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Instruction
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued his first formal health advisory last week, warning Americans that misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines poses an imminent and insidious threat to our nations health.
Such advisories are typically used to flag the dangers of tobacco use or the opioid epidemic. Murthys was the first to target vaccine disinformation.
Simply put, health misinformation has cost us lives, he said.
The surgeon generals warning came as many Americans reluctance and sometimes downright refusal to roll up their sleeves for the vaccination has left wide swaths of the country vulnerable to the more contagious delta variant.
The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, President Joe Biden lamented last week.
Now, the overwhelming majority of COVID-19 deaths are among those who havent gotten the vaccination.
Its really sad and tragic that most all of these are avoidable and preventable, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, said this month on NBCs Meet the Press.
Yet the misinformation continues to circulate, and vaccine doses remain unused. So we asked two experts to evaluate four common arguments and explain why theyre wrong.
Surviving a bout of COVID-19 probably wont protect you as effectively as a full course of COVID-19 vaccine, experts say.
We know that the level of antibodies one gets from natural infection varies depending on the severity of their infection, said Mercedes Carnethon, an epidemiologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. On the other hand, we get a more robust and consistent response from the vaccine. That makes it a better bet for immunity over a long period of time, she said.
Its also unclear whether the antibodies you developed in response to a coronavirus infection will be able to recognize other variants of the virus.
Somebody who had COVID at the beginning of the pandemic may have had a very different variant than whats circulating right now, Carnethon said. The vaccines are demonstrating that they protect against the new variants.
Even if youve had COVID-19, getting those shots is well worth it. Scientists have found that even a single dose of vaccine gives the immune system of a COVID-19 survivor a big boost.
Historically, the vast majority of vaccine side effects occur not long after getting the shot, said Dr. Gabor Kelen, head of the emergency medicine department at Johns Hopkins University. Allergic reactions, which are rare, happen within moments; most other side effects emerge and dissipate within weeks.
People need to chill about the long-term impact, Kelen said. The way immunology works is (if) somethings gonna happen, its gonna happen fairly soon, he said.
What you really should be worried about is the long-term effects of a coronavirus infection, Carnethon said. She ticked off a few problems that plague the unfortunate people who suffer from long COVID, including heart inflammation, fatigue and cognitive difficulties.
Throughout history, she said, theres been no vaccine that had worse side effects than the disease that it was developed to fight.
Young people may be less likely to become seriously ill compared with senior citizens or people already dealing with chronic health problems, but it does happen. Young people end up in the hospital. They die. If they survive, they often have to live with debilitating symptoms for months, if not longer.
Its not worth taking that chance particularly when vaccinations are free to recipients and readily available, experts said.
Youll be fine unless youre not, Carnethon said. And its young adults who are seeing a little more of the long-haul COVID, which can interfere with your quality of life massively.
In some ways, the bigger problem is that younger adults with mild symptoms can spread the virus to others especially elderly and vulnerable loved ones, who are more likely to develop severe COVID-19 and die from it.
Youre ultimately going to give it to a friend (who) is going to get very, very sick, or make their grandmother very, very sick, Kelen said. In the end, you have no idea who you kill.
If that was all there is to it, I think all of us could shake our heads and say, OK, youre right, we cant stop you from making bad decisions, we can just give the facts and advice, Kelen said.
But the problem with that argument is that this is an infection where its not only about you, he said. If you dont get vaccinated, its not only you who takes the risk. You risk a lot of people around you, including people you like and love.
Plus, folks who dont get vaccinated are providing the coronavirus with more opportunities to evolve in ways that make it better at spreading, better at making people seriously ill, and better at evading our medicines and vaccines. If any of those things happen, it will prolong the pandemic.
We all want to get back to normal. We all want to be able to do the things that we used to be able to do regularly, Carnethon said. But by not getting vaccinated, now theres someone else it can spread to and change itself further.
Story by Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times
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In Wyoming's Teton County, nearly 60% of residents are fully vaccinated -- almost double the statewide vaccination rate.
It's an effort that has been noticed in the state, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country and where several counties have fewer than 30% of their population inoculated, state data shows.
"We have spoken to some of our other counties in Wyoming because they wanted to know what we were doing," Rachael Wheeler, the public health response coordinator at the Teton County Health Department, told ABC News.
