Monday March 29 COVID-19 update: Sarpy/Cass opens vaccine to ages 50+; Three Rivers vaccinating ages 18+

(WOWT) - Below are today’s vaccination updates as well as data reports on new cases and other COVID-19 stats reported by health officials across Nebraska and Iowa.

Keep scrolling to find helpful links and other information, including phone numbers to call for help getting signed up for your vaccine.

Douglas County cases update

The Douglas County Health Department on Monday reported it had confirmed 416 new positive cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, including 235 late-entry cases from data collected March 17-25.

The current local positivity rate is 21.3%, according to the health department release.

To date, DCHD has reported 66,376 cases, and 60,488 confirmed recoveries. The number of local COVID-19 deaths stands at 682.

DCHD also reported that local hospitals were at 71% occupancy, with 428 beds available; and that ICUs were 65% occupied, with 119 beds available.

According to the DCHD release, 73 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, 24 of them in the ICU. In addition, seven people confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 were on ventilators.

The county is also monitoring seven other people likely awaiting results of COVID-19 tests.

The rolling seven-day average is 117 cases.

Sarpy/Cass expands COVID-19 vaccinations to 50+

Sarpy/Cass County Health Department announced Monday it will begin taking appointments for residents ages 50 and older — those born in or before 1971 — on Tuesday.

The health district has several clinics available in April, with links to sign up for each one, on its registration website: sarpycasshealthdepartment.org/myturn.

Beginning tomorrow, March 30, Sarpy and Cass residents born in 1971 or earlier will be eligible to schedule an...
Posted by Sarpy/Cass Health Department on Monday, March 29, 2021

Three Rivers opening vaccinations to 18+

To help fill appointments at their COVID-19 vaccination clinics, Three Rivers Public Health Department is opening appointments to anyone ages 18 and older in Dodge, Saunders, and Washington counties.

Appointments are available at Methodist Fremont Health in Fremont, Memorial Community Hospital & Health System in Blair, and Saunders Medical Center in Wahoo.

Vaccine doses will also be available at the following pharmacies:

Ashland Pharmacy, 1401 Silver St.
Walmart, 1882 Holly St., Blair
Hy-Vee, 840 E. 23rd St., Fremont
Medicine Man Pharmacy, 748 N. Main St., North Bend
Scribner Drugstore, 416 Main St.

“(Three Rivers) is not using the state registration portal as it is not functioning fully,” the health department release states.

Instead, appointments can be made online at threeriverspublichealth.org. Dodge, Saunders, and Washington counties each have their own registration appointment links; Walmart and Hy-Vee vaccination also have their own registration portals.

Those without computer access can get assistance by calling 402-727-5396.

🙌🙌ATTENTION 3RPHD RESIDENTS!🙌🙌 Big changes are happening in our area in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine. ...
Posted by Three Rivers Public Health Department, Nebraska on Monday, March 29, 2021

Three Rivers reports UK variant cases

Three Rivers Public Health Department on Monday reported it had confirmed two new cases of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant, known as the UK variant, in Dodge County.

The health district said it “is concerned because we know this variant spread more easily than other strains of the coronavirus,” Monday’s release states.

The new cases are the second and third cases of the UK variant reported in Dodge County by the health district, which has also confirmed a case there of the B.1.429 variant, also known as the California variant.

“This reminds us that the pandemic is not over and that we need individuals to stay home when sick, avoid crowds, wear masks in public, and see a COVID-19 vaccine when able,” health district Director Erra Uhing said in the release.

According to its website, the health district has confirmed 9,172 positive COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, 22 of them in the last week, and 79 in the past two weeks. So far, 8,962 there have recovered from the virus. Seventy are hospitalized with COVID-19, and 16 are on ventilators.

The Three Rivers website also reports that 116 residents have died as a result of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Lincoln-Lancaster reports one death

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department reported 41 new COVID-19 cases and one new death. The total number of cases in the county is 29,518 and the total number of deaths is 226.

Nebraska vaccinates more than 100,000 people again last week

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Health officials say nearly 106,000 COVID-19 vaccine shots were administered in Nebraska last week, and that total was roughly in line with the previous week. The state said Monday that 20.9% of Nebraska’s population over 16 has now been fully vaccinated. Most of those shots are being distributed by local health officials who are focused on vaccinating everyone aged 50 and older, but several public health districts across rural parts of the state have opened up vaccinations to all adults. Rural areas have been able to expand vaccine eligibility faster because they have fewer people in priority groups such as health care workers and educators.

Some Iowa vaccine locations open appointments for all

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A week before Gov. Kim Reynolds officially makes all adult Iowans eligible for coronavirus vaccinations, public health officials acknowledged some counties have already started providing the shots to everyone over age 16. In northwest Iowa’s Humboldt County, for example, public health officials announced they would hold mass vaccination clinics on Wednesday and Thursday for anyone age 16 and up. Public health officials said they have 650 doses of the Pfizer vaccine available. The state had planned to open vaccines to everyone above age 16 next Monday. Iowa on Monday reported 110 new confirmed cases and seven additional deaths.

