Clinic selected for federal vaccine program; Northwest Arkansas covid-19 vaccinations continue despite weather

n Covid-19 vaccinations continue despite weather

Community Clinic, which has several Community Health Centers throughout Northwest Arkansas including in Siloam Springs, will be the first in the state to receive covid-19 vaccines as part of a new federal distribution plan, according to a news release from Community Health Centers of Arkansas.

Community Clinic will initially receive 500 doses weekly once the first doses arrive in about three to five weeks, according to the release. The exact dates the first doses will be available at Community Clinic haven't been determined, it states.

President Joe Biden's administration announced last week Community Health Centers across the country would receive direct shipments of the vaccine to help reach vulnerable populations. Community Clinic serves nearly 40,000 patients, more than half of whom are Hispanic. About 3,000 of its patients are Marshallese, according to the news release.

"Our mission is to reach people who may not feel comfortable going to a pharmacy or hospital and may lack access," said Judd Semingson, chief executive officer of Community Clinic. "Thankfully, our patients trust us. However, there are still many in our communities who are scared, don't know what to do about covid-19 and have questions about the vaccines. We are well-prepared and excited to help the state in this fight against the pandemic. This is what we do."

The Community Health Center distribution of vaccines is in addition to, not subtracting from, the doses sent directly to the state government, according to LaShannon Spencer, CEO of Community Health Centers of Arkansas.

As of Thursday, about 19,500 residents in Benton and Washington counties were fully vaccinated against covid-19, while another 39,315 had received the first dose, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

The two counties have a combined population of 384,234 residents 16 and older, so about 5 percent of that group have been fully vaccinated while about 10 percent are halfway there.

The Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines being used in Arkansas are approved by the federal government. The Pfizer vaccine is approved for people 16 and older while the Moderna vaccine is approved for people 18 and older. Both vaccines require two doses.

Winter weather disrupted vaccine distribution this week with appointments canceled both by patients and health care providers.

Residents in Phase 1-A, which includes health care workers and nursing home staff and residents, and two Phase 1-B groups, school employees and people 70 and older, are eligible to receive vaccines now.

More than 493,700 doses had been given in Arkansas as of Thursday, according to the Health Department. The data includes first and second doses.

School districts in the region began vaccinating employees about four weeks ago.

Covid-19 cases in Northwest Arkansas increased about 600 in the past week, according to the Health Department.

Washington County had 28,991 cumulative cases Friday, compared to 28,705 on Feb. 12. The county had 427 active cases Friday including 268 confirmed and 159 probable cases.

Benton County had 26,638 cumulative cases Friday compared to 26,330 on Feb. 12. The county had 538 active cases Friday including 362 confirmed and 176 probable cases.

Hospitals in Northwest Arkansas had a combined total of 49 patients in their covid-19 units as of Wednesday, two more than a week before, according to a joint statement from the region's largest health care organizations via Martine Pollard, spokeswoman for Mercy Health System. The record for most hospitalizations in the region on a single day was 140 patients on Jan. 8.

Both antigen tests and polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests are used to test for covid-19. Antigen tests produce faster results, are generally used only on people with symptoms of the virus and have a higher chance of giving false-negative results. Antigen and most PCR tests are done via nasal swabs.

A total of 191,560 PCR tests and 20,996 antigen tests have been done on Benton County residents, while 204,197 PCR tests and 37,442 antigen tests have been done on Washington County residents, according to the Health Department.

Alex Golden may be reached by email at [email protected].

More News

Fast fact

Groups of residents in Phase 1-B who aren’t yet eligible to receive the vaccine include food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, public transportation workers, U.S. Postal Service workers and essential government workers. Phase 1-C, which the state expects to be able to begin receiving vaccines in April, includes people ages 65-69, people 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions and people who work in transportation and logistics, water and wastewater, food service, shelter and housing, information technology, communications, energy, media, public safety and public health.

Source: Arkansas Department of Health

Alex Golden may be reached by email at [email protected].