The Comal County Commissioners Court on Aug. 12 approved the acceptance of $150,000 in grant funding to create a Community Health Educator position within the department of public health.

In addition to planning and coordinating clinics within the community, the educator will be responsible for planning education and outreach for the community, implementing programs to promote general health and administering immunizations, according to county documents.

Comal County commissioners previously approved the acceptance of grant funding for immunization outreach specialists and data entry clerks to assist with local COVID-19 vaccination efforts and to help track the coronavirus locally.

On Aug. 20, Comal County reported 195 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 14,701 reported since March of 2020.

In Comal County, 56.69% of residents have been fully vaccinated as of Aug. 20, accounting for 75,549 individuals. A total of 89,059 residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine.