Ag workers’ departure has impact
Okanogan County recorded just 35 COVID cases in the week ending Dec. 12, continuing a trend of infections leveling off at about half the case rate seen in November, according to Okanogan County Public Health.
The current two-week incidence rate of 213 per 100,000 population is a steep decline from the most-recent peak of infections with the Delta variant in September and October, when the county’s incidence rate was over 1,000.
For the vaccinated population, the incidence rate is now just 33, and for the unvaccinated population, it’s 447.
The departure of 5,300 agricultural workers, who were in the county temporarily through the H-2A visa program, has caused Okanogan County’s vaccination rate to plummet by 10 percentage points, revealing that only 46% of the county’s full-time residents are fully vaccinated. The H2-A program allows employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs. Since vaccines became available one year ago, Public Health has been tracking the percentage of county residents who have been vaccinated. The number had been inching up in recent weeks and was reported at 56.2% in early December.
The agricultural workers started leaving the county in October as the growing season drew to a close. As a result, Public Health recalculated the percentage of county residents who are fully vaccinated, meaning they have had at least two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The departure of these workers – who were concentrated in communities with orchards – has shifted vaccination rates throughout the county. Brewster had the highest rate at 93% but, without the extra population, Brewster’s vaccination rate dropped by more than half, to 44%.
Elmer City, with just 291 residents, is at the top of the list, with 84% of the population vaccinated. Winthrop is next, at 63%, followed by Coulee Dam at 62% and Mazama at 58%. Carlton is at 54% and Twisp is at 50%.
Wauconda (38% vaccinated) and Methow (37% vaccinated) have consistently been at the bottom of the list.
The state Department of Health has not adjusted its vaccination data to reflect the departure of the temporary workers, according to Public Health.
The new numbers put Okanogan County near the bottom of the list for the state, with just 10 counties with a lower vaccination rate. The lowest rate is in Stevens County, at 32.3%. Ferry is at 37.7%. San Juan County has the highest rate, at 75.7%, followed by King at 72%.
