Allen County’s COVID ranking — based on vaccination rates, cases numbers and tests — is improving slowly, as shots become available for children, cases rise and a new variant is causing concern across the world.
The county has improved to 78th out of 105 counties, up from a ranking of 80th a few weeks ago, and 90th before that.
More than half of the county, though, remains unvaccinated.
Just 46.8% of Allen County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 42.9% are fully vaccinated.
At the beginning of the month, vaccination rates were 45.4% with at least one dose of the vaccine, and 41.91% fully vaccinated.
The number of active cases in Allen County jumped to 59 on Monday, up from 49 a week ago.
The county’s caseload has gone up and down in recent weeks, but generally has remained in the 40s.
The county has reported 2,148 cases since the pandemic began, with 27 deaths.
CHILDREN ages 5 and older can now get the vaccine, and appointments are available at the Allen County Health Department, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and pharmacies and health clinics.
Booster shots are available for all adults, as well.
Vaccinations are free.
Only the Iola school district is currently planning a vaccination clinic for eligible students. It will be offered at schools on Dec. 9.
The Humboldt and Marmaton Valley districts have not yet scheduled such clinics.
The CDC officially recom
mended the Pfizer vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds last week, marking the first time Americans younger than 12 are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination.
The vaccine is given in a two-dose series, with the second dose to be given at least 21 days after the first.
Only Pfizer has been approved for 5- to 17-year-olds.
MEANWHILE, health officials across the world are studying a new variant, omicron, to determine how significant of a threat it poses.
