- April 17, 2024
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Flagler County has the lowest per capita COVID-19 case rate out of the state's 67 counties, while the rate of Flagler County residents 65 and older who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 has risen to 69%, Florida Department of Health-Flagler experts said on Flagler Broadcasting's "Free For All Friday" radio program March 19.
Flagler County has 33,193 vaccinated residents and is ranked seventh among the state's 67 counties for the percentage of residents vaccinated.
"I just don’t believe that this happens by accident," Florida Department of Health-Flagler Health Officer Bob Snyder said. "We want to thank our Flagler County residents, our community partners. Together, we have it going on — and we’re doing the right things with regard to public health measures and just being careful."
The county has seen a slight rise in case rates in the last several days, but just 11 people were hospitalized as of March 18, compared to numbers in the 20s and 30s a few weeks ago, Snyder said.
The Health Department in Flagler County has seen a doubling of its weekly allotment of vaccines, from an initial 800 per week to 1,600 per week now, and expects that number to rise.
The Health Department has started holding vaccination events at local faith communities, said Florida Department of Health-Flagler Communications Manager Gretchen Smith, and will also hold a community vaccination event for people with diabetes on April 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. People who are interested in attending should call 386-313-7263 to register, and will need to bring a state "COVID-19 determination of extreme vulnerability" form (viewable HERE), signed by a doctor.
So far, Snyder said, Flagler County has only seen two cases involving the UK COVID-19 variant, while Volusia County has had five.
Vaccine-induced immunity seems to confer greater immunity from the variants than does the limited immunity that comes from having had the virus — one reason that people who've had it should still get vaccinated, said Florida Department of Health Medical Director Dr. Stephen Bickel.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on March 19 the the state is lowering the age threshold for COVID-19 vaccination from 60 to 50, effective Monday, March 22.
Healthcare personnel with direct patient contact, longterm care facility staff and residents, and people who are deemed by a physician to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 can be vaccinated even if they don't meet the age threshold. Law enforcement officers 50 and older, firefighters 50 and older and K-12 education employees 50 and older are also currently eligible for vaccination through the state of Florida.
To pre-register with the state for vaccination, go to https://myvaccine.fl.gov or call 866-201-1541.
