Delaware, and Otsego Counties according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Let's take a look at where we are right now in our tri-county region.

Each County's Current Vaccination Rate :

Health officials in our tri-county area are continuing the message to those unvaccinated: "get vaccinated as soon as possible". The percentage of those getting vaccines is slowly creeping up each week. Currently, the vaccination rate in Chenango County's population 12 and older with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is at 68.2%, Delaware County's vaccine rate is at 63.1%. In Otsego County, the percentage of residents 12 and older with at least one dose is 66.1%.

Let's take a look at COVID case numbers locally:

Looking at COVID-19 case numbers reported by The Otsego County Department of Health (11/7): There are currently 129 known active cases with 6 people hospitalized with COVID-related complications. The total COVID-related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic went up to 74 since our last report. The Health Dept. has a COVID-19 dashboard with daily updates for the latest information.

To stay up to date on vaccine clinics in Otsego County, visit www.bassett.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine and www.otsegocounty.com. Also, keep in mind that you can receive a vaccine through your Bassett Healthcare Network provider and at various local pharmacies.

Delaware County Health officials have an update from the week ending 11/5, reporting 152 active cases with 10 people hospitalized. With two new deaths reported since our last update, the total number of deaths related to coronavirus complications has risen to 64. Go to delawarecountypublichealth.com/covid-19/#Dash to access the Delaware County Public Health COVID-19 dashboard. DCPH also reported the following information about those contracting COVID in the county...

52.4% of the total population are vaccinated
54% of the positive cases are unvaccinated
46% of the positive cases are vaccinated
15% of the positive cases are Pre-K-12th students/employees
1.3% of the positive cases are college students/employees

In Chenango County, the health department reported on November 5, there were 110 active cases in the county (34% of cases are vaccinated individuals) with 3 hospitalizations and the total of deaths related to the virus remains at 86.

For those who are currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.co.chenango.ny.us/public-health/nursing/covid19.php to find information on the latest clinics available. Those who wish to receive the vaccine need to register online.

Chenango Health also is now distributing the Pfizer vaccine as a booster shot to those eligible which includes anyone:
- 65+ years old
- 18-64 years old at high risk of severe COVID-19
- 18-64 years old whose frequent institutional/occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 puts them at high risk of serious complications of COVID-19 including severe COVID-19.
If you are eligible, you can receive the vaccine at least 6 months after your last shot.

Pop-up Vaccination Sites Across New York State:

Back in September, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that pop-up vaccination sites would be coming to communities to increase the vaccination rate in kids 12 and older. The pop-up locations change every week. To find out the latest location, visit covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/nys-vaxtoschool-pop-locations.

Below is a list of resources for vaccines for those 12 and older:

NYS Am I eligible site: am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov
Or call 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829)

For UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital you may call 607-337-4888

For BASSETT you may call the information line at 605-547-5555 or visit Bassett.org.

If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 CLICK HERE to learn what to do next.

To find a COVID-19 testing site near you visit coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-testing.

To get information about COVID-19 vaccination distribution, CLICK HERE.

Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?

Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.

 

More From WZOZ