Christian County has been singled out as having one of the lowest vaccination rates in the state, but city and county officials are disputing those numbers saying that Fort Campbell has not been included.
The state began listing county-by-county vaccination rates this month on its COVID-19 website. More than once, Governor Andy Beshear has singled out Christian County at his bi-weekly media conferences for having the lowest vaccination rate in the state at 17-percent.
Judge-executive Steve Tribble told the fiscal court this week he didn’t think that vaccinations at Fort Campbell were being included and didn’t think the county rate was accurate.
click to download audioChristian County Health Department Director Kayla Bebout also addressed the issue with the board of health this week and said they are trying to get the Fort Campbell vaccination numbers relayed to the state for counting purposes.
click to download audioBebout said the perceived low vaccination rate is not indicative of the work her staff has put in in both education and work at the regional vaccination site
click to download audioThe state COVID-19 website shows just over 12,500 Christian County residents have received at least one shot of a vaccine which equates to 17.3-percent. However, Colonel Patrick Birchfield, commander of Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, said during a Fort Campbell Town Hall Tuesday that 23,100 soldiers and civilians on the army post had been vaccinated with 41,300 receiving at least one shot. It’s not known how many live in Christian County or Montgomery County, Tennessee.
Even half of the Fort Campbell total would give Christian County a new vaccination rate of 32-percent.
Tribble said it’s important for the vaccination rate to be accurate, especially after the governor said counties under 20-percent may need to reconsider having large outdoor events and festivals.
click to download audioOfficials remained confused as to why Fort Campbell vaccination totals don’t appear to be counted in Christian County since the state switched to the federal COVID-19 vaccination reporting system earlier this month.
It’s not known to local officials how these soldiers are being counted toward the vaccination data.
