County Board's Health Committee Gets Update on Immunizations

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Published on September 7 2022 2:28 pm
Last Updated on September 7 2022 2:30 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham County Board's Health Committee Tuesday heard from Health Department officials that they feel the number of COVID cases in the county are underreported.

Catherine Bailey of the Health Department told committee members she believes that is because many people are doing home testing for COVID, or are not testing at all. Bailey said the findings indicate Effingham County's positivity rate for COVID is 23.5%. The state's positivity rate is 9.5%. 

Bailey said there was a "big surge" in cases at the end of June, then the number fell, then increased in August, but has now fallen again. She also reminded that free tests are no longer available to the general public, but shared that many people can obtain tests through their health insurance.

When asked about student immunizations, Bailey said a majority of kids have been immunized. Bailey also said there have been no cases of monkeypox in this region, and that flu immunization clinics will be offered soon, and that residents should consider getting immunized for the flu and COVID at the same time.