In session Monday morning, January 4, Brown County Commissioners received an update on COVID-19 from Lisa Dick, administrator, Brownwood/Brown County Health Department.

She first discussed the ongoing heavy case load and high rate of hospitalizations.  As of the last public report on December 31, there were 17 hospitalizations in Brown County and 517 active cases.

She said the first 600 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered to health care workers and first responders.  A date for when residents of nursing homes may receive the vaccine is still not known.

“Vaccines that are going to nursing homes were contracted through CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and through HHSC (Health and Human Services Commission) for individual nursing homes with pharmacy groups.  It’s usually going to be bigger or private pharmacies that deal with nursing homes .. CVS, Walgreens .. those bigger pharmacies.”

Lisa also said there has been great interest from the community from residents who want to receive the vaccine but a date for when the vaccine may be available to the public is not yet known.

“The response from the community wanting to receive the vaccine has really been overwhelming.  The positive note to that has been that we know the community wants the vaccine.  The negative part of it for us is that we have been overwhelmed by phone calls at the health department and at the hospital.  Many from our staff managing COVID cases, it’s interfering with them being able to do that.  We’re asking the community to not call but instead listen to our local media and we will make sure they get that information out as soon as we find out when and where we will be giving the vaccine.”

As of December 31, there have been 73 COVID related deaths in Brown County.