If you live in Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto County and would like to know how soon you might get vaccinated for COVID-19 – the answer is to continue distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands because it might be a while. Even if you qualify for the initial doses.
Pictured above with this week's program chair Stacy Choate, Palo Pinto County Judge Shane Long was guest speaker at today’s Rotary Club of Mineral Wells meeting and spent much of his time discussing the countywide effort to combat, mitigate and vaccinate. Fortunately, cases are declining slightly. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services shows the county with 87 active cases and 306 probable cases. Palo Pinto General Hospital as of Wednesday reports 6,340 tests for COVID performed, with 4,894 of those negative. There are 52 virus-related fatalities for the county.
With a county population of about 29,000 and current allotments of just 100 doses per week, Long said one can see it might take a while to get vaccine into the arms of those who it. According to TDHHS, 901 county residents have received at least one dose and just 27 county residents are fully vaccinated. The judge said between the county’s and local DHHS’s online vaccination registration programs, some 4,500 county residents are registered and waiting their turns.
It is a problem many rural counties are dealing with – being on the short end of limited doses statewide and even nationwide. Long noted that, for example, there are more than 700 applications for vaccination “hubs” in Texas, but so far about 130 have been approved.
He said as vaccine becomes more available (perhaps after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine approval expected in February) counties like Palo Pinto should see an increase in dose allocations. He said the county hopes to create a central vaccination program, such as a drive-through or walk-in vaccination clinic, at a school or church.
Currently, vaccination priorities are being given to frontline health workers, people over the age of 65 and those considered at-risk of severe infection or death because of health issues.
County annex
Judge Long also updated members (a nice turnout of some 25 Rotarians and guests) on the progress of renovating the former Bank of America building into a new county annex. He said as work and abatement began, it seemed the more workers got into it, the more work needed was found. However, he said they are now “putting it back together rather than taking it apart.”
County and state offices currently in the Poston’s Building in downtown Mineral Wells will move over to the new annex building when complete. That includes the motor vehicle registration office, Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace, Pct. 5 constable and juvenile probation, along with the game wardens office. The county tax office will expand services and anticipates having a drive-up window to collect payments.
Offices expanding or moving from the main Palo Pinto County Courthouse include the county clerk’s office, public works and the elections office. Long said new State Rep. Glenn Rogers will have an office in the new county annex, and talks are going with the City of Mineral Wells to provide or share space. There is no new completion date but hopes are offices could begin moving into their new digs sometime this spring.
EMS facility
Judge Long said efforts are continuing toward the construction of Emergency Service District No. 1’s new Possum Kingdom Lake Ambulance Station and Medical Clinic. New construction bids are being evaluated. The station will feature two ambulance bays and sleeping/living quarters. Also, Palo Pinto County Hospital District is expected to finalize plans to provide $500,000 to open and staff a new community health clinic.
Rotary Club of Mineral Wells meets every Wednesday at noon at Southside Church of Christ. Sadie’s Eats provides catered lunches. Meetings are for members, invited guests and prospective members.