COVID-19 in Kewaunee and Door counties: Vaccination rate slows as number of cases remains steady

Few people in Kewaunee and Door counties received a COVID-19 vaccine over the past two weeks, despite positive news from the state health department on its benefits.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 44 Door County residents received their first doses and 16 completed their vaccination process between Nov. 2 and 15, whether the two-dose vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

In Kewaunee County, 44 residents got their first shot while 20 completed the process over that span. In the two preceding weeks, 225 first doses and 180 completed cycles were administered in Door County while 126 first doses and 104 completed cycles took place in Kewaunee County.

DHS data shows that during October state residents who weren't fully vaccinated:

• Tested positive for the pandemic-causing virus 4.9 times more often than those fully vaccinated (2,255.1 cases per 100,000 people versus 456.4, respectively);
• Were hospitalized 10.8 times more often (132 per 100,000 versus 12);
• And died because of the virus 15.2 times more often (27.3 per 100,000 versus 1.8).

The webpage also noted that while some fully vaccinated residents did contract the virus (aka breakthrough cases), most of them reported a mild illness or no symptoms at all.

However, Door County continues to rank second out of the state's 72 counties in the percentage of its residents that have been vaccinated, with 70.2% of all residents and 80% of adults having completed the process. Only Dane County has higher percentages in both categories (71.7% of all residents, 83.1% of adults).

Kewaunee County continues to lag in percentages of vaccinated residents, with 46.3% of all residents and 55.9% of adults completing the cycle. Both figures rank among the bottom 15 of the state's counties.

Meanwhile, the DHS's latest ratings for COVID-19 activity by county have both Kewaunee and Door counties at "very high" levels, as they were two weeks ago, although the state rating also noted Kewaunee County's trajectory (the rate of change in the number of positive cases in a two-week period) advanced from "No significant change" to "Growing," now at a rate of 46%.

Kewaunee County's burden (the number of positive cases per 100,000 people in the county) increased but remained at a "very high" level, growing from 731.4 per 100,000 to 824.

Door County saw its activity figures fall slightly as it continues at a "very high" level. Its burden is 499 cases per 100,000 people, down from 577.5, and its trajectory continued with no significant change, meaning between 10% growth and 10% decrease.

In the two weeks from Nov. 2 to 15, Kewaunee County reported 116 new cases of the virus, compared to 90 over the two previous weeks, while Door County saw 106 new cases, same as the two weeks before. The percentage of tests for the virus that came back positive, one of the figures used by health organizations to determine the spread of the virus in a community, rose slightly in Kewaunee County, from 30.9% to 31.9%, while falling slightly in Door County, 22.5% to 21.5%.

Appointments are required for COVID-19 vaccines given by the Kewaunee County Public Health Department, which gives the shots Tuesdays and Fridays for ages 12 and older at its office. The department also is scheduling vaccine clinics for ages 5 to 11 and is open to giving vaccinations on location at local businesses, work sites or farms. For appointments or more information, call 920-388-7160.

The Door County Public Health Department will hold vaccine clinics for ages 5 to 11 on Dec. 2 on Washington Island and Dec. 8 in Sister Bay; appointments are required. It also will administer vaccines for ages 12 and older Dec. 16 in Sister Bay; appointments are required. For appointments or more information, call 920-746-7180 or visit bookdcph.timetap.com or co.door.wi.gov and click on the "COVID-19 Vaccine and Updates" bar at the top of the homepage.

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Statistics as of Nov. 15 (provided by the county and state health departments) are as follows:

Positive tests since Nov. 2 (includes probable cases):

• Kewaunee County, 34 in past week, 116 in past two weeks
• Door County, 40 in past week, 106 in two weeks

Negative tests since Nov. 1:

• Kewaunee, 195
• Door, 351

Percentage of positive tests (positivity rate):

• Kewaunee, 31.9%, up from 30.9%
• Door, 21.5%, down from 22.5%
• Wisconsin, 10.9%

Total positive tests:

• Kewaunee, 3,839, one in every 5.4 residents
• Door: 3,992, one in every 7.5 residents

Total negative tests:

• Kewaunee, 11,957
• Door, 18,650

Cumulative positivity rate since testing began:

• Kewaunee, 24.3% 
• Door, 15.3%

Deaths from COVID-19 complications:

• Kewaunee, 43, one in past two weeks
• Door, 34, one in past two weeks

Active cases:

• Kewaunee, 88; was 51 as of Nov. 1
• Door, 368; was 452 as of Oct. 18

Total vaccines given:

• Kewaunee (including other providers besides health department), 9,828 (48.1%) received at least one dose, 9,471 (46.3%) completed their cycles
• Door (including other providers besides health department), 20,355 (73.6%) received at least one dose, second-highest percentage in state (Dane County 74.8%), 19,420 (70.2%) both doses, second-most in state (Dane 71.7%)
• Wisconsin, 3,373,770 (57.9%) at least one dose, 3,210,102 (55.1%) completed their cycles

Vaccines for ages 18 and older:

• Kewaunee, 9,296 (57.9%) received at least one dose, 8,964 (55.9%) completed their cycles
• Door, 19,413 (83.8%) received at least one dose, 18,526 (80%) completed their cycles

Vaccine doses given in last two weeks:

• Kewaunee, 44 first doses, 21 completed their cycles; for adults, 40 first doses, 20 completed
• Door, 44 first doses, 16 completed their cycles; for adults, 44 first doses, 14 completed

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-741-7952, 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: COVID-19 in Kewaunee and Door counties: Vaccination rate slows as number of cases remains steady