With just 47% of residents fully vaccinated and COVID-19 transmission rates ranked "high," Sullivan County health officials are stepping up efforts to get more residents vaccinated.

The county is offering a $5 coupon to anyone who gets the COVID shot at the county vaccination clinic that is held starting at 2 p.m. every Wednesday at the Public Health Services building in Liberty.

The coupon can be redeemed at any Sullivan Fresh Farmers Market.

According to the county Public Health Department, there’s been a more than 100% increase in individuals in quarantine, and an 80% jump in the number of active cases in the county.

"We are seeing an increase in cases, quite a rapid increase, since the last week, especially," said Nancy McGraw, Sullivan County public health director. "We’re assuming that the delta variant is widespread."

Echoing CDC guidance, McGraw is advising all Sullivan County residents to wear masks indoors and in crowded settings, even if they are vaccinated.

"The number one thing is to get vaccinated because then your risk is so much less, even if you do test positive or become ill, your symptoms are going to become very mild," said McGraw.

Victor Ocasio got his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the clinic on Wednesday. He says his mother was the one who pushed him to sign up for the shot.

"She told me it’s better if I do it because I’m diabetic," said Ocasio.

He held out for a few months because of things he’s read online about the vaccine.

"I’ve been in denial to get it because all the bad things, all the news that’s going around about the vaccine," said Ocasio. "It’s better to take it now than later on down the road."

The nurses that have worked to vaccinate hundreds of residents at the county clinic for the past few months are no strangers to vaccine hesitancy.

"If there’s questions if you have concerns, please reach out to public health. Call us. We'll answer your questions, if we don’t have the answers, well find the answer," said Beverly Franskevicz, supervising public health nurse at the clinic. "The shots do work. I would prefer that more people get vaccinated. That’s the only way that were going to stop the spread of this."