Esmeralda Guajardo, the county’s health administrator, said of the 3,049 cases, 719 were confirmed, 2,393 were probable and seven were confirmed via home tests. In Hidalgo County, 1,126 cases were reported in August, according to the Hidalgo County’s official Instagram page.
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Now that students have returned to class, COVID-19 cases have climbed in the Rio Grande Valley, with 3,049 reported in Cameron County and 1,126 in Hidalgo County last month, officials say.
Esmeralda Guajardo, Cameron County’s health administrator, said of the 3,049 cases, 719 were confirmed, 2,393 were probable and seven were confirmed via home tests.
COURTESY PHOTO
“Unfortunately, right now we are in a position where we are seeing an increase in COVID cases,” Guajardo said. “They have increased dramatically in the last month and a lot of it, of course, I can probably attribute it to school starting.”
Guajardo said the current number of individuals in hospitals due to COVID is considerably low, which she attributed to the number of people who are vaccinated and still have some immunity.
With a new vaccine waiting to be rolled out “sometime in the fall, maybe possibly September, October, a lot of people are going to wait until that one comes out [to get the vaccine again],” Guajardo said.
The UT Health RGV Student Health Center on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses will also offer the new vaccines later this year.
“We plan on making that available when it’s available to us,” said Glen Gray, director of Health Services. “I can’t tell you what the price will be on it, but it is the cost of the vaccine.”
President Joe Biden ended the COVID-19 national emergency on May 11.
“You can get [the vaccine] at no cost but once the state moves it to The Children Vaccine Program, we are going to treat it just like any other vaccine,” Guajardo said. “So, the cost can range but, as I understand it, they haven’t set a price yet for the private sector.”
Gray said any private health-care facility is going to have to charge for the vaccine because it is “no longer free to us, either.”
“I can’t tell you what Hidalgo County is going to charge, but it’s a reduced rate based on income at the Hidalgo County Health Department clinics,” he said.
The Rider tried to contact Eddie Olivares, chief administrative officer for Hidalgo County Health and Human Services through Carlos Sanchez, Hidalgo County Public Affairs Division director, but as of press time Friday, calls had not been returned.
However, Olivares stated in a news release posted on Hidalgo County’s official Instagram page, “As our children return to school, we must all be mindful that COVID remains active in our community and remains dangerous. We urge everyone to take the necessary precautions.”
Guajardo said the Texas Department of State Health Services Immunization Unit’s Adult Safety Net Program has many vaccines and those who meet the criteria can get it at no cost.
“Sometimes, and based on your income, we can charge an administrative fee of $8 for adults and $5 for children,” she said.
Gray said UTRGV Student Health charges patients what the vaccines cost the university.
“The COVID vaccines are rather expensive,” he said. “I think, right now, they’re around $80 or $82 per dose. We started charging in June.”
Health freshman Karen Pliego said, depending on the price, she would get a vaccine.
“If it’s reasonable, I would pay for it,” Pliego said.
“Any charges that may be generated go to your UTRGV student account and can be paid through ASSIST at any time later,” Gray said.
Cameron County has vaccines in stock that will provide protection against new strains, Guajardo said.
“But the new vaccine will be the one specifically for the new strains,” she said.
There are no places to get the COVID-19 vaccine for free, Guajardo said.
“It’s gonna be treated like any other vaccine,” she said. “So it all depends on whether a pharmacy, like Walgreens or CVS, decides they’re going to charge $10 like the flu shot. It’s going to be up to them because they have purchased it.”
Gray encourages students to use the clinics on campus.
“Students need to remember that they are paying for this clinic,” he said. “It’s their service; they need to use it. Don’t let not having a dollar in your pocket stop you from getting health care.”
Guajardo urges Cameron County residents to stay protected.
“The vaccine is the way to go about it, whether you want to wait or can wait,” she said. “You know your body; you know your health.”
