Of the 39 percent of adults who are unvaccinated, about half say they are completely unwilling. But even within that group, some say they would comply if required to do so.
Understand the State of Vaccine Mandates in the U.S.
Some are hesitant and may come around with the right persuasion from people they trust, while still others plan to be inoculated but say they have just not had the chance.
Politics is a driver for only some of these people, noted Dr. Richard Besser, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In New Jersey, where he lives, the rates vary drastically because of socioeconomic factors. In mostly white Princeton, 75 percent of adults are immunized, versus 45 percent in Trenton, just 14 miles away, which is heavily Black and Latino.
Both are strong Democratic areas, so its really important to break things down and to address the issues that are impeding vaccination progress in each segment of the unvaccinated population, Dr. Besser said.
Still, there is no doubt that the political divide is playing a role in rising infection rates. From the start, vaccinations in counties that voted for Donald J. Trump lagged those in counties that voted for Joseph R. Biden, and the gap has only widened from two percentage points in April to nearly 12 points now, according to one recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Nationwide, 86 percent of Democrats have had at least one shot, compared with 52 percent of Republicans, according to another poll. Even the national goal of having 70 percent of adults vaccinated by July 4 somehow became Bidens goal, said Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy and Research at Boston University.
All of a sudden, even getting out of pandemic became a left versus right issue.
Fewer than half of House Republicans are vaccinated as of May, compared with 100 percent of congressional Democrats. For months, some Republican lawmakers including Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky, and conservative news commentators like Tucker Carlson, have voiced their skepticism of vaccines, loudly and insistently.
Vaccinated people can still get infected, but the majority of cases will be mild or asymptomatic.
Coronavirus infections are rising throughout the US again (nearly 69,000 new casesin one day) due to the highly contagiousdelta variant, and the virus is particularly impacting areas with low vaccination rates.More caseshave started to be reported of fully vaccinated people contracting the virus. So, if you're fully vaccinated, should you be worried about getting COVID-19? Not necessarily, but don't throw away your face masks yet.
Currently,162 million peoplein the US have been fully vaccinated, nearly half of the country's total population. But across the globe only13.3% of peoplehave been fully vaccinated. That means more than 86% of the total global population has the potential to spread COVID-19, causing new variants like delta andlambdato emerge that can potentially infect everyone. Yet as troubling as they may appear, breakthrough infections among the fully vaccinated are quite uncommon, and the likelihood of serious illness or hospitalization is still low.
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We'll explain what a breakthrough coronavirus infection is, how it's possible for fully vaccinated people to become infected, and what it means. This information comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and other experts.
A breakthrough COVID-19 infection happens when a fully vaccinated person becomes infected with the coronavirus, experiences symptoms, is hospitalized or dies from the infection. While rare, a small percentage of fully vaccinated people can get COVID-19 if exposed to the virus, but they're much less likely to become sick, according to the CDC.
If someone's fully vaccinated and does test positive for coronavirus, it's likely they'll have mild symptoms (see below) or be asymptomatic, Dr. Clare Rock, a Johns Hopkins medical professor, told me on the phone.
It isn't yet clear what role vaccinated people with COVID-19 might play in spreading infections. If you do become ill, experts urge you to isolate yourself to prevent others from getting sick -- especially people with medical vulnerabilities.
Now playing: Watch this: What to do if you lose your vaccination card, and how...
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Someone can become infected with COVID-19 just before or right after they get the vaccination, as it takes roughly two weeks before the vaccine is most effective. However, even after the immunity builds up, there's still a chance they can become infected, according to the WHO, since the vaccines aren't silver bullets against any disease (Moderna and Pfizer are over 90% effective).
While there are still millions of unvaccinated people around the world, new variants will emerge, Rock says. For example, the delta variant currently circulating can still pose a threat to people who have received full vaccination -- especially those who have high risk medical conditions. This can potentially lead to hospitalization or even death (more below).
It's very rare for someone who's fully vaccinated to experience severe symptoms from COVID-19. People who have received both doses of the vaccine are less likely to be hospitalized or die than those who haven't been vaccinated,the CDC says. Vaccinated people typically see symptoms like a runny nose, which they mistake as a common cold, Rock said.
