Childhood immunizations added to drive-thru events
LAPEER COUNTY — The Lapeer County Health Department will now offer regular childhood immunizations in addition to the COVID-19 vaccine at summer drive-thru clinics.
Lapeer and St. Clair, like many of their neighboring counties also shown in light blue, have vaccination rates between 40-49.9 percent as of June 21.
Health Department Director Kathy Haskins said that as demand drops for the COVID-19 vaccine, it frees up staff to administer other routine vaccines.
“We’re hoping to help families get these caught up before school resumes by offering them around the county, closer to their home communities,” Haskins said.
“During the pandemic, many children were not able to stay caught up on regular childhood vaccinations.”
Upcoming drive-thru clinics will be held at Imlay City High School on June 28, Dryden Elementary School on July 12, The Bells in Almont on July 26 and August 16. All clinic times are 3-7 p.m. The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines will be available at these clinics.
Walk-in clinics continue to be held at the Lapeer County Health Department offices on Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine are offered at Wednesday clinics and the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccine are offered at the Thursday clinics.
Registration for any of the above events is suggested but walk-ins are welcome. To register call 810-667-0448.
Haskins notes that in March and April, the health department was administering approximately 1,500 to 2,000 doses per week and that’s since dropped to about 120 doses as of last week.
“However, between Monday and Thursday of last week, the State recorded a total of 640 doses administered in the County. This indicates to us that many are still seeking the vaccine, and most likely getting it when out and about at pharmacy chains and pharmacies within stores such as Walmart and Meijer,” she said.
The response to previous drive-thru clinics has been mixed with some getting 60 participants and others only having a handful.
This week, the Lapeer County Health Department started issuing just one COVID update per week–on Thursdays, instead of the usual two. According to the most recent statistics, issued on June 17, Lapeer County has recorded just one new confirmed case of the virus, one probable case and two deaths since June 14. That puts Lapeer County at 7,848 for confirmed cases and 203 deaths. As of Thursday, two confirmed cases were hospitalized locally and one was on a ventilator.
In St. Clair County, reporting continues on a regular basis and as of Monday, June 21, the health department was reporting a total of 18,492 COVID-19 cases. That represent 16 new cases in one week’s time. Over that same time period, there were three additional deaths for a total of 425.
The county’s percent positive test rate has fallen to less than one percent.
According to vaccination dashboard data from the state, 45.85 percent of Lapeer County residents and 48.71 percent of St. Clair County residents have initiated their COVID-19 vaccination.
