ROCK SPRINGS — Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County (MHSC) officials confirm that more than 550 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to county residents as of today.
During the MHSC board meeting this afternoon, Kim White, MHSC’s Incident Commander for the hospital’s COVID-19 Preparedness Team, said as of this afternoon, 554 county residents have received vaccinations.
White said the hospital has been working closely with Sweetwater County Public Health to administer the vaccine and it has now moved on to Phase 1b.
CEO Irene Richardson said the hospital will be hosting a vaccination clinic for those over the age of 70 who want to receive vaccinations.
MHSC employees will start receiving their second dose of the vaccine next week, White said. The vaccine has a 94 percent effectiveness rating after the second dose according to information provided by the University of Utah, she added.
As for current COVID-19 hospital stats, the hospital has three COVID-19 related hospitalizations. So far, MHSC has completed 18,002 tests since the pandemic began with 2,142 of those testing positive for the virus.
Other Business
The board voted unanimously to hire Geoff Phillips as its new attorney after his father Jim Phillips resigned from the position. Phillips practices out of Evanston, Wyoming and is licensed in both Wyoming and Utah.
Richard Mathey said he would have like to see the board submit a request for proposals for attorneys seeking the position instead of having one candidate being recommended by the hospital’s CEO.
He said the attorney works for the board and not the CEO, and it would set a bad precedence if t Richardson selected the attorney. However, when it came time to vote, Mathey voted in favor.
Chairman Taylor Jones said normally he would agree with Mathey, but since Geoff Phillips has been working with the hospital with his father since 2017, he didn’t think they would find a more qualified candidate.
THE LATEST COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS NEWS & INFO FROM THE WYOMING DEPT. OF HEALTH
What to do if you feel sick: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and are showing symptoms, please call your primary care provider or seek medical attention.
Please follow these tips to slow the spread of this virus:
- Follow Public Health Orders
- Practice social distancing of 6 feet or more.
- Wear cloth face coverings in public settings, especially when physical distancing of at least 6 feet isn’t available.
- Stay home when sick and avoid other people unless you need medical attention.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Older people and those with health conditions that mean they have a higher chance of getting seriously ill should avoid close-contact situations.
- Long-term care and healthcare facilities should follow guidelines for infection control and prevention.
For current news, updates, closures and resources, please visit our COVID-19 Coronavirus page here.
