'This dern disease': Facing rising COVID numbers and vaccine resistance, STC partners with Hidalgo

[TexasTowelie]

‘This dern disease’: Facing rising COVID numbers and vaccine resistance, STC partners with Hidalgo County


McALLEN — Facing rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, along with slowing vaccination rates, Hidalgo County and South Texas College announced a partnership Wednesday they expect will increase vaccination rates and bolster the area’s pandemic preparedness.

County and STC officials at the event described the college using its vocational nursing, associate degree nursing and paramedic students to hold vaccination drives at campuses. They described students serving as front-line vaccinators, along with taking part in outreach campaigns and block walking in an effort to reach unvaccinated populations — particularly the 18- to 35-year-old age group.

“Who better to go out and help educate than young students with a lot of desire to educate the community?” Hidalgo County Health and Human Services CEO Eddie Olivarez said.

Olivarez and County Judge Richard F. Cortez painted a grim picture.

There are currently 25 COVID-19 infected children in pediatrics in hospitals, Olivarez said, seven of them in intensive care units. He said the third wave of the pandemic is upon us.

Read more: https://myrgv.com/featured/2021/08/04/this-dern-disease-facing-rising-covid-numbers-and-vaccine-resistance-stc-partners-with-hidalgo-county/