Seventy percent of Garfield County residents over 18 have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine

COVID SUMMARY
September 3, 2021

Garfield County has reached 70 percent of the population 18 and older having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. As of Friday, Garfield County Public Health is following four cases that are hospitalized. Last week, an additional COVID death was confirmed following an outbreak at a long-term care facility.

This brings the county’s death toll to 57 due to the illness. Since the beginning of August, 99 percent of positive COVID results sequenced in Colorado are the Delta variant.
Free COVID testing in Garfield County

There are two free community testing providers in Garfield County, and neither a doctor’s order nor identification are required. Sites accept both walk-ups and appointments, but do not have rapid tests available. If you have symptoms, or feel you have been exposed, get tested within one to two days. Test turnaround times are between 36-48 hours.

Roaring Fork Valley free COVID testing Monday – Friday
Carbondale, parking lot behind Town Hall
511 Colorado Ave (Enter via 4th St.)
8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Glenwood, Roaring Fork School District Admin. Building parking lot
1405 Grand Ave, Glenwood Springs
7 – 11 a.m.

Rifle, Mountain Family parking lot
195 W. 14th St. Bldg. C, Rifle (back side of parking lot, closest to the fairgrounds)
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

State of Colorado free COVID testing Sundays
Rifle, Public Health parking lot
195 W. 14th St., Rifle
12 – 4 p.m.

See Garfield County COVID testing for a complete list of testing providers including pharmacies and medical offices in Garfield County.

September 6 Public Health Labor Day Office Closure
Those due for a second dose of vaccine on September 6, please plan to attend vaccine clinics later in the week or the following week.

Why you should not use ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19
The FDA recently issued information on Ivermectin, a drug used to treat or prevent parasites in animals (not for fighting viruses). The FDA has received multiple reports of patients who have required medial support and been hospitalized after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for horses. Ivermectin is not FDA approved for use treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans.
The FDA’s job is to carefully evaluate the scientific data on a drug to be sure that it is both safe and effective for a particular use, and then to decide whether or not to approve it. Using any treatment for COVID-19 that’s not approved or authorized by the FDA, unless part of a clinical trial, can cause serious harm.
Never use medications intended for animals on yourself. Ivermectin preparations for animals are very different from those approved for humans.

Delta plus
The Delta-plus variant has been detected in several locations around the United States and elsewhere in the world. The plus in Delta-plus, refers to the newer variant’s spike protein mutation. Spike proteins are what allows COVID and other viruses to get into our cells. According to the CDC this variation can make other treatments less effective.

FDA fully approves, COVID vaccine Comirnaty
On August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for ages 16 and up, and marketed under the name Comirnaty. For people waiting for full FDA approval to get vaccinated, check the Garfield County COVID vaccine page for a list of clinics. Walk-ins and appointments are available. With over 200 million doses administered in the U.S., the FDA has never before attained so much evidence to judge a vaccine’s safety. Those 12 to 15 years old may still receive Pfizer vaccine under an emergency use authorization.

Leave a reply