As the highly transmissible delta variant quickly spreads throughout the United States -- now making up over 80% of new cases -- regions with high vaccination rates are expected to fare better, medical experts say.
ABC News spoke to Wheeler and officials in two other counties leading their states in COVID-19 vaccinations about their campaigns, what they've done and where they go from here.
McKinley County, which includes part of the Navajo Nation reservation, was one of the hardest-hit regions in New Mexico early in the pandemic.
For Adam Berry, emergency manager for the county, that may have helped drive vaccinations to where, as of Monday, over 94% of residents ages 18 and up have received at least one dose, according to the latest state health department data. Statewide, that number is 72.2%.
"The spring of 2020 was our first wave; we had a pretty good surge," Berry said. "We had the highest case number in the state, especially per capita, for several weeks and months, before things tapered off late summer."
A healthcare worker speaks with a person that received a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the University of New Mexico's Gallup campus in Gallup, N.M., March 23, 2021.
There was a longer, second surge in the winter that filled Gallup hospitals and mortuaries to capacity, he said.
"There's very few people in the county that don't know at least one person that was sick, if they weren't sick themselves," he said. "Many people know one or more people that unfortunately died due to COVID-19. So I think it's very personal for a lot of people."
Berry said there was a little hesitancy in the beginning, but that "it didn't take very long at all for a lot of people to start lining up to get the vaccine." Being able to protect themselves and their family, as well as safely see people they had not seen in a while, were big motivators, he said.
The vaccination effort has involved coordination among the county's emergency management and public health offices, state health department, health care providers, community partners and federal agencies, including the Indian Health Service.
"It was definitely a big community effort. Everybody does their part to try to get as many people vaccinated as possible," said Berry, a volunteer paramedic who also helped administer vaccines when clinics were short-staffed.
A healthcare worker fills out an intake form for a person in a vehicle arriving for a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine outside the University of New Mexico's Gallup campus in Gallup, N.M., March 23, 2021.
One thing that worked to the county's advantage in administering the vaccine is having a significant percentage of the county served by the Indian Health Service, he said. Nearly 80% of the county's residents are Native American, according to the U.S. Census.
"A lot of other counties in New Mexico are dependent on local health care systems and private physicians to vaccinate the bulk of their populations," he said. "We were fortunate in that aspect that we have a large presence of Indian Health Service facilities to help take care of that population, which allowed for vaccines to come in directly from the federal government to that site."
The Indian Health Service held drive-thru events at the Fire Rock Casino in Church Rock and did outreach to the Navajo Nation "to make it more convenient" to get the vaccine, Berry said.
The county has lately been focused on bringing people back for their second dose if needed, as well as vaccination efforts in those ages 12 to 16.
Since May 24, the county has reported only three COVID-19 deaths, and the seven-day average of new cases is three, down from a peak of 109 in mid-November, state data shows.
There's still a lot of mask-wearing, though life has started to "look a little more normal," Berry said. "We've come a long way in the last year."
There's stiff competition to be the top county for vaccinations in Vermont, which has the highest vaccination rate in the country.
At the moment, Lamoille County holds that distinction, with over 85% of residents ages 12 and up having received at least one dose, according to state data.
"When we saw those numbers we were very happy about it," Aaron French, director of the Morrisville Office of Local Health in Lamoille County, told ABC News. "Every county's working really hard."
Part of that effort has included reaching Lamoille County's more rural residents, who may be less inclined to drive to a vaccination clinic out of town.
"I grew up in one of those small towns, and I said, 'Why don't we talk to the town ... and set something up, and if we only get five people, we'll get five people,'" French said.
On a recent weekend, the office brought nurses to two towns and was able to vaccinate around 10 people.
"We were happy with that," French said. "And we'll continue to do that."
Health officials have also connected with local churches, schools, manufacturers and ski resorts as part of the vaccination efforts to reach the community and workforce.
As COVID-19 cases rise throughout the United States, Vermont officials said this week they have seen a small increase in the state, likely due to the delta variant, but community spread remains low due to the high vaccination rates.
Lamoille County has had two COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks, state data shows.
French said people in the county have trusted the local department of health and state department of health throughout the pandemic, which has also been a major factor in their vaccination success.
"They needed to hear from people that they could trust, and I think those local people were their local doctors and their commissioner of public health, who's a physician, and their governor," he said. "We have a number of federally qualified health care centers around here, and those physicians and nurse practitioners are very well-trusted, so their messaging out to the community and their patients were really important and helpful."
