In response to a growing statewide concern over a rapidly spreading COVID variant, local health officials are strongly advising Warren County residents to get vaccinated.

“We need more of our residents fully vaccinated to protect our community and our loved ones, especially with Missouri taking the lead in a sharp uptick in cases and rapid spread of the delta variant,” the Warren County Health Department stated last week. “(Delta) is infecting unvaccinated individuals at a quicker pace, it is much more transmissible, and causing more serious illness.”

Local health officials said cases of the delta variant haven’t been detected here yet, but that the state health department anticipates it will spread here soon, based on current trends in other parts of the state.

Missouri is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, attributed partly to the delta variant taking hold across many southwestern and northern counties. Unlike previous variants of the virus, the delta variant is seeing the greatest spread in rural communities, rather than urban areas, according to reporting by the Kansas City Star. Health officials are exploring whether lower vaccination rates in rural areas are facilitating the spread.

Although the impacts of COVID in Warren County have become less visible in recent months, the virus has never gone away. County health department data has shown the number of cases holding steady at more than 70 for several weeks running. With only about 32 percent of Warren County residents initiating COVID vaccination so far, local health workers worry that the county remains vulnerable to an outbreak of the more contagious variant.

“We encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated now, even if you already had COVID-19. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19,” said Warren County Health Administrator Stacey White. “Some people who get COVID-19 can become severely ill, which can result in hospitalization and some people have ongoing health problems several weeks or even longer after getting infected.  Even people who did not have symptoms when they were infected can have these ongoing health problems.  Getting vaccinated protects In response to a growing statewide concern over a rapidly spreading COVID variant, local health officials are stongly advising Warren County residents to get vaccinated.

“We need more of our residents fully vaccinated to protect our community and our loved ones, especially with Missouri taking the lead in a sharp uptick in cases and rapid spread of the delta variant,” the Warren County Health Department stated last week. “(Delta) is infecting unvaccinated individuals at a quicker pace, it is much more transmissible, and causing more serious illness.”

Local health officials said cases of the delta variant haven’t been detected here yet, but that the state health department anticipates it will spread here soon, based on current trends in other parts of the state.

Missouri is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, attributed partly to the delta variant taking hold across many southwestern and northern counties. Unlike previous variants of the virus, the delta variant is seeing the greatest spread in rural communities, rather than urban areas, according to reporting by the Kansas City Star. Health officials are exploring whether lower vaccination rates in rural areas are facilitating the spread.

Although the impacts of COVID in Warren County have become less visible in recent months, the virus has never gone away. County health department data has shown the number of cases holding steady at more than 70 for several weeks running. With only about 32 percent of Warren County residents initiating COVID vaccination so far, local health workers worry that the county remains vulnerable to an outbreak of the more contagious variant.

“We encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated now, even if you already had COVID-19. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19,” said Warren County Health Administrator Stacey White. “Some people who get COVID-19 can become severely ill, which can result in hospitalization and some people have ongoing health problems several weeks or even longer after getting infected.  Even people who did not have symptoms when they were infected can have these ongoing health problems.  Getting vaccinated protects yourself, your children who can’t get vaccinated, your friends, co-workers and your community.”

Warren County’s vaccination rate is relatively middle-of-the-pack compared to the rest of Missouri, but lower than most surrounding counties, according to data from the state health department. St. Louis, St. Charles and Franklin counties all have more than 40 percent of their population that have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine. Montgomery and Gasconade counties both have more than 35 percent initiating vaccination.

Lincoln County is Warren’s only neighbor with a lower vaccination rate, at 27 percent.

The Warren County Health Department is advising residents to take advantage of free Moderna vaccines offered at the health department office in Warrenton. The health department can be contacted to schedule a vaccination by calling 636-456-7474.

Moderna vaccines have only been approved for adults 18 and up. Children 12 and up can receive a Pfizer vaccine through regional healthcare networks — more information for those offerings is available at www.warrencountyhealth.com.