The latest pandemic news is highly encouraging.

We have covid on the run. Case numbers are down. Fewer of us are dying. The pressure on health care workers is ebbing.

Lexington Medical Center covid cases are declining. The hospital reported 25 covid patients have died since Sept. 21, down 5 from the previous 7 days.

67 covid patients are being cared for, down from 192 this time last week. 61 of those patients are unvaccinated and 6 were vaccinated patients.

20 covid patients are in intensive care, down from 49 last week. 17 are unvaccinated and 3 are vaccinated.

The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 663 covid patients in Lexington County have died in the 18 months of the pandemic.

Almost 65% of them had other illnesses that weakened them.

To protect county residents, Lexington Medical Center offers covid-19 boosters for those who had initial Pfizer shots.

This is not for those who had Moderna or Johnson & Johnson shots. These providers have not yet offered boosters.

Pfizer boosters are available in the Health and Wellness Center at Brookland Baptist Church at 1066 Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Federal Drug Administration have approved Pfizer booster doses if you are age 65 or older or in long-term care.

If you are age 50 - 64 with other illnesses you should receive a booster at least 6 month after your 1st 2 Pfizer shots.

If age 18 - 49 with underlying conditions you may receive a booster at least 6 months after your primary series.

If 18 - 64 with increased risk of covid-19 exposure and transmission due to your work or other activities you may receive a booster at least 6 months after your 1st shots.

Not everyone is willing to get the shots for their own reasons.

Being vaccinated should be your choice and should not be dictated to you by alarmists in Washington or Columbia.

To comment, please email JerryBellune@yahoo.com

Getting the vaccine should be your choice, not over-reaching Washington politicians.