Carroll County has seen an uptick in COVID-19 related deaths over the last month, according to data from the state health department, and officials are advising residents to update their vaccinations.
“Carroll County saw an increase in confirmed lab reports for COVID over the summer, but we have seen a decrease in the last couple of weeks,” Maggie Kunz, health planner with the Carroll County Health Department said. “Carroll County stayed at a low hospital admissions level as well, but we have seen an increase in COVID-related deaths in the last several weeks.”
As of Sept. 4, the most recent numbers available from the state, there have been 536 deaths in Carroll County attributed to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic in 2020. That number is up from 526 recorded deaths as of July 16.
COVID cases continue to increase in all parts of the U.S., with KP.3.1.1 being the predominant variant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We are promoting the updated COVID vaccines, which match more current strains of the virus,” Kunz said. “It’s important to get the updated vaccine because, like other vaccines, protection from the COVID-19 vaccine decreases with time and the new vaccines offer the best protection from current strains.”
But even those who are vaccinated have contracted the virus.
“The shots aren’t meant to prevent every COVID infection, but to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death,” she said. “People who recently had COVID may delay getting [another] vaccine for three months.”
The health department is expected to have a limited number of vaccines available this fall, which will be reserved for adults and children without health insurance.
More information will be available on the department’s website, https://health.maryland.gov/carroll/Pages/Flu-COVID-19-RSV-Vaccines.aspx.
Pharmacies in the county will also be administering vaccines for people 3 years of age and older, Kunz said.
People can search for nearby pharmacy information at https://www.vaccines.gov/en/.
