CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – On Tuesday, the Clarksville-Montgomery County area surpassed 150,000 reported COVID-19 vaccines distributed in the area, according to information from both the Tennessee Department Health and Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital.

On May 3, the area surpassed 100,000 reported COVID-19 vaccines from both these sources, meaning over 50,000 vaccines were distributed in just the last month.

Breaking down the numbers

On June 8, data from TDH showed that 100,090 COVID-19 vaccinations have distributed in Montgomery County since Jan 4.

Laura Boyd, the public affairs officer at Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, told Clarksville Now that the hospital has administered over 52,200 COVID-19 vaccine doses. Out of these, more than 28,200 were first dose vaccines.

“When we combine Fort Campbell’s numbers, and just the numbers in (TDH’s reporting software), over 52% of our adults have received a (first dose) vaccination,” Montgomery County Health Director Joey Smith said. “And when I combine the number with individuals who have received both doses, from Fort Campbell and TDH, 44% of our eligible population have received both doses.”

The eligible population in Montgomery County is those who are 12 and older.

“We’re at 82,475 individuals that have at least had one dose of the vaccine,” Smith said. “We’re about 4,000 away from 50% of the eligible population having a vaccination in Montgomery County, and that’s everyone 12 and up.”

Signs of progress

According to Smith, in the last 60 days, there have been six deaths in Montgomery County. In the last 100 days, there have been 17 deaths. Although Smith said that even one death from COVID-19 was too great, both of these numbers display significant improvement.

“When looking at Jan. 17, which is when the first person in Montgomery County received their second dose, and you go 60 days out from that, we had 72 deaths in 60 days,” Smith said.

He said the decline of the death rate from COVID-19 is proof that the vaccine is working, and that the rate has not been this low since the end of last summer.

“I’ve looked at countless reports, and not just in the state, but nationwide, of how more than 99% of our hospitalizations that are occurring now are folks that just haven’t had their COVID vaccination,” Smith said. “I know that we could do a better job on that score if we can improve our vaccination percentage even more.”

Smith additionally said that it is still unknown how many vaccinations have been distributed in Montgomery County through the VA’s Tennessee Valley Healthcare system, or the pharmacies receiving federal vaccines like Walmart, Kroger and Walgreens. This means the number of vaccines distributed is likely much higher than 150,000.

“You know, this time last year we were only at three deaths. Three,” Smith said. “And then just a few months later, we were averaging one death a day.”

While the situation with COVID-19 is looking a lot better in Clarksville-Montgomery County, Smith said we’re still not off the hook in doing our part to keep the COVID-19 pandemic at bay.

“We have to maintain good hygiene. Continue practicing hand-washing, and don’t go out when you’re feeling ill,” Smith said.