COVID-19

Clinton was one of the hardest hit, yet

rate of vaccinations is among the lowest

During the COVID-19 pandemic that brought society to a virtual standstill, Clinton County was one of the hardest hit counties in the nation, and certainly in the state of Kentucky, in terms of cases confirmed here per capita.

However, the high number of COVID-19 cases here, and the tragically high number of virus related deaths here, per capita, haven’t translated into Clinton County residents rushing to get vaccinated against the virus.

Clinton County remains among the slowest counties to seek vaccinations, according to figures updated this week by the Kentucky Cabinet of Health and Family Services.

Since COVID-19 cases were first discovered in Kentucky in March, 2020, Clinton County had 1,433 confirmed cases, according to figures from the Lake Cumberland District Health Department.

That level of infection remains the highest among the 10 count LCDHD district, when using the per capita formula based on the standard of 10,000 population, which translates to 1,402.43 cases during the pandemic.

Vaccinations are currently being offered on a walk-in basis at some Albany pharmacies, and on an appointment basis at The Medical Center at Albany and the Clinton County Health Department.

However, Clinton County remains one of the lowest in the state of Kentucky in terms of the percentage of residents who have received vaccinations thus far.

While Kentucky is tetering on half of its residents having been vaccinated, at 49 percent, Clinton County’s residents have been vaccinated at a rate of less than half of that.

As of Monday of this week, only 2,398 Clinton County residents, or 23.48 percent have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Among Clinton County residents who have received vaccinations, most have been among residents 18 years old and older, with 2,375 falling into that category.

The percentage gets a little better when considering the number of local residents 65 years old and older who have been vaccinated, with 802 in that age range getting the shot, or 41.88 percent of residents in that age category.

Still, that percentage of senior citizens here who have been vaccinated also falls far behind the state average in that same age group, with 82 percent of Kentucky residents 65 years old and older having been vaccinated.

Vaccination appointments through The Med Center at Albany are available, and those vaccines are now being given on site at the local hospital.

Appointments for getting the vaccine may be obtained by texting SHOT to 606-387-3646 or by emailing AlbanyVaccine@mchealth.net, or by calling 606-387-3646 and leaving a message.

Vaccines are also now available again at the Clinton County Health Department,.

Vaccination appointments through the Clinton County Health Department, or more information about the vaccines being offered and the vaccination dates and times, may be obtained by calling 606-387-5711.

Beginning last week, the LCDHD issued its COVID-19 public reports on a weekly basis rather than a daily basis, with the reports ending it’s case counts each Friday.

In its latest report, which included the week of Saturday, June 12 through Friday, June 18, Clinton County had no new cases that had been confirmed, and had no cases currently.

Cases across the 10 count yLCDHD area continued to drop in the past week, with the LCDHD reporting 34 active cases in the district, with only four patients being treated in area hospitals.

The district also saw no new deaths due to COVID-19 during the past week, some of the most welcome news reported by the agency since the pandemic began.

In addition to Clinton County having no current active cases, Cumberland County was also seeing a COVID-19 free case count.

Total case counts for the remaining counties, and the number of patients being treated in area hospitals in parentheses, if any, were: Adair 5 (1), Casey 3, Green 1, McCreary 2 (1), Pulaski 17 (1), Russell 1, Taylor 4 (1), Wayne 1.

To date, there have been 22, 668 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the district, with 458 confirmed deaths.