LAWTON – Comanche County hospital executives are pleading with residents to take the COVID-19 vaccinations to curtail the number of patients battling the deadly virus.
Hospital officials also know the combination of COVID-19 cases and the new flu season could create more patient admissions than medical personnel can handle.
“With flu season upon us, it’s even more important we do what we can to minimize the risk of infection,” said Jayne Thomas, chief nursing officer at Southwestern Medical Center in Lawton. “Last year’s flu cases were historically low, due largely in part to widespread practice of safety measures to combat COVID-19 – school closures, mask wearing and social distancing. With less common practice of those measures the past several months, we could see an uptick in flu cases.”
The website www.covidactnow.org reported 60% of Comanche County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Southwestern Medical Center experienced a 12% decrease in COVID-19-positive patient admissions in the last week. At its peak, 42% of the admitted patient population tested positive for the virus.
However, the figures from Comanche County Memorial Hospital (CCMH) tells another story. The numbers are consistent with a high level of ICU patients who are unvaccinated. According to the hospital, 37 of the 41 COVID-19 patients in the hospital are unvaccinated while another 21 patients are waiting for an open bed. In addition, all 12 of the ICU patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis are unvaccinated.
Heather Love, director of quality and safety at CCMH, said it’s critical that eligible residents get the vaccine.
“It’s not just for them, but for the people they work with, their families and the kiddos who can’t get the vaccine yet,” she said. “And yes, flu season is upon us so that creates another challenge with COVID and the flu.”
Although top government officials, including President Joe Biden, have urged the public to take the vaccine, many Americans still refuse. Government figures show 56.4% of Americans are fully vaccinated. In Oklahoma, only 47% of residents have been fully vaccinated.
CCMH constructed a large tent three weeks ago to deal with a potential COVID-19 influx, but it’s been used only for waiting room overflow instead of patient care, Love said.
Meanwhile, Lawton Public Schools shows five staff members and 24 students remain isolated because of a positive COVID-19 test as of Sept. 28. In addition, three staff members and 111 students are quarantined because of a close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Since school began on Aug. 12, more than 400 COVID-19 positive tests have been reported among staff members and students.
District officials took action to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis Sept. 13 when they initiated a mask mandate for students and teachers.
“The safety of our school family is our greatest priority and the rise in cases of COVID-19 in our community made this difficult decision necessary,” Lawton Superintendent Kevin Hime wrote in a letter to parents.
Masks will be required in all indoor locations of the schools and on LPS school buses. Masks will not be required while eating and drinking.
Hime was not available for comment Wednesday.