KINGWOOD – Despite the snow and cold, Preston County Health Department Director V. J. Davis said all 100 of those 80 and older who received their first vaccinations last month have now had second shots.
Davis told commissioners Preston County will receive 220 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week and 300 doses next week. He said the vaccine will be distributed in Preston County. The last regional vaccination clinic was held last week in Morgantown.
Davis recommended people register with the state system at vaccinate.wv.gov or call the vaccine hotline: 833-734-0965. Anyone can register, regardless of age, and they will be notified when vaccines are available for them.
Vaccinations are by appointment only. Individuals scheduled will be contacted and an appointment time set to get the shot.
Commissioner Samantha Stone questioned the reasoning behind getting the first vaccination when getting the second one might not be within the 21- or 28-day period recommended.
County Administrator Kathy Mace said she checked with the Governor’s Office prior to the meeting and said there are people whose 28 days are up this week.
“I was told if you are a few days past the 28 day period it’s OK,” she said.
In several COVID-19 briefings held by the Governor’s office and its pandemic response team, Dr. Clay Marsh has said receiving the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine does offer some protection, reduce hospitalization and saves lives. And during a discussion with congressional leaders Tuesday, he mentioned this again, saying the strategy should be to ensure that second doses are available, but to get as many first doses into citizens as possible.
According to the Department of Health and Human Resources Preston County is now in the yellow. Yellow requires 3% test positivity over the past 10 days and the cluster is in the top 10% for hospital admissions per capita over past week and week-over-week growth in daily admissions.
Following the meeting, Roberta Baylor, executive director of the Preston County Economic Development Authority said the EDA is applying for a $180,000 grant to provide broadband service for residents in the Dinkenburger Road area.
The Truist EPIC grant is through a partnership with the Internet Society. The grants support broadband initiatives for low income communities.
Baylor said the North Preston grant is 90% built out and about 300 customers have been hooked up.
She said she recently applied for a USDA $3 million grant for eastern Preston county.
“We’ve been hearing for quite a few seniors who are interested in telehealth,” she said. “With COVID a lot of them don’t want to go out.”
TWEET@DominionPostWV
