The rate of people getting their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has more than doubled over the past two weeks in Hamilton County and the surrounding area of Southeast Tennessee as the delta variant drives an increase in hospitalizations and new cases.
The 12-county region surrounding Hamilton that includes Bledsoe, Bradley, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie counties is averaging more than 940 first-dose shots a day in the past week, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Health. During the first week of July, the seven-day average for the same area was less than 300 first-dose shots a day.
Dr. Lisa Piercey, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, said during a Monday news briefing that 94 of Tennessee's 95 counties experienced an increase in vaccine demand in the past few weeks.
"A lot of Tennesseeans who have been hesitant are now saying, you know what, I'm ready," Piercey said. "And there's a lot of different reasons for that, but at the end of the day we are vaccinating more Tennesseans and that is very encouraging."
Becky Barnes, administrator for the Hamilton County Health Department, said there are a variety of reasons why more people are getting vaccinated in recent weeks.
"Certainly, the recent rise in new cases has been a reminder that the pandemic is not over and has increased vaccinations," Barnes said in a statement.
Vaccine demand is increasing nationwide. On Monday, the United States reached President Joe Biden's goal of 70% of the country having at least one dose, although the president initially said he wanted the mark reached by July 4.
Hamilton County is averaging more than 500 first-dose shots a day in the past week, according to data from the state health department. The county was averaging around 150 first-dose shots a day about three weeks ago.
Though the vaccination rate is increasing in Hamilton County and across Southeast Tennessee, the recent demand for doses is a fraction of the rate at which residents were getting shots during the early part of 2021. The demand for doses peaked on March 16 when the region averaged 3,646 first doses a day in a week.
While the number of shots in arms is again increasing, so are new cases and hospitalizations. Piercey said more than 80% of new cases are linked to the highly contagious delta variant. On Monday, the Tennessee Medical Association said 96% of new infections were among the unvaccinated, with a similar percentage for recent COVID-19 deaths.
On Tuesday, the Hamilton County Health Department reported 97 hospitalizations with the virus, the highest total since February 5. The health department reported 156 new infections, and the county is averaging 141 new cases a day in the past week.
Piercey said Monday the statewide uptick in hospitalizations and cases has "not seen any signs of slowing."
Calls for vaccinations are echoing throughout local and state politics, with Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, encouraging those who are hesitant to get a dose. The 63-year-old representative battled a COVID-19 infection for nearly eight months, including 55 days on a hospital ventilator and a necessary liver transplant.
"To them, I would say COVID is real and it is very dangerous," Byrd said. "It is a disease that wants to kill us. Please take it seriously. Please consider getting vaccinated. This is an issue that should not divide us."
Mary Lambert, director of Chattanooga's Office of Community Health, said vaccines are still being offered in community centers, though the buildings remain closed to the public. The process now is slow - sometimes vaccinating only a handful of individuals at an event - but each additional shot is progress, Lambert said last week.
"We're trying everything that we can that's soundly based on science to get the correct information to folks and to get vaccination opportunities in places where people can conveniently get to in their neighborhoods," she said.
Contact Wyatt Massey at wmassey@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249. Follow him on Twitter @news4mass.