CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – As the area once again surpasses 2,000 active COVID-19 cases, Montgomery is the least vaccinated county in the state, with only 1.5 percent of the population having received the first dose of the vaccine.

This data comes from the Tennessee COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting dashboard, which is run by the Tennessee Department of Health, and this information was last updated on Thursday, Jan. 7. It shows that the totals are based on reported doses to the state immunization information system (TennIIS) and 2019 county population data.

Other nearby counties are reaching well into the 2% to 3% margins, with Stewart having 3% of their population receiving the first inoculation. Davidson’s vaccination total is 2.92%, and Houston has vaccinated 4.07% of their population.

Health Department responds

When asked about the low percentage, Montgomery County Director of Health Joey Smith said a few factors account for this.

“We know that some counties may have a higher concentration of people that are in the 1a1 phase,” Smith said, which would increase the number of people being vaccinated. “Some counties were allocated more vaccine based on the SVI (Social Vulnerability Index),” he continued.

The index, which was used by the state to determine distribution, identified 29 counties in Tennessee as “distressed” and provided more vaccines to those counties. Montgomery was not one of them.

To date, the Montgomery County Health Department has received 2,875 doses of vaccine, and Tennova Healthcare Clarksville has received 1,675, according to Smith.

Since our last COVID-19 numbers update, the county has also lost 11 more residents to COVID-19 and has added over 1,000 new cases of the virus to the total since March.

How to get the vaccine

In response to widespread frustration with the vaccine rollout, the state of Tennessee added a new website portal and phone number to improve appointment services for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The vaccine registration website for Montgomery County is www.signupgenius.com/go/Montgomery_Priority_List. This website is open only to those who are 75 years or older, or qualify as a frontline worker under the priority list from the state.

Tennessee has now set up a call center with the number 866-442-5301 to assist in scheduling appointments. You can also call the Montgomery County Health Department at 931-648-5747.

COVID-19 numbers

Here are the Montgomery County numbers updated on the county’s dashboard for Monday, Jan. 11:

  •  13,456 total confirmed cases since March 6
  •  2,091 active cases
  •  198 total hospitalizations
  •  140 total deaths
  •  88,153 total negative lab results

Here are the 14-day trends for the last 28-day period, compiled by Montgomery County’s Director of Health, Joey Smith on Jan. 11:

In the last 14 days, Montgomery County has had

  • 2,380 new cases out of 7,230 tests
  • 11 Hospitalizations
  • 19 COVID-19 deaths
  • 250 new school-age cases (age 5-18)
  • 162.333 average of new cases daily

In the previous 14 days, Montgomery County had

  • 2,279 new cases out of 10,434 tests
  • 6 hospitalizations
  • 19 COVID-19 deaths
  • 336 new school-age cases (age 5-18)
  • 172.4 average of new cases daily

CMCSS’s dashboard, which is normally included in Clarksville Now’s weekly COVID-19 updates, does not show any data as all students are learning remotely until Jan. 25. However, the dashboard does state that there are currently 232 CMCSS employees on COVID-19 related leave.

Here are the Austin Peay State University numbers, according to their dashboard:

  • 19 students with confirmed cases
  • 12 students in quarantine
  • 13 staff and faculty members with confirmed cases
  • 12 staff and faculty members in quarantine

How to get a free COVID-19 test

Free COVID-19 testing is offered by the Montgomery County Health Department at Civitan Park, 650 Bellamy Lane, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Drive-thru testing is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and self-administered kits are now available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Follow the signs to the drive-up testing site.