Listen Live

Podcast

Videos

Daily Newsletter

News

Hartman takes reins of COVID-19 response in Door County

Two years after the pandemic took hold of the entire world, you will find a new face heading up the efforts in Door County. Registered Nurse Bill Hartman has been growing into the role of the county’s COVID-19 Response Coordinator since January after a year of volunteering with the Door County Public Health Department to do testing and vaccinations. After 40 years in the nursing field, he was trying to retire when the pandemic started in 2020. His position is being funded by a grant received by the department to get staff refocused on other public health concerns in the community. He has been tasked with scheduling their weekly Tuesday vaccine clinics and keeping up with the ever-changing circumstances around COVID-19. He says the variants like the current Omicron subvariant BA.2 make it hard for the vaccines to catch up since they were developed to fight the original strain.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control issued a report about the risks surrounding COVID-19 infections and the second dose of the mRNA vaccinations related to developing myocarditis and other inflammatory heart conditions. While it is rare, people can develop conditions no matter the route, though it was more likely with those infected with the virus than those completing the series, according to the report. Parents have still been wary about having their kids vaccinated against COVID-19, with just above 30 percent of children ages 5-11 and 65 percent of those ages 12-17 receiving at least one dose. The county as a whole stands at over 78 percent at least partially vaccinated against the virus. Hartman understands what parents are going through, adding that the unpredictability of side effects makes it hard to gauge what the right thing is to do.

He does encourage those above the age of 50 and the immunocompromised to get the second booster shot if you are interested. Vaccine clinics are held every Tuesday at the Door County Government Center from 1-4 p.m. and the Sister Bay Fire Station on April 14th from 1-5 p.m.

Search Our Site

CANCELLATIONS

Current Weather

STURGEON BAY WEATHER

Poll

Has the increase in gas prices in the past three months impacted your travel plans?
Add a Comment
(Fields are Optional)

Your email address is never published.

Obituaries

Click Here for more Obituaries

Obituary posting fee is $25

Sports Poll

Newsletter

Sign up for our Daily Electronic Newspaper!

Plus, Get the latest updates for Local Sports, Obituaries and more delivered to your inbox!