CLAY COUNTY — Sixty-two percent of the county’s seniors have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and the overall numbers are rising as younger demographics receive their doses.

Clay County’s total vaccination numbers will likely rise dramatically after April 5 because anyone 15 or older will be allowed to get the Pfizer vaccine in Florida. This opens the floodgate for the county’s younger populations who have been waiting their turn. With such a turn in tides of vaccine supply, Clay Today asked its readers if those originally against it had changed their mind. Those largely against it are still against it.

“Nope,” reader Debbie Thompson said. “Still haven’t gotten one and at this time. I don’t plan to.”

Reader Eydie Brandt told Thompson she also doesn’t want a vaccine, but she feels bullied by her daughter and husband who have received their shots. Kim Biddle said she has several friends that have received it and that despite that, she’s still saying “no way.”

Penny Logan said she was a “no” person before and still a “no” person. They also said they don’t get flu shots. Others such as Shayne Awais, Laura Kondroik and Daret Garcia said they weren’t getting the COVID-19 vaccine, either.

In theory, not everyone needs to get vaccinated against COVID-19 for the state and country to defeat it. Some aren’t vaccinated against Measles and yet, it’s not a problem that plagues the country because with 95% of the population vaccinated against it, the country has achieved herd immunity.

Scientists are still determining if herd immunity is the great savior against COVID-19 and those that predict it might happen suggest at least 80% the population must be vaccinated.

The others that responded to Clay Today’s Facebook Question of the Week are the ones helping the state hit that 80% number.

“I received the Pfizer vaccine,” Joan Warren said. “I still don’t understand why the government keeps ahold of the administration process when doctors’ offices are ready, willing and able to give out vaccines. Clay County gave some doses to Family Care Partners and it was wonderful.”

Warren said they called when they had doses they needed to use and she went right to them to get a dose. She said more vaccines need to be sent to doctors’ offices and pharmacies.

Have you received the vaccine? Are you planning to get it? Has your mind changed one way or the other on it and why? Let us know by responding to last week’s question and keep an eye out for this week’s Facebook Question of the Week on the official Clay Today Newspaper Facebook page.