But that's not to say it can't happen. The CDC says some fully vaccinated people can still be hospitalized and die. This can include people who have medical conditions that make them immunocompromised, Rock said, including those with cancer and people who have had organ transplants -- in general, people who are more vulnerable.
It's rare but possible for a fully vaccinated person to become infected with COVID-19.
If you're fully vaccinated but worried about getting sick, you can take the following precautions.
At this time, there's not a clear answer. While some say a booster shot may be necessary in the future, the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration don't agree -- at least not yet. Scientists are continuing to study the immunity of fully vaccinated people to get a better idea of how well the vaccines protect them.
However, Moderna is currently researching if and when a booster shot may be necessary. For instance, vulnerable people who don't have a robust immune system -- such as those with serious medical conditions -- may need an additional shot, Rock said.
Pfizer says it's working on a booster shot for its COVID-19 vaccine (PDF) to enhance immunity for those who have already received both doses. The UK is also prepping for booster shots, with vaccine experts in Britain saying a booster shot may be needed before winter.
The variant causing the most concern right now is thedelta variant, which is now thedominant strain in the USand other countries. This variant has caused an increase in COVID-19 cases, which is also impacting some people who are fully vaccinated.
In comparison to the alpha variant, researchers have found delta to be60% more transmissible, and hospitalization risks are much higher in unvaccinated people.
In most instances, the cases are happening in areas of low vaccination rates. For example, US states like Louisiana and Florida havelow vaccination ratesand their COVID-19 cases are surging again.
Wearing a mask can help protect yourself from COVID-19.
The breakthrough infections don't mean the vaccines aren't effective. "The effectiveness against severe disease is still substantial," Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a White House press briefing Thursday. "Get vaccinated. It offers good protection against disease."
The main reason for breakthrough cases is due to the number of people who still haven't been vaccinated. Once more people are fully vaccinated, it'll help reduce the spread of COVID-19 throughout the world because the virus won't be able to infect as many people.
Until then, the virus will continue to mutate and spread, creating new variants.
For more information, here's everything to know about the delta variant. Also, here are more details about a potential COVID-19 booster shot and the debate over whether fully vaccinated people should wear masks.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
Elected Republican officials in a conservative Michigan county who gave themselves bonuses totalling $65,000 with federal Covid-19 relief funds said they would return the money following days of criticism.
The Shiawassee county commissioners acted after a prosecutor said the payments were illegal, the Argus-Press reported.
The Michigan state constitution bars additional compensation for elected officials after services had already been rendered, prosecutor Scott Koerner said.
The commissioners voted on 15 July to award themselves $65,000 as part of a plan to give $557,000 to 250 county employees as hazard pay for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
The smallest amounts for recipients were $1,000 to $2,000. But the chairman of the county board, Jeremy Root, got $25,000. Two commissioners received $10,000 each, while four received $5,000 each.
The vote was 6-0 with one commissioner absent.
The commissioners awarded money to other elected officials, including the prosecutor, the sheriff and the county clerk all Republicans too. They also said they would give it back.
Since these payments were made, confusion about the nature of these funds has run rampant, a statement said.
[We] deeply regret that this gesture has been misinterpreted, and have unanimously decided to voluntarily return the funds to the county, pending additional guidance from the state of Michigan.
One commissioner, Marlene Webster, insisted she had no idea she had voted to pay herself. She returned the money last week, posting a copy of the check on Facebook. She criticized the latest statement, saying there was no misinterpretation.
Thats an insult to the citizens of Shiawassee county, Webster said.
Two Michigan congressmen, a Democrat and a Republican, said federal virus aid was not intended to reward elected officials.
A judge set a hearing for Monday in a lawsuit aimed at rescinding bonuses for the officials, filed before the latest action.
Coronavirus today and the open line: The case and hospital surges continue. Does the legislature care? - Arkansas Times
1,000 new cases on a Sunday? Five more deaths? 44 more people hospitalized? 173 people on ventilators?
Arkansas, we have a problem. And preventing mask rules and preventing local decisions on vaccination requirements which the unemployed, cattle farmers, slumlords and other outstanding legislators say are aground practice looks less and less like a sensible path for one of the worst states in the country for COvID-19.
