ABILENE, TX — It’s been just a little over a year since Taylor County had its first COVID-19 case.
As of Wednesday, there have been over 7,000 cases and just under 400 deaths.
“As of April 2nd in Texas there have been over 11.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered.” said Annette Lerma, Abilene-Taylor County public health director.
More than 70,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Taylor County.
About a quarter of the people in Taylor County who are eligible to get their shots are vaccinated.
Universities all across the U.S. including Abilene Christian University are planning for an in-person fall semester.
Lerma tells KTXS they are working to help them get an extra layer of protection.
“With ACU we’ll be transferring some vaccine over so they can hold an immunization clinic for their staff, personnel and students,” said Lerma. “So that we can continue to get people immunized, and I think that will really help.”
With new strains, like the UK strain, spreading rapidly across the U.S. the Abilene-Taylor County Public Heath Department is watching the numbers closely.
“We’ll wait and see, but at this point we’ve got at least one or two tick marks going back up in the wrong direction.” said Lerma.
Health officials are hammering hard to get people vaccinated.