Rio Grande County Public Health Department to host another vaccination clinic

RIO GRANDE COUNTY — On Friday, Feb. 19, the Rio Grande County Public Health Department in partnership with Rio Grande Hospital and Rio Grande Hospital Clinics will be hosting another mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the old Del Norte High School Field House. This clinic will focus on people ages 65 to 70 and older and front line and health care workers.

According to reports from Rio Grande County Public Health Department Director Dr. Kolawole Bankole the department may receive additional federal grants to help with the vaccination initiative in coming weeks.

Bankole announced that the mass vaccination clinics have received 1,300 cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses to the county and of those have given over 837 cumulative doses to participants as of reporting, in accordance with the scheduled vaccination phases.

“As of Feb. 16, we have received 1,300 cumulative total doses (both for 1st and 2nd doses). We have given 837 cumulative doses as of Feb. 15,” Bankole said. “This amounts to 647 total 1st doses, 190 total 2nd doses which breaks down to 440 doses in January and 397 doses so far in February. For the mass vaccination clinic scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19, we hope to administer 210 first doses and 200 second doses. Between the three organizations we plan to administer a total of 510 doses.”

Bankole said they continue to collaborate with RGH and RGHC to conduct as many mass vaccination clinics as they can.

“We have to be cognizant of our volunteer capacity for recurring events as well. We are now focusing on 65-69 and educators,” Bankole said. “Our 65-69 waitlist is 140. Our educator waitlist is 20 and our childcare center educator waitlist is 18.”

Rio Grande County remains in Yellow status on the state’s COVID-19 dial as of Tuesday, Feb. 16. Case numbers are on a decline in recent weeks dropping from 35 to 25 on Friday, Feb. 12. For the most up to date COVID information, visit the county website at www.riograndecounty.org.