It is time for the governor to demand action. And if the legislature refuses, at least the blame will be clearer than it already is.
The line is open.
The COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping all aspects of life in Arkansas. We're interested in hearing from doctors, nurses and other health care workers; from patients and their families; from people in longterm care facilities and their families; from parents and students affected by the crisis; from people who have lost their job; from people with knowledge of workplaces or communities that aren't taking appropriate measures to slow the spread of the disease; and more.
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Officials in some of Texas' largest counties are asking residents even those vaccinated against the coronavirus to again wear masks in public as the highly contagious delta variant continues to spread across the state. And some officials are urging unvaccinated people to limit their trips outside the home.
The updated suggestions came as Harris, Dallas and Travis counties raised their local coronavirus threat levels or precautionary guidelines in recent days.
Travis County officials made the announcement in a virtual news conference Friday morning. Under Stage 4, Austin and Travis officials want residents vaccinated and unvaccinated to wear masks at all times in public, and for unvaccinated people to only leave their homes for essential trips.
"I know this transition back to Stage 4 may be difficult, but we must follow our local health authority's recommendations to once again flatten the curve and to ensure we continue to protect ourselves and our most vulnerable," Travis County Judge Andy Brown said in a press release.
That came a day after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo also urged residents, even those who have been vaccinated, to wear masks in public as the county increased its COVID threat level. And on Friday night, Dallas County officials increased their threat level, which asks unvaccinated people to limit trips outside the home, among other precautions.
Local officials cant enforce any restrictions, however, because Gov. Greg Abbott banned all local pandemic-related mandates in May. The recommendations differ from those of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says it safe for people who are fully vaccinated to resume activities that you did before the pandemic without wearing a mask or physically distancing.
The announcements come as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have risen statewide: Texas seven-day average of new cases jumped from 2,410 to 4,087 daily cases compared with the previous seven-day period, while hospitalizations increased 47% over the same period.
"Each of us has a personal choice to make will we do our part to stop disease transmission by getting vaccinated and taking the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and others, or will we be part of its continued spread?" Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority, said in the Austin press release.
Brandon Formby contributed to this report.
Update #2: Case Data and Surveillance Efforts
July 24, 2021 | Provincetown, MA Provincetown continues to work closely with county and state health officials to track and respond to the evolving COVID-19 cluster. Expanded testing and vaccination will continue through July 30th and have thus far proved to be vital tools in the response effort as participation numbers increase daily.
Surveillance Data
As of Friday, July 23rd, 430 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 had been officially reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health associated with the Provincetown cluster. Of these cases, 342 are Massachusetts residents, 153 of which reside in Provincetown. The remainder of individuals who tested positive reside in other states. Cases among Massachusetts residents are found to be predominantly symptomatic (71%), with 69% of affected individuals reported to be fully vaccinated. Apart from 3 hospitalizations (2 in state and one out of state) associated with this cluster, symptoms are known to be mild and without complication.
Case investigation to determine the extent of the Provincetown cluster is ongoing and multi-jurisdictional, with involvement from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other municipal public health authorities throughout the state of Massachusetts. Genetic sequencing, a multi-step process that takes several weeks to complete, is being conducted at the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory and other labs to determine whether a variant of concern is associated with the cluster. Officials are awaiting these results and will share them as they become available.
Daily testing of wastewater in Provincetown will commence today. Wastewater testing has been a valuable surveillance tool and was conducted in Provincetown throughout the pandemic. Thelast wastewater sampling was conducted in Provincetown in spring 2021. Going forward, the wastewater testing data will indicate the presence of COVID-19 in the 50% of the buildings in Provincetown connected to the towns sewer. Given the current cluster, presence of COVID-19 in wastewater sampling tests is expected.
Observed Improvement of Test Positivity Rates Testing is the best way for health officials to gauge the impact of a cluster and the success of measures that are being taken to reduce viral spread. The number of cases is expected to rise as more individuals take advantage of testing opportunities available in Provincetown and surrounding areas. Further, test positivity rates (the number of tests that come back positive in relation to the total number of tests) have improved since surveillance of the Provincetown cluster began, from 15% to 9%. A test positivity rate of <5% is considered progress towards cluster containment, while a testing positivity rate of <1% is considered fully contained.
