A third Chase County site added for COVID vaccines

    Myrtle Health in Imperial has joined the growing list of outlets in the area that give the COVID-19 vaccine.
    There are now 14 locations in the SW Nebraska Public Health District that administer the vaccine. Chase County is included in the SWNPHD coverage area.
    The vaccination outlets in the district include three in Chase County—the other two are the Chase County Clinic and Adams Drug, both in Imperial.
    Myrtle Health owner Deaun Carpenter, a board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner, said she was just approved the past week by the NE Dept. of Health and Human Services.
    She had a number of requests to provide the vaccine from her clients, she said, so sought DHHS approval.
    Myrtle Health is currently providing Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, Carpenter said.
    She said she prefers appointments by calling 308-883-0601.
Chase Co. Clinic now
providing vaccines
    In another update, Chase County Clinic in Imperial has assumed administering the COVID-19 vaccines, taking over the operation from Chase County Community Hospital, said Alicia Ridlen, clinic administrator.
    However, if someone has received their first shot at the hospital and is waiting for the second, those individuals will return to the hospital for the second one, Ridlen said.
    All others who are just signing up for the vaccine can make appointments now at the clinic, 308-882-7299.
    The clinic provides the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID vaccines, although individual supplies vary, Ridlen said.
    Those choosing Adams Drug for their vaccination can make appointments by going online: healthmartcovidvaccine.com. Individuals who don’t have computer access can also call directly to Adams Drug at 308-882-4949.
    Amber Yaw at Adams Drug said they provide COVID vaccines from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen.
    The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to anyone in the state of Nebraska 16 years of age and older, regardless of their county of residence or which public health department that covers their residence.
    People can also sign up for vaccine appointments at vaccinate.ne.gov, or contact the individual outlets for an appointment.
COVID and teenagers
    SWNPHD received 100 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine last week and is quickly using the supply by vaccinating teenagers, said Myra Stoney, health director.  
    Pfizer is the only vaccine available at this time for persons age 16 and 17 years of age.  
    The Chase County Clinic in Imperial is one of just five outlets in the entire district administering the Pfizer vaccine. Others are Dundy County Hospital and Quality Care Clinic in Benkelman, Mark’s Pharmacy in Cambridge, U-Save Pharmacy in Ogallala and the SWNPHD office in McCook.
District vaccine numbers
    Thousands of residents in the SWNPHD’s nine counties have been vaccinated or at least received the first dose.
    The Moderna vaccine is by far the most administered in the district with more than 10,000 given, according to the SWNPHD map.
    Those in the 60-70 age group lead all others in numbers who’ve been vaccinated, with the age 70-80 group second.
    A map on the SWNPHD website now shows vaccination numbers by county. As of this week, the county totals are:
    Chase - 1,142
    Perkins - 891
    Dundy - 477
    Hayes - 182
    Hitchcock - 736
    Frontier - 756
    Furnas - 1,774
    Keith - 2,566
    Red Willow - 3,384