Lamoille County's lowest vaccination rates are among those ages 18 to 29, with over 58% of that population vaccinated, state data shows. That is one area the county is focusing on, French said.
The local health office has held clinics at skate parks, fairs and race tracks in the state, and health officials look to continue to do efforts like that to continue to bring numbers up.
"There's plenty of opportunity and we're just going to keep plugging away at it," French said. "I do think we can get higher than that."
There has been a partisan divide in COVID-19 vaccinations, with Democrats more likely to report getting the vaccine than Republicans. Teton County is an outlier in Wyoming as a "blue dot in a red state," though Wheeler doesn't think that "can account for everything."
One major factor that helped Teton County achieve its vaccination rate -- which is the highest in the state, and higher than the national average -- started with the logistics of the rollout itself.
"We were very easily able to ramp up and hire a lot of additional vaccine staff when our demand was high," Wheeler said.
That meant hiring anyone from nurses to administer the vaccines to staff to help manage the different schedules. The county also had a lot of volunteer help at vaccine clinics, from checking people in to observing for emergency response, she said.
Teton County was also one of a handful of counties in Wyoming that had an ultra-cold freezer needed at first to store the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be issued an emergency use authorization.
"That was really helpful early on to be able to accept all different types of vaccines that were approved under the EUA at that time," Wheeler said.
When the county expanded its eligibility to schools and child care providers, the health department held special clinics on the weekends to accommodate them. "That seemed very successful, and they were very appreciative of that," Wheeler said.
Once students were eligible, the health department held an in-school vaccine clinic before the school year let out that reached over 500 students, Wheeler said.
To reach the broader community, the health department repurposed a public transit system bus into a mobile vaccine clinic, which has been used to bring doses to worksites, like the county's trash transfer station, and, lately, parks.
"Our goal is to reduce any barriers that there might be for people to get the vaccine," Wheeler said.
Beyond vaccine access, the county hired an agency to help with its messaging around the COVID-19 vaccine. "They helped us have a more focused campaign that was consistent and looked really professional," Wheeler said.
Currently, the health department is holding a "Shots for Swag" campaign, in which residents who have received at least one dose of the vaccine can win prizes.
Through the ad agency, the health department also filmed a video featuring local doctors answering common questions about the vaccine, such as around variants, fertility and pregnancy, that "put a more local perspective to it," Wheeler said.
The health department also partnered with several community nonprofits, including Voices JH, which helped reach immigrants in the Latino and Eastern European communities in the county with resources on vaccination.
Local health officials are anticipating renewed demand for the vaccine as new age ranges become eligible, and possibly when a vaccine has full FDA approval.
For now, they're planning to bring the mobile vaccine clinic to events throughout the summer and remind employers about the service. From July 1 to July 15, the county reported 31 new COVID-19 cases, 26 of which were in unvaccinated people and included workplace "clusters," the health department said this week.
"We're still messaging to everyone that the best defense is getting vaccinated," Wheeler said. "It's how you're going to protect not only yourself, but your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, community members."
Kizzmekia Corbett, one of the researchers behind the coronavirus vaccine, opened up this weekabout her feelings of hopelessness as many Americans refuse to get the shot even as variant cases rise across the country.
In a thread of tweets, Corbettdescribed her time watching people come and go in a Louisiana ICU as she experienced a "non-COVID family emergency."
"In Louisiana a 'hot-spot' watching the virus do what viruses do," she wrote in one tweet. " Feeling helpless because people are opting out of the vaccine. I um I I dont have the words."
The state'shealth department has reported 5,388 new virus cases and nearly844 COVID-19-related hospitalizations. On Thursday,New Orleansannounced newrecommendations asking residents and tourists to resume wearing face masks amid the rise in cases.
4/n: I am a COVID vaccine inventor.
In Louisiana a hot-spot watching the virus do what viruses do.
Feeling helpless because people are opting out of the vaccine.
I um I I dont have the words.
Corbett said that during her time in Louisiana she encountered a grieving wife, a woman who wept openly in the ICU and a staff member who informed her that a two-person visitation limit would soon be ending as a result of the surge of COVID-19 in the state.
"Please go get vaccinated, yall. Please. Thats it. Im beyond the point of not begging.
