By PPHD
On the Governor’s Monday briefing, Ricketts encouraged Nebraskans to get vaccinated and make use of readily available coronavirus tests for a healthy holiday season.
“9 of 10 Nebraskans hospitalized with COVID since the end of October have been unvaccinated,” Ricketts stated.
A therapeutic gap is expected with only one out of the four monoclonal antibody treatments effective against the Omicron variant. Nebraska’s allocation of this treatment will initially be 210 doses a week compared to the current 1,400 doses of antibody treatment.
Pfizer’s antiviral pill was approved through the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) today and will roll out in January. Supplies will initially be limited.
“For anyone age 5 and older, please get vaccinated. With the looming concern of the Omicron variant and the anticipated therapeutic gap, vaccination and getting boosted will ideally prepare Panhandle residents for safer outcomes when this variant is identified in the area and help keep hospitalizations lower,” said Kim Engel, Panhandle Public Health District Director.
Everyone age 16 and older is recommended to get a COVID booster shot at least two months after a 1-dose vaccine, Johnson & Johnson, or at least six months after a 2-dose vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna.
COVID vaccine is widely available across the Panhandle and there is no charge.
- Box Butte/Grant: https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu | safeway.com
- Walk-ins welcome
- Dave's Pharmacy Hemingford & Alliance, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5:30 PM
- Alliance Community Pharmacy, Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 6 PM
- Cheyenne/Deuel: https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p | walmart.com | safeway.com
- December 29, Big Springs at the Fire Hall 10:30AM - 12:30 PM | Chappell at the Fire Hall 1:30 - 3:30 PM Vaccinating 5+
- Dawes/Sioux: https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn | walmart.com | safeway.com
- Walk-ins welcome
- Western Community Health Resources, Monday-Friday, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
- Call 308-432-8979 to schedule an appointment outside these hours.
- Garden: To schedule an appointment, call (308) 772-3283.
- Kimball: https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs
- Walk-ins welcome
- Kimball Health Services, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM
- Morrill: https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm
- Walk-ins welcome
- Morrill County Hospital Clinic (Bridgeport), Thursdays, 8 AM - 4:30 PM call 308-262-1755
- Chimney Rock Medical Center (Bayard), Tuesdays, 8 AM - 4:30 PM call 308-586-1717
- Sheridan: https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38
- Walk-ins welcome
- Gordon Rural Health Clinic, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM and 1 PM - 4 PM
- Scotts Bluff/Banner: https://tinyurl.com/hkw7wk2p | walmart.com | safeway.com | walgreens.com
- Walk-ins welcome
- Gering CAPWN Health Center, Monday-Friday, 9 AM-12 PM & 1 PM-4 PM
- Scottsbluff County Immunization Clinic, Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-5:30 PM
If you are homebound or have a condition that makes it hard for you to access a COVID vaccine, Call Vianey Zitterkopf, RN at 308-430-8390 or Janet Felix, LPN at 308-672-4653.
People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu.
Unified Command confirms 79 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle.
March 2, 2020-December 22, 2021
- Positive: 14,797
- Last week’s cases: (cases/100,000): 91.58
- Last 7 day cases: 79
- Last week’s positivity rate: 10.3%
- Deaths: 252
- Deaths Pending Verification: 14
- Active Hospitalizations: 6
- Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 771
Current COVID testing access can be found at http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html.