Join @ScienceCafesNE for tomorrow's discussion on how to deal with anxiety during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/X2vLQ1H7dH
— University of Nebraska Medical Center (@unmc) March 29, 2021

Join us today for the CDC COVID-19 Partner Update call, Understanding the Impact of Telehealth Usage During the COVID-19...
Posted by CDC on Monday, March 29, 2021

Vaccination clinics

Nebraska DHHS

North Omaha: These clinics will distribute 400 vaccinations each Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha campus located at North 32nd Street and Sorensen Parkway. Appointments will be made through the state’s vaccination registry.

Federal Retail Pharmacy Program: Starting Monday, Nebraska pharmacies that are in the federal pharmacy program will begin vaccinating people 18 and up, according to a Friday night news release from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

These vaccination appointments will be made through the state’s vaccination registry.

Pharmacies in and near the Omaha-metro area currently participating in the program include:

Medicine Man Pharmacy, 15615 Pacific St. Suite 8, Omaha NE 668118
Think Aksarben Pharmacy LLC, 710 W. Center Road, Omaha NE 68106
ViaRx, 825 N. 90th St., Omaha NE 68114
Walmart, 3010 E. 23rd St., Fremont NE 68025

Pharmacies in and near the Omaha-metro area that will be added to this list include:

The Nebraska Medical Center Bellevue Pharmacy, 2510 Bellevue Md. Ctr. Dr. Ste 100, Bellevue NE 68123
Hy-Vee Pharmacy, 5150 Center, Omaha NE 68106 NE
Hy-Vee Pharmacy, 1000 South 178th St., Omaha NE 68118
Hy-Vee Pharmacy, 14591 Stony Brook Blvd., Omaha NE 68137
Nebraska Medicine Pharmacy at Lauritzen Outpatient Center, 4014 Leavenworth St., Omaha NE 68198

Douglas County

Until further notice, Douglas County clinics will provide COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible residents weekly at the following times and locations:

TUE/WED – Christ Community Church, located at 404 S. 108th St. Clinics will provide vaccinations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WED – CHI Immanuel Medical Center, located at 72nd Street and Sorensen Parkway. Vaccinations will be given from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WED – Miracle Hills clinic, located at 720 N. 114th St. Vaccinations will be administered by appointment from noon to 6 p.m. The clinics are offered by the Douglas County Health Department and Methodist Hospital.
THU – Nebraska Medicine Testing & Vaccination Clinic, located at 144th Street and Millard Avenue. Vaccinations will be given from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.
FRI – CHI Immanuel Medical Center, located at 72nd Street and Sorensen Parkway. Vaccinations will be given from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SAT – Creighton University’s Rasmussen Center, located at 702 N. 17th St. Vaccinations will be administered from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
SAT – Miracle Hills clinic, located at 720 N. 114th St. Vaccinations will be administered by appointment from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The clinics are offered by the Douglas County Health Department and Methodist Hospital.
SUN – Nebraska Medicine Testing & Vaccination Clinic, located at 144th Street and Millard Avenue. Vaccinations will be given from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

VETERANS: Any eligible veterans can go to the Omaha VA Medical Center’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics’ walk-in hours from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at the new Ambulatory Care Center.

LA VISTA CLINICS: A first-dose clinic will be held Sunday, March 28, at the Embassy Suites LaVista Conference Center, located at 12520 Westport Parkway, with the second-dose clinic set for three weeks later, on April 18. Register online.

Sarpy/Cass County

Sarpy/Cass County Health Department is planning several vaccination clinics in upcoming weeks from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the dates below for residents born in 1961 or earlier, and Phase 1A and 1B populations. Get the link to sign up for an appointment on the health department’s website.

WED March 24 – La Vista Conference Center (Embassy Suites), located at 12520 Westport Parkway.
TUE March 30 – Beardmore Event Center (Courtyard by Marriott), located at 3730 Raynor Parkway, Bellevue.
TUE April 6 – Beardmore Event Center (Courtyard by Marriott), located at 3730 Raynor Parkway, Bellevue.
WED April 7 – La Vista Conference Center (Embassy Suites), located at 12520 Westport Parkway.

LA VISTA CLINICS: A first-dose clinic will be held Sunday at the Embassy Suites LaVista Conference Center, located at 12520 Westport Parkway, with the second-dose clinic set for three weeks later, on April 18. Register online.

Off-line help

NEBRASKA VACCINE HOTLINE: Gov. Pete Ricketts has asked Nebraskans to call 402-552-6645 or toll-free at 833-998-2275 for more information on the Nebraska COVID-19 vaccination process. DO NOT call your local health department.

TEST NEBRASKA HOTLINE: To get answers about Test Nebraska tests, results, communications, etc., call 402-207-9377.

IOWA VACCINE HOTLINE: Older or home-bound Iowans looking for help scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination appointment can call 1-866-468-7887 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; or contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-328-2540 or 1-800-432-9209.

REFERENCE NOTE -- 6 News pulls data from Nebraska and Iowa COVID-19 dashboards at 6 p.m. daily. Other reports in this post come from official news releases from area health departments and other authorities as stated.