COVID-19 vaccinations continue for county residents, reach 11%

Less than one month after the COVID-19 vaccines were made available, approximately 11 percent of San Juan County’s 14,800 residents have received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Through January 26, a total of 1,675 residents have received the first dose of the vaccine, with about 300 receiving their second shot.

The county has also recorded another death of a resident with COVID-19. A Montezuma Creek/Aneth area man, who was in his 50s, passed away in January.

Throughout the pandemic, 36 San Juan County residents have died with COVID-19 (two percent of cases). Information regarding other impacts that may have contributed to those residents’ deaths are not included in publicly-available data.

The approved COVID-19 vaccines in the United States come from Moderna and Pfizer.

In studies, both vaccines have proven to be 95 percent effective at preventing those who receive the vaccine from becoming ill.

Both vaccines are administered in two doses. The Pfizer vaccine’s second shot, or booster, must come at least 21 days after receiving the first shot. The Moderna vaccine second shot should be within at least 28 days.

More than 800 residents in San Juan County will receive the opportunity to get their second shot this week.

In the first week of January, 836 Utah Navajo Health System (UNHS) patients began receiving the first round of the vaccine via drive-thru operations throughout the UNHS service area.

UNHS made the second round of shots available to the 800 patients starting January 26 at Montezuma Creek. Booster shots will be available in Monument Valley on January 27, in Blanding on January 28 and in Montezuma Creek on January 29.

Additionally, approximately 100 booster shots should be available to those who received the vaccine through the San Juan Public Health System.

While the county jumped out to a good start, San Juan Public Health is currently receiving just 100 additional doses of the vaccine per week. UNHS does not have an outlook for when they will receive additional doses of the vaccine.

Prioritization is given to residents over the age of 70. The county is using a list of more than 400 seniors to schedule residents to receive the vaccine.

The county encourages senior citizens to reach out to contact their local senior center or the county aging services to make sure they are on the county list.

The telephone number for the Blanding Senior Center is 435-459-3179, the Bluff Senior Center is 435-672-2390, the La Sal Senior Center is 435-686-9990, the Monticello Senior Center is 435-459-2656, and the San Juan County Director of Aging is at 435-587-3225.

Eventually, an online portal will allow residents to schedule their vaccination. County officials encourage the public to check out SanJuanPublicHealth.org/COVID-19

Officials for San Juan Public Health and UNHS thank the community for their continued patience.

San Juan Record

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