In an effort to increase herd immunity to COVID-19 virus, the Milam County Commissioners voted Monday at a special meeting to create an incentive program to get the youth of Milam County fully vaccinated.
The program, suggested by County Judge Steve Young, will offer the parents or primary custodian parent $250 to have each child in the household between the ages of 12 and 17 fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The money to pay for the venture will come from the American Rescue Plan Act that was signed into law in March of this year by President Joe Biden.
Money from that plan can be used for a number of things and one of those things is programs that motivate people to get vaccinated, the judge said.
“I think we ought to pay to get them vaccinated,” Young told the commissioners.
School-age children that are vaccinated have several pluses.
“They don’t have to quarantine if they have been vaccinated,” he said. “They can stay in school, keep playing sports and our herd immunity increases.”
He said that herd immunity in the county is at almost 45 percent and vaccinating as many of the estimated 2,400 in that age group would boost herd immunity in the county by 10 percent.
Barbara Vansa, who is the former county clerk, and is now working on the county’s COVID-19 team spoke in favor of incentive plan before the vote.
“I have been here since January. I have been taking calls from parents asking when can I get my kids vaccinated,” she said. “I think it would even help some of the parents get vaccinated, too. I just ask that the commissioners do this to help get our kids vaccinated.”
The new program is for residents of Milam County only.
The primary parents or custodial parent will be able to get the incentive check once they can show that their children have been given both shots of the vaccine.
“This is the best way to get our herd immunity up,” Young said. “It is hard to say we are doing something wrong because we are doing this for the kids. I know this is the best use of this money.”
Parents will have a chance to get their children that first shot Thursday. There will be a children’s clinic at the Milam County Health Department on Thursday. It will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the primary intent of vaccinating Milam County children, Young said.
Other children’s clinics will happen throughout the county starting next week, he said.
COVID-19 NUMBERS
1,473 total PCR cases
5 active PCR cases
1,097 antigen cases
1 active antigen cases
7 total active cases
0 hospitalized
0 on a ventilator
49 fatalities
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