While nearly 40 percent of Island County residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, providers continue to make considerable efforts to inoculate as many people as possible.

Island Drug, one of the most successful vaccine providers in the region, is holding its third mass vaccination clinic Saturday in cooperation with Island County Department of Emergency Management and Whidbey first responders.

The clinic is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Oak Harbor High School. People 16 years of age and older are eligible.

The state Department of Health reports that 32,748 people in the county have received at least one dose while 24,000 people are fully vaccinated.

This week, six providers in the county received a total of 7,680 doses of the vaccines, according to Island County. They are WhidbeyHealth, Island Drug locations on both end of the island, Saars, Camano Fire and Island County Public Health.

Yet while more and more people are getting vaccinated, the rate of people with COVID-19 also increased in the county. The most recent count shows that there have been 1,534 confirmed cases, including 29 deaths. That’s 40 new cases and one additional death last week.

A case rate of 62.49 cases per 100,000 was calculated for the two-week period from April 1-14.

That’s up significantly from the rate of 42.44 per 100,000 in the period from March 25 to April 7.

Still, the county remains in Phase 3 of the reopening plan. Island County COVID Response Manager Don Mason reported that the county’s current metrics are well below the numbers that would trigger a return to Phase 2.