The highly virulent Delta variant of COVID-19 made its way through Kingfisher County over the last couple of months, but appears to be on the decline and vaccine numbers are up.

That was the message Maggie Jackson, community engagement and planning director for the state health department, told Kingfisher Lions last week.

Jackson, whose district includes Kingfisher, Blaine, Garfield, Grant, Logan and Major counties, presented a brief update on the disease and its impact in the county.

Two of the charts she included in her PowerPoint presentation (shown on Page 1) illustrated the county’s infection, recovery and death rates since May 2020 and the number of county residents who are partially or completely vaccinated.

While she didn’t draw a correlation between the two opposite trends (vaccines up, infections down), Jackson said data continues to support the importance of vaccines.

“Overall, data showes more and more that those who are vaccinated have less risk of infection, hospitalization and death than those who are not,” she said.

“Vaccines protect you and they protect those around you.”

Jackson said that everyone who is vaccinated can expect some side effects, “but it’s very rare to have a serious side effect like an anaphlactic reaction.”

She also said that booster vaccines are recommended to those who are over age 65 or immunocompromised.

Pfizer boosters are currently available at the county health department.

Jackson also discussed other programs being offered through the health department, including mobile clinics in other communities to “take our show on the road.”