The number of new people getting vaccinated for COVID-19 in Hamilton County each day is about a third of what it was a month ago as the region grapples with the regional and nationwide problem of vaccine hesitancy and plummeting rates of new patients getting shots.
Over the past seven days, the county is averaging 458 new people receiving shots per day compared to the 1,206 people a day it averaged on April 7.
The Hamilton County Health Department is only operating one vaccination site now, at the Tennessee Riverpark, because of low demand. The CARTA Bus Barn and Enterprise South Nature Park, which were both used during peak demand for the vaccine, remain options if demand increases, said Becky Barnes, administrator for the county health department.
“We encourage everyone that has not gotten their vaccine to consider doing so to protect themselves and others,” Barnes said in a statement. “The vaccines have proven to be effective and safe and are preventing many people from severe COVID disease and death. More than 100 million Americans have already received at least one dose of the vaccine. We feel the time to get your vaccine is here.”
As of Thursday, 31.8% of the county was fully vaccinated, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Health.