Testing, Vaccination and Observance of Precautionary Measures Remain Essential Public health authorities continue to strongly urge residents, local businesses, and visitors in and around Provincetown to follow the precautions outlined in the advisory released Monday, July 19 regardless of vaccination status.
Anyone experiencing even mild symptoms should get tested, as well as anyone who has had a close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. Testing is encouraged regardless of vaccination status.
Vaccines remain the single most important tool to combat COVID-19. As the proportion of vaccinated individuals increase, there will be more cases in people who have been fully vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent all infections, but they are 90-95% effective in preventing severe disease.
Additional information about vaccination and testing in Provincetown and elsewhere in the region can be found on the Provincetown and Barnstable County websites.
###
Associated Press| Associated Press
CORUNNA, Mich. Elected officials in a conservative Michigan county who gave themselves bonuses of $65,000 with federal COVID-19 relief aid said they will return the money following days of criticism.
Shiawassee County commissioners acted after the prosecutor said the payments were illegal, The Argus-Press reported.
The Michigan Constitution bars additional compensation for elected officials after services had already been rendered, prosecutor Scott Koerner said Friday.
The commissioners, all Republicans, voted on July 15 to award themselves $65,000 as part of a plan to give $557,000 to 250 county employees as hazard pay for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
The smallest amounts for recipients were $1,000 to $2,000. But County Board Chairman Jeremy Root got $25,000. Two more commissioners received $10,000 each, while four others received $5,000 each.
The vote was 6-0 with one commissioner absent.
The commissioners awarded money to other elected officials, including the prosecutor, the sheriff and the county clerk, all Republicans. They, too, said they would give it back.
Since these payments were made, confusion about the nature of these funds has run rampant, a statement from commissioners said. (We) deeply regret that this gesture has been misinterpreted, and have unanimously decided to voluntarily return the funds to the county, pending additional guidance from the state of Michigan.
Commissioner Marlene Webster insisted she had no idea that she had voted to pay herself and returned the money last week, even posting a copy of the check on Facebook. She criticized the latest statement, saying there was no misinterpretation of the payments.
Thats an insult to the citizens of Shiawassee County, Webster said.
Two Michigan congressmen, a Democrat and a Republican, said federal virus aid wasnt intended to reward elected officials.
Separately, a judge set a hearing for Monday in a lawsuit aimed at rescinding bonuses for the officials. It was filed before the latest action.
"Cases are exploding in our hospital and in our communities," Chad Neilsen, the hospital's director of infection prevention, told CNN's Alisyn Camerota on Wednesday.
Local leaders are reinstating mask mandates
While most businesses and local leaders across the US did away with mask requirements as summer inched closer -- most still asking unvaccinated Americans to keep on their face coverings -- mandates are now slowly coming back.
New Orleans announced a new mask advisory Wednesday, asking everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to keep a mask indoors when they're with people who are not in their household. Health officials said average daily cases in the city increased by more than 10 times over two weeks, the majority of which are unvaccinated people.
"People who continue to refuse to take the lifesaving COVID vaccine are now also putting the entire community in jeopardy. We must take action now to slow the rapid spread of the Delta variant," said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the director of the city's health department.
Nevada's Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, announced it was reimplementing a mask mandate for workers in public places. The new requirement went into effect Wednesday after a unanimous approval from the Clark County Commission and will stay in effect through at least August 17.
Dozens of people spoke before the vote, nearly all of whom opposed the measure. Pediatric physician's assistant Amanda Knowles said she supported it because "we have a duty to protect our children who do not have the option to be vaccinated at this point."
In Missouri, the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County said that starting Monday, masks will be required in indoor public places and on public transportation for everyone 5 and older, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are also "strongly encouraged" outdoors as well, especially in group settings, officials added.
Schools are issuing similar requirements
About 18% of its eligible student population is fully vaccinated, the district said, and about 58% of employees are vaccinated or plan to be. Two other Atlanta suburban school districts, Clayton and Dekalb counties, also announced that masks will be required when the school year begins in August.
Parents and community members lined up to speak out against the mask policy.
