COVID-19 in Oneida County: With cases falling, here's where vaccines, tests are available

Update: This story has been modified to include more up-to-date information on local testing sites.

Kids ages 5 through 11 can get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots from the Oneida County Health Department and other area providers in keeping with the latest recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We recommend that families discuss the booster with their pediatrician,” said Dan Gilmore, director of the Oneida County Health Department, “and obtain the vaccine from their provider.”

But if they have a problem or if they don’t have a family doctor, the health department can provide COVID vaccinations and boosters in its Rome and Utica offices, Gilmore said.

As more pharmacies and other private providers offer COVID-19 vaccines, and home test kits have become available, the county health department has stepped back from running vaccination and testing sites at outside locations.

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“The need for the health department to conduct vaccination pods or to be open extra hours is no longer really there,” Gilmore said.

But the department still keeps track of what services are available and makes sure county residents get the help they need.

Here we outline the latest news and updates on the pandemic in Oneida County.

How are the county’s COVID-19 numbers?

The CDC considers Oneida County's community risk level, based on new cases and hospitalizations, to be medium.

Residents are advised to wear masks on public transportation and those at risk for serious illness from COVID-19 should consider wearing masks indoors in public.

Otsego, Lewis and Chenango counties are considered to be at the medium level, whereas Herkimer, Madison, Oswego and Onondaga counties are at the low level, where the CDC simply advises wearing masks on public transportation.

The number of cases in Oneida County rose in March and April, reaching a seven-day average of new cases daily peak of 66.5 per 100,000 residents on April 29. (At the pandemic’s peak Jan. 9, that average had been 222.4 cases per 100,000 residents.)

But the caseload, as well as the number of hospitalizations, has dropped off recently, Gilmore said. The seven-day average of daily cases was down to 25.7 per 100,000 residents Wednesday. That compares to 46.9 statewide, and 17.8 in Herkimer County, 19.8 in Madison County, 34.5 in Otsego County and 20 in Onondaga County.

Across the state, the seven-day average ranged from 12.9 cases per 100,000 residents in Seneca County to 60.5 cases per 100,000 residents in Nassau County.

How many people have been vaccinated?

In Oneida County, 72.9% of those ages 5 and oler (old enough to get vaccinated) have had at least one dose and 67% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. And 55.7% of those who are fully vaccinated have gotten a booster shot.

In Herkimer County, 68.3% of those 5 and older have had at least one shot and 62.7% are fully vaccinated.

That compares to 95% of the state population age 5 and older with at least one shot and 82.1% who are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Across the state, 46% of those who are fully vaccinated have had a booster shot.

Do I need any more shots?

Everyone age 5 and older should get the vaccine (two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one of Johnson & Johnson) and a booster shot (not necessarily of the same brand) unless the vaccine is medically contraindicated, according to the CDC.

Only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for children younger than 18, and children younger than 5 cannot be vaccinated.

A second booster is available to anyone 50 or older and those who are immunocompromised. Some immunocompromised people are also eligible for a third dose of the vaccine 28 days after they get their second shot (or only Johnson & Johnson shot).

Are COVID vaccines free?

The actual vaccine is free, but some providers may charge an administration fee or an office visit fee that may be covered by insurance. The county health department does not charge.

Where can I get the vaccine or a booster?

Many area health care providers now offer the shots to their patients. The county health department offers shots and boosters at its clinics at 406 Elizabeth St. in Utica and 300 W. Dominick St. in Rome. Appointments are preferred (call 315-798-5747), but walk-ins are accepted.

Most locations of area pharmacy chains — CVS, Hannaford, Kinney Drugs, Parkway Drugs, Price Chopper, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Walmart — offer shots with appointments preferred and, in many cases, required.

Upstate Family Health Center in Utica and Adirondack Internal Medicine & Pediatrics on Oxford Road in New Hartford also offer shots.

Visit vaccines.gov/search to find shots in other counties.

Is COVID-19 testing free?

Your insurance may cover the cost, depending on the situation and the kind of testing. It’s best to ask about cost first.

Where can I get tested?

Home test kits are available in area pharmacies. The health department gives them away for free, even delivering them in cases where mobility or transportation are issues.

Testing — usually by appointment only — is available at CVS in Clinton, Kinney Drugs in Clinton and Whitesboro, Parkway Drugs on Leland Avenue or Albany Street in Utica, Precision Labs (no appointment required) in Clinton and Primary Urgent Care in Utica (walk-ins only).

Visit coronavirus.health.ny.gov for testing sites across the state.

Amy Roth covers issues that affect families for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Amy Roth at aroth@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Oneida County COVID cases down; shots, tests widely available