"Just go. If you are able-bodied go," she tweeted.
Corbett isthe lead scientist for the National Institutes of Healths coronavirus vaccine research and helped invent Moderna's vaccine.
Last year,she expressed her commitment to combating vaccine hesitancy, saying that trust would have to be rebuilt among communities of color.
And so, what I say to people firstly is that I empathize, and then secondly is that Im going to do my part in laying those bricks," she said at the time. "And I think that if everyone on our side, as physicians and scientists, went about it that way, then the trust would start to be rebuilt.
On Friday, Corbett tweeted an update on the situation in Louisiana, noting that a friend she made in the ICU waiting room had lost her husband.
6/n: Update: My ICU waiting room friend lost her husband to COVID. Yesterday, I grieved her husband like I would grieve an uncle. I can only imagine what the ICU docs and nurses have been through for 1.5 years. pic.twitter.com/Rtf1eTHN6e
By all accounts, the approval process for the vaccines is moving faster than it ever has before. However, the FDA has yet to disclose a timeline for when its work will be complete and data is still being reviewed.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden told CNN's Don Lemon during a CNN Townhall that he expects Covid-19 vaccines could get full approval "quickly."
"They're not promising me any specific date, but my expectation, talking to the group of scientists we put together... plus others in the field, is that sometime, maybe in the beginning of the school year, at the end of August, beginning September, October, they'll get a final approval," Biden said.
Earlier Wednesday, the National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins told CNN's Jim Acosta that full approval could come in the "next couple of months."
Pfizer's timeline
Vaccine maker Pfizer appears to be furthest along in the process.
The acting commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Janet Woodcock, has said the FDA intends to complete the review in advance of its January deadline.
Because the FDA has already reviewed the manufacturing materials and has been reviewing clinical data all along, Tice said, "We don't expect it to go the full six-month priority review clock."
Moderna's timeline
"We are still in the process of completing our rolling submission, which we announced on June 1st. It is not complete at this time," Ray Jordan, a spokesperson for Moderna said. "It's not the case that the FDA has our final submission and that we are waiting to hear from them."
Moderna expects it may have its materials complete this fall. The time frame for approval would then be subject to the FDA regulatory review process, Moderna said.
Where the process is now
Historically, getting a vaccine licensed by the fall would be fast, especially with as much as the FDA has to review.
At this point, what takes time is that the agency has to go through absolutely everything, it cannot skip a page, and there is a lot of everything.
The Covid-19 vaccines received authorization based on interim data that showed the vaccines were safe and effective for only about three months. "Although, when something's 95% effective, you can assume it's probably going to be highly effective for awhile," said Offit.
For full approval, the FDA has at least six months of efficacy data to review. "People are saying 'why is it taking so long?' Well, the FDA wants to make sure that it has a protective duration, long term effect," Tice said. "It's not that the agency, I think, has any concerns about the vaccine per se, they just per licensure requirements, you have to have this additional data."
"The FDA does not cut corners on making sure of the quality, the purity, the potency of your products."
Offit believes the data review should go pretty quickly, since the FDA has been getting data all along. What often takes time is that the FDA has to also validate the process that makes the vaccine for it to be licensed. Every step has to be validated.
"Whether it's the computers that are being used or cleaning out the vats, or whatever it is, it's a lot of boxes to tick to ensure that there's consistency in each lot to the next," Offit said.
That means an interdisciplinary team of FDA experts is pouring through millions of documents, running their own analysis, getting any clarification that it needs from the vaccine companies, and giving the manufacturing process a thorough inspection.
And it's not just one FDA person that does the review, Baylor said. There's a secondary and tertiary review. So a clinician would review the material and then a supervisor would need to review it and then it goes up to the division director.
"We have some reviewers who are reviewing long into the night, really, this is not a 9 to 5 review," Baylor said. "The public is not aware, but yes people are giving up their vacations, working on weekends, Saturdays and Sundays. You're working into the night."
"The FDA is not sitting down twiddling their thumbs," Baylor said.
Calls to move faster
While historically, the process has moved quickly, for some it's not fast enough.
"I have been frustrated because I know it should have been approved by now," Topol said. "Janet Woodcock made a statement that this was 'among the highest priorities.' No, it has to be the number one priority."