"You're all hypocrites," said Annie Palumbo, among the evening's first speakers. "I'm here fighting with hundreds of other parents because we don't want our kids masked for seven hours a day. And I look around and I see all of you sitting here without masks. Seriously, what's the deal?"
Members of the board said its decisions followed guidance from the CDC and Virginia's health commissioner. In a letter to families on Thursday, Virginia Beach City Public Schools said administration officials have reviewed the state's latest guidance -- published a day after the board's meeting -- and are consulting with local and state health officials on a plan.
The recently issued state guidance leaves mask decisions to local districts but "strongly recommends" elementary schools put an indoor mask requirement in place for students, teachers and staff regardless of vaccination status and that that "at a minimum" middle and high schools require masks indoors for those who have not been fully vaccinated.
Some companies are rethinking their return to office
The pandemic drastically changed the way Americans worked. While many expect to return to the office in the coming weeks, the latest surge is forcing some employers to rethink their plans.
Among them, Apple.
Apple said that date could change again depending on the country's Covid-19 numbers, but that it would let employees know at least a month in advance, The Times said.
CNN reached out to Apple, but the company did not confirm the delay in plans.
The key to getting our lives back
"If you're somebody who's fully vaccinated, take a little breath here, you're still really well protected by this vaccine and you can do a lot of stuff that you couldn't do six months ago," National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins told CNN's Jim Acosta on Wednesday.
"But, for those who are not vaccinated, this is becoming a pandemic that has you in its sights," he said.
But a majority of unvaccinated Americans say they're not at all likely to get a shot regardless of outreach efforts, according to new poll results published Tuesday, by Axios-Ipsos. A quarter or less of those who are unvaccinated said they would be likely to get the vaccine under certain circumstances, according to the poll, which was conducted July 16 to 19.
Without widespread protection against the virus, the country will likely continue to see outbreaks, experts have warned, and new -- potentially more dangerous -- variants could arise that could pose problems to vaccines.
CNN's Naomi Thomas, Andy Rose and Miguel Marquez contributed to this report.
COLORADO SPRINGS With so much information being announced daily about the COVID-19 pandemic, here is a review and preview of what is going on in Southern Colorado as it pertains to the virus:
The Review
Its being called the pandemic of the unvaccinated now by leaders at the local, state, and federal levels. 90 percent of new cases in Colorado are among those who have not been vaccinated, and that number is more than 80 percent nationwide.
The push continues to get more people vaccinated, Gov. Polis announced this week that the state will give out $100ar Walmart gift cards to those who receive the first or second dose. Another incentive will also be community college scholarships, which are now available across our state as well.
More than three million people in Colorado are fully vaccinated. The three available vaccines provide strong protection against the Delta variant, which is the primary diagnosis now in Colorado among the unvaccinated.
Pop-up and mobile vaccine clinics are still available, you need to check the state health department website for more information. You do not need an appointment or insurance.
The Delta variant numbers are driving the growth nationwide as well, with more than 27,000 new cases every day, and most of the cases in three states which are Texas, Missouri, and Florida. Fatalities nationwide are up nearly 50 percent the past week, averaging 239 a day, and the infection rate is up two hundred percent.
Discussions are now underway here and across the country about going back to school. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended students and teachers age two and up wear masks if they are vaccinated or not. It's a recommendation the CDC has not signed off on yet. Here in Colorado, the state health department is following CDC guidelines for now but is continuing to leave it up to local control.
Governor Polis said at this point, with our positivity rate still below three percent, he is not considering implementing any new restrictions or reverting to any prior restrictions or mandates for businesses, and will leave that to individuals counties.
The Preview
Looking ahead to this week it is the first full week of the summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Covid-19 restrictions are still front and center there as more positive cases emerge, and world health leaders are monitoring the situation closely.
As for the games themselves, we have you covered all week with live newscasts every day at four, five, and six from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum.
Also, join us for our nightly Olympic Zone with Jake Gadon. It will feature our premier local Olympic athletes, the highlights of the day from Tokyo, and an interview with former Olympians here at home. to give a broader perspective of what's happening every day in Tokyo.______
With The Rebound Colorado, News5's team will be here to answer your questions, bringing you expert advice to balance the books, pay the bills, and rebuild savings accounts. E-mail us any time at rebound@koaa.com with your suggestions, feedback, frustrations, ideas, suggestions, and anything else you need.
