Muskogee City Leaders Concerned By Low COVID-19 Vaccinations, Increasing Case Numbers

St. Francis Muskogee and the City of Muskogee are seeing low vaccination rates and higher COVID-19 numbers, now they are pushing for more vaccinations.

Thursday, July 22nd 2021, 6:17 pm

By: Amelia Mugavero

MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma -

Because the Delta variant is so much worse in rural areas, cities like Muskogee are continuing their push to get people vaccinated.

“The best way that we keep our community productive is to keep our community safe and vaccinated," Mayor Marlon Coleman told News on 6, "The virus not being eradicated as soon as people thought it would be is going to turn into something where they ignore it all together and that's concerning."

The health department says Muskogee is now in the red for rising COVID cases -- some of those cases are the delta variant. “Once we start to see the positivity rate increase, then we see hospitalizations increase and the death rate typically follows those two," Muskogee Saint Francis Executive Director Michele Keeling added.

Keeling says COVID cases at all Saint Francis hospitals have more than doubled in just 10 days. For Muskogee Saint Francis --- the cases have quadrupled in the same period. Keeling says another concern is the increase in cases with younger age groups.

"This time last year the average age was well over 65 and now it's well under 67 and we are seeing more young people with very severe illness.”

“This seems to be a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Most of the people hospitals are seeing now are the citizens that have not been vaccinated and have the most severe symptoms," Taylor Evans with Muskogee Emergency Management said.

“it's not that covid is lethal for the younger population but if they take up all the beds its going to make it difficult for us to find beds for the critical patients," said Laurel Havens, Muskogee County EMS

State Health Department regional epidemiologist, Daniel Ortiz, explained more about the Delta variant. "It is 50% more contagious that the first strain -– more severe generally speaking in its infections," said Ortiz.

Ortiz says the vaccine works even against the new strain. “We do know that current COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the current strain of COVID, so that reinforced the point of getting fully vaccinated and getting both doses of the vaccine," Ortiz added.

There are 25 vaccination sites in Muskogee County. The city of Muskogee has partnered with local pharmacies to help distribute COVID-19 vaccines to the residents of the city and county of Muskogee. Below are a few locations that are carrying the vaccine in stock.

Please contact the location of your choice for hours of operation and details:- You can also go to vaccines.gov and find the nearest vaccine site closest to you according to your zip code.

Ernie’s Pharmacy & Wellness Center, Inc.

Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals of Muskogee

Economy Pharmacy Inc.

Fresenius Medical Care Tulsa, LLC dba FKC Muskogee Dialysis

Gaddy’s Discount Drug

Muskogee County Health Department

St. Francis Hospital in Muskogee

Scotts Valu-Med Pharmacy

AVVHealth Center Muskogee West

Eddie Warrior Correctional Center

Fort Gibson Medical Center

Neo Health - Muskogee