BEATRICE – Long-term care facilities and many first responders in Gage County have begun their second-round of vaccinations against Covid-19.
Gage County Emergency Manager Lisa Wiegand says Gage County’s virus positivity rate is around 29-percent, while the rate across all five counties of Public Health Solutions district is at 18-percent.

This week, a major snowstorm interrupted the schedule at a local Test Nebraska site.  Wiegand gave an update to county officials Wednesday, on vaccine arriving.


"We have seven hundred doses for the next four weeks that have been allocated to the Public Health Solutions District which is five counties. We as Gage County will be receiving two hundred of those doses. Out of those two hundred doses, they'll be managed by Beatrice Community Hospital through the immunization program."


Thursday and Friday, vaccine is being given to persons age 90 and older, through appointments made on Wednesday through a hotline number.
"Next week, it'll be the same thing. Registration opens up for the immunization of 90-plus and then they call a one-eight-hundred number...set up the appointment, go to the immunization clinic and then receive their immunization. That will keep going until they move to the 80-plus...and then again, down to the 70-plus."


Statewide, those 65 and older have been designated as the priority group for vaccine until more doses are received. The immunizations are being given at a clinic located at 10th and Jackson, in Beatrice.


"We are getting through emergency managers...we're hearing that some of the businesses are adding incentives on....cash incentives for taking the vaccination, so that will be interesting to see how that unfolds. I know two companies that are giving one hundred dollar bonuses for those employees who elect to take that immunization."


Public Health Solutions has been operating a registry system for vaccinations, which rolls over into a state registry.