Where the Shelby County Health Department failed, the City of Memphis is so far succeeding as the authority over the local COVID-19 vaccination process. It’s a combination of leadership, an effective command system that touches all levels of the operation and a resolve to be accountable. 

The surge in vaccines administered means about 21.2% of Shelby County residents have received at least one shot. That exceeds the overall state population (20.8%), a notable change from the when the county initially lagged behind Tennessee.

At least 195,985 people in Shelby County have received one COVID-19 vaccine dose; 91,328 people have received two vaccine doses. A total of 287,313 doses have been administered in Shelby County.

Strong to severe storms are possible Saturday afternoon into early Sunday morning across the entire Mid-South area.

Today’s 119 cases come from 2,968 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 4%.

First and second doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available; Johnson and Johnson is also available.

“As many doses as I have on hand, that’s how many appointments I will have next week,” said City of Memphis COO Doug McGowen.

Watch the Shelby County COVID-19 Task Force Briefing live now.

New numbers reported March 25th gave the day a positivity rate of 3.6%.

The application process will open in early April; FEMA has not yet set the date.

The Shelby County Health Department reported more than 100 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, following two days of fewer than 100 new cases.

One-fifth of respondents have no plans to get a COVID vaccine; nearly another 20% are on the fence.

Shelby County’s reproductive rate rose to 1 last week for the first time in 2021, indicating cases are again increasing, likely due to the highly contagious U.K. variant. 

Watch the Shelby County COVID-19 Task Force Briefing live now. 

The Shelby County Health Department reported 85 new coronavirus cases and zero new coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday, March 23. 

Cases of COVID-19 fell steadily in January and February. The plateau now is very likely due to the U.K. variant pulling the numbers up again, Dr. Manoj Jain says.

All residents age 16 and older will be eligible to get vaccine appointments beginning next week, Shelby County Health Department Deputy Director David Sweat told county commissioners Monday afternoon, March 22.

About 12% of patients in area ICU beds were either COVID-positive or suspected of having the novel coronavirus.

When Shelby County Schools students entered their school buildings this month, many did so for the first time in about a year. But children attending smaller suburban municipal districts had been back for months.

Severe COVID disease in infants is rare, but antibodies may protect them from transmitting to others.

At least 172,804 people in Shelby County have received one COVID-19 vaccine dose; 74,348 people have received two vaccine doses. A total of 247,152 doses have been administered in Shelby County.

Local people share how they got their vaccine in the Mid-South.

Greater access through more public sites and pop-up events combined with higher vaccine allotments from the state and declining wait times are three reasons attributed to the changes in recent weeks.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 150 new coronavirus cases and two additional virus-related deaths Saturday, March 20.

The pilot is designed to get logistics down in a house-to-house vaccination effort, the most expensive way by far to deliver vaccination doses.