We saw as many covid-cases in August and September as we did last December and January.  The coronavirus that we knew last year, that we thought we had learned how to live around, leveled up.  The delta variant quickly took over and became the dominant strain in July.  More people, including children and young adults, got sick.  In Arkansas, 793 people died in August and 757 in September from COVID-19. Consul General Alik lamented the number of funerals he attended in August: “A very sad and dark time.” The increased contagiousness of the virus continues to put all of us at risk, even those who have already gotten sick or were vaccinated earlier this year.

Active cases of COVID-19 went up last year in the entire region, and the health care system was operating up to its limit.  It was a direct result of holiday family gatherings.  A doctor with Washington Regional Medical Center said it’s not that much different now: “We were and are seeing a lot of families – four to five members of a certain family – who needed to be admitted into the hospital due to COVID-19 complications. What we have not seen is large groups of families showing up here that have all been vaccinated.”

With the holidays in mind, the region’s health care systems are encouraging people to get their vaccinations now so that they can safely gather for the holidays.  Most public community events host a pop-up clinic where you can get vaccinated.  ACOM arranged for a vaccine clinic at their Stroll the Atoll and Manit Day celebrations, and MEI organized a vaccine clinic this week in the Oak Apartments on Shiloh providing pizza and drinks.  There have even been pop-up clinics at concerts at the Walmart AMP.  You can see a whole calendar of options from drive thru clinics, urgent care and Farmer’s Markets.  The Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer vaccine August 23 of this year.  If you have any questions, doctors and nurses are there to talk to you (quite often Dr. Sheldon Riklon too).  

Now is a great time to get vaccinated.  If have already gotten the vaccine, and it’s been more than six months, then it’s time to consider getting a 3^rd shot.  The vaccine is very good at preventing hospitalization and death, but a booster dose will reduce your chance of getting sick.  A Washington Regional Medical Center doctor said, “it is up to all of us to do the right thing and get vaccinated.  If you are eligible for your booster shot, it is smart to get that, particularly before any gatherings.”  The goal is 75% vaccination or more.  Wā kuk wā jiṃor. The alternative is to continue wearing masks and staying six feet apart which is really hard to do within your family.  Vaccination is the best way “to keep our families and friends safe – and out of the ICU – this holiday season.”

For those in Springdale: the Community Pharmacy is hosting vaccine clinics for Pfizer COVID-19 and flu shots at the First United Methodist Church every Friday, October 8 – November 19 from 10am-6pm.  They are giving 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd doses of the Pfizer vaccine at no cost.  The flu shot is also free with insurance, $40 without insurance.  Anyone 12 and older can get vaccinated against covid.

For those in Lowell: the Northwest Arkansas Council is hosting a large-scale vaccination event at J.B. Hunt in Lowell on October 22.  You can register here but walk-ins are welcome.

This effort is in conjunction with the statewide initiative to educate Arkansans about vaccination and get Arkansans vaccinated.  Though there continues to be debates about mask and vaccine requirements by schools and businesses, Governor Ava Hutchinson has said that this kind of debate has been “harmful to our goal to increase vaccination rates in Arkansas.”

Remember, COVID-19 vaccines are free.  Insurance is not required and those attending the clinics will NOT need to provide identification or a social security number to get vaccinated. If you have previously had a COVID-19 vaccine, you should bring your CDC vaccination card.  It is also safe to get the flu vaccine at the same time.