The Rebound Colorado
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Springfield, Missouri CNN
Christy Henry had played it safe during the pandemic.
Wearing a mask in public and rarely coming into contact with others, the 56-year-old former nurse, who now works as a nursing instructor, resides in southern Missouri with her retired husband and children.
However, after Covid-19 vaccines became widely distributed in the spring, Henry and her family chose to not get inoculated. Henry said they felt because of their rural location and lifestyle, their risk of exposure was low.
But then she began to feel unwell about three weeks ago. Never in a million years do you think its going to happen to you, she said.
Her family did not have any Fourth of July gatherings and she is not sure how they got infected. But now, she and her husband, Lonnie, are in the hospital recovering from Covid-19.
While one of her six children also tested positive and avoided hospitalization, Lonnie is currently on a ventilator. Christy herself was intubated for at least two days.
Her doctor told her she is lucky to be alive, Christy told CNN from her hospital bed.
Covid-19 is extremely, extremely serious, she said, urging everyone she knows to get vaccinated.
Courtesy Christy Henry
Christy Henry and her husband, Lonnie, are in the hospital fighting Covid-19 infections.
Henry is one of many dealing with Covid-19 amid a summer surge that has again strained hospital resources.
The difference in prognoses between those vaccinated and those who are not is also growing apparent. More than 97% of people who are entering hospitals for Covid-19 treatment are unvaccinated, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said at a White House briefing last week.
There is a clear message that is coming through. This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated, Walensky said.
Driven in large part by the Delta variant that is believed to be more transmissible and dangerous, 48 states are showing a seven-day average of new cases at least 10% higher than the week before, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Howard Jarvis, an emergency medical physician in Springfield, Missouri, noted that the Delta variants infection rates are being seen readily in area hospitals.
I think this variant is just more severe than what we were experiencing previously, he said.
Roughly 40% of Missouri residents are fully vaccinated, according to the state Department of Health and Senior Services, a number that trails the national average of nearly 49%. Covid-19 cases within the state have risen about 18% in the last two weeks, and hospitalizations are up sharply since May.
As the number of cases tick higher, nurses and doctors once again find themselves on the frontline of the pandemic.
Kate Giacchi, a critical care nurse at the University of Missouri Hospital, said that staff are mentally and physically and emotionally worn out from dealing with Covid-19 for more than a year, with no relief in sight.
The disease is real and its killing people and it is preventable, she said.
As health care workers are at greater risk of contracting Covid-19 as more patients arrive, some facilities are requiring all employees receive Covid-19 vaccinations. The Mercy Health system in Missouri and neighboring states has set a deadline of the end of September for employee vaccinations.
Weve got a narrow window to basically sustain or get ahead of where we are right now, said Craig McCoy, president of Mercy Springfield Communities.
As of this morning, weve got 172 people hospitalized which is our all-time peak, he told CNN.
Susan Dean, a retired health care worker in Missouri, is like those in the industry who are vaccine-hesitant. She told CNN she is wary of the long-term effects the vaccine may have, and did not agree with mandates at hospitals like those administered by Mercy that all health care staff be vaccinated.
I dont think we know enough about the vaccine to say, This is what it does, she said.
Despite the efficacy of the vaccines that have been proven in clinical trials as well as real-world data, vaccination rates in Missouri and nationwide are lagging from spring highs, and officials are encouraging unvaccinated Missourians to receive their doses as quickly as possible.
While the Delta strain is more contagious, the vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective against it, Gov. Mike Parson said on Wednesday. We encourage all Missourians to consider getting vaccinated as almost all new Covid hospitalizations can be attributed to unvaccinated individuals.
We understand that some Missourians are on the fence as to whether to get vaccinated or not, and that is a big decision for many families, he said. That is why we encourage you to engage in conversation with your personal doctor, your local health care officials or other trusted community leaders so that you can get the facts and decide when getting vaccinated is right for you.
Christy Henry, who asks for continued prayers for the health of her husband, agrees.
Im going to tell everybody, everybody I know and I love, she said, that you need to get vaccinated.
