Wednesday June 2 COVID-19 update: Get vaccinated at Benson’s First Friday

(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.

Vaccinate at First Friday

The Douglas County Health Department is providing Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses during Benson’s First Friday this week.

The clinic will be available from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Masonic Temple parking lot, located at 5901 Maple St. next to the Benson Art Gallery.

Pfizer clinic set for Saturday

DCHD is planning a Pfizer vaccination clinic this weekend for anyone ages 12 and older.

The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Centro Pastoral Tepeyac, located at 36th and Q streets.

Douglas County update

DCHD reported Wednesday that a man in his 80s and a woman in her 60s had died from COVID-19; neither person was vaccinated.

The total number of deaths in Douglas County that are pandemic-related is now 724.

DCHD also said it had confirmed 19 new positive tests, for a total of 71,863. The department said 67,109 county residents have recovered from the virus, to date. The seven-day rolling average is 11 cases.

During the past two weeks, the 17 new cases comprised five staff members and 12 students, the DCHD release states. There are also 74 people quarantining and 48 self-monitoring.

DCHD also reported Wednesday that hospitals were at 75% capacity, with 362 beds available; ICU beds were 63% full, with 125 beds available.

According to the release, 32 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, 10 in ICUs and seven of them on ventilators. The health department is also monitoring six other patients for signs of COVID-19.

57.5% of Douglas County Residents age 16+ are now FULLY VACCINATED and 63.5% have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Help bring this pandemic to an end! Get your vaccine!
Posted by Douglas County Health Department on Wednesday, June 2, 2021

If you missed the Board of Health interview with Dr. Lindsay Huse, the finalist for Director of the Douglas County Health Department, watch the replay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouTPsDVSWYY
Posted by Douglas County Health Department on Wednesday, June 2, 2021

If you get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you will need 2 shots for the most protection. For help...
Posted by CDC on Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Vaccination clinics

Nebraska DHHS

Federal Retail Pharmacy Program: 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

Douglas County

Douglas County COVID-19 vaccination clinics for eligible residents — including youth ages 12 and older — are offered walk-in or by appointment at the following locations:

CHI Immanuel Medical Center, located at 72nd Street and Sorensen Parkway.
Methodist Health System, 720 N. 114th St.
Nebraska Medicine Testing & Vaccination Clinic, located at 144th Street and Millard Avenue.
Creighton University’s Rasmussen Center, located at 702 N. 17th St.
Douglas County Health Department vaccination site – South Omaha, 3505 L St. (former Hy-Vee location). The site replaces the clinic formerly available at the Kroc Center. This location has been designated as a site for youth vaccinations. (Minors who wish to be vaccinated must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian in order to obtain the shot.

Around Omaha

DOWNTOWN CLINIC: TotalWellness Health and the Metropolitan Community Church, located at 819 S. 22nd St., are hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

CHURCH CLINIC: Metropolitan Community Chuch of Omaha will host a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. No ID is required, but a parent or guardian must be present at the clinic with teens ages 12-18.

DRIVE-THROUGH YOUTH CLINIC: Children’s Hospital is opening a drive-through clinic to get youth ages 12-16 their COVID-19 vaccinations. Those wanting to schedule a vaccination there should call their Children’s Physicians pediatrician; or call 402-955-SHOT. Appointments will be available between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

STOCKYARDS PLAZA WALK-IN CLINIC: COVID-19 vaccinations will be available to walk-ins — no appointment needed — from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at the clinic in the Stockyards Plaza, located at 35th and L streets. Other clinics may also take walk-ins during the week as they’re able.

MCC FORT OMAHA: Vaccinations also will be distributed Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha campus, located at 5300 N. 30th St. Appointments will be made through the county’s vaccination registry.

TOTAL WELLNESS: DCHD has been working with Total Wellness, located at 9320 H Court, to establish a vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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.

Three Rivers health district

In Dodge County, the Three Rivers Fremont location will be open for walk-ins from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday.
In Saunders County, the Three Rivers clinic in Lake Wanahoo is open to walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month.
In Washington County, the clinic at First Lutheran Church in Blair is open to walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

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.

DOUGLAS COUNTY HELPLINE: Local COVID-19 information, in Spanish and English, is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except holidays. Call 402-444-3400 for assistance.

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.