Rice County First COVID-19 Vaccines Given The Rice County Public Health Department reports the first COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. Sheriff Troy Dunn told us he would be joined by Faribault Fire Chief Dustin Dienst and other first responders on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. They were joined by 48 other people to receive their shots. Public Health Director Deb Purfeerst says, "We are excited to finally move into the next phase of pandemic response, vaccinating! Our first clinic ran very smoothly, a 100 percent show rate!" Rice County Public Health says in a news release they, "received their first shipment of 200 doses of COVID-19 vaccine last week and began vaccinating individuals in the Phase 1A Priority Group."