Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Immunization Department employees Patty Korbelik and Tammy Wintz prepare for a day of providing free COVID-19 vaccines for those attending the Nebraska State Fair. (Independent/McKenna Lamoree)
From fine arts to agriculture, the open class and 4H exhibits have it all. Not only can you stop by to observe everything on display, you are also provided with many shopping opportunities in both exhibits.
The 2021 Nebraska State Fair is different, yet much the same, as the typically well-attended event carries out its second installment in the age of COVID-19.
One of those differences is the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Immunization Department holding court at the fair’s welcome center first aid station, offering free COVID-19 vaccines to anyone who hasn’t been fully vaccinated.
In terms of increasing the number of vaccinations, the effort led by Central District Health Department has thus far barely made a ripple, said CDHD Health Director Teresa Anderson. “We didn’t anticipate a huge uptick of shots. We just wanted to be there to raise awareness.”
As of August 27, 36% of individuals residing counties under the district’s jurisdiction — Hall, Hamilton and Merrick — have been vaccinated. Nebraska as a whole has 52.8% of its residents vaccinated.
In the last seven days, CDHD tallied 160 cases of COVID-19. The positivity rate as of Sept. 2 was 26%. The transmission rate numbered 204 cases per 100,000. High transmission risk occurs when 100 or more new cases per 100,000 individuals are reported in the past seven days, per CDC standards. Statewide transmission risk also runs high at 279 per 100,000, CDC data show. The positivity rate falls between 15% and 19.9%.
Considering those numbers, COVID-19 transmissions originating from the fair are likely, if not a sure thing, Anderson said.