Why full approval matters
Yet, as vaccination rates have dropped dramatically in the US, some have pointed to approval as one sure way to speed up the process.
"If it was approved with the full approval from FDA -- which we all anticipate may be coming pretty soon...Maybe in the next couple of months -- then the legal ability to mandate becomes a lot stronger," Collins, the NIH director, said.
I am 18 and starting college next month, which will make me the first person in my family to go. I am beyond excited! I worked very hard to get in and cover my costs. Recently, I was notified by health services that I have to show proof of my Covid-19 vaccination to enroll. The problem: My mom has been reading conspiracy theories online and is convinced that the vaccine is unnecessary and will change my DNA whatever that means. She refuses to let me get it. Spoiler: I got vaccinated secretly months ago! (And I wish she would too.) How should I deal with my mom and the school?
ANONYMOUS, PLEASE!
There are times, unfortunately, when we need to look out for ourselves at the expense of those we love. This is one of them! I hope you tried to convince your mother (with data) that the available vaccines were tested rigorously and judged safe by scientists who are competent to make that call. The fact that unvaccinated people account for the vast majority of Covid hospitalizations and deaths is another powerful argument.
You are unlikely to persuade her, though, if her mind is closed to reason. If your mother is contributing to the cost of your education, which you say you took pains to cover, or if you plan to continue living at home, keep up the act. You cant undo your vaccination, and the consequences of your mothers reaction may derail your education.
Bring proof of your vaccination to college when you enroll. If necessary, call health services in advance to explain your predicament. If your mother asks, tell her the school gave you an exemption. Im sorry that your achievement is being overshadowed by your mothers misinformation. Let me hear back from you if you need help, OK?
My daughters bat mitzvah is coming up this fall. In discussing our plans for the gathering with family and friends, I learned that a few wont be able to make it. Some have Covid-related travel concerns; others have conflicting engagements. I dont think I should send invitations to these people. Why make them refuse me, formally, a second time? I also think that invitations to these people would seem like gift grabs. Several family members differ. You?
MOTHER
I agree with you for the most part. Sending invitations to people who have already told you they arent available seems redundant and possibly guilt-inducing. Plans (and comfort levels) can change, though.
Heres what I suggest: Instead of invitations, send short notes to the people whove told you they cant come, letting them know they will be missed and asking them to let you know if they find themselves available after all. Dont waste time worrying about gift grabs: Gifts are always optional.
My sister died recently far too young! It fell to me to go through her small house and attic. Fortunately, she was well-organized. She had created a list of recipients of various items. But I came upon a few boxes that stumped me. One was filled with photographs of her with a childhood friend whom shed argued with. The other was a cache of fairly recent love letters from a man whose name and address are on the envelopes. Unlike her other possessions, she provided no instructions for these things. The family historian in me hates to throw them away. What would you do?
JIM
Im sorry for your loss (and admire your conscientiousness). When it comes to distributing the personal effects of others, I subscribe to the do no harm doctrine. Its hard to imagine that childhood photographs would cause difficulty for your sisters friend. They may even be healing for her. Send them!
Be more cautious, though, about the love letters. If your sister had wanted them returned, it seems as if she would have said so. Her lover may have been married or unavailable during their correspondence. He may still be! If you are inclined to return the letters, try contacting the man first by phone to ask if he wants them back.
A friend has been eating gluten-free for years. She doesnt have celiac disease, but she feels better without gluten in her diet. I always accommodate her when I host a meal or event. But when I am not the host and feel like bringing a batch of novelty cupcakes as a hostess gift, for instance she becomes visibly annoyed when she learns my gifts are not gluten-free. What are my obligations to her when Im not the host?
SOPHIE
As a guest, you are obviously not responsible for the dietary restrictions of other guests. And visible annoyance seems like a strong reaction to a hostess gift for someone else. Still, if you are reading your friend correctly, wouldnt it be better to smooth over her hurt feelings than to explain your obligations to her?
Say, I thought the cupcakes were cute. But they didnt have a gluten-free option. Sorry! It costs you nearly nothing. And its good to be a sensitive friend.
For help with your awkward situation, send a question to SocialQ@nytimes.com, to Philip Galanes on Facebook or @SocialQPhilip on Twitter.
Tourists swim at Blue Lagoon on July 11, 2021 in Comino, Malta, Europes smallest country and the place with the highest vaccination rate in the world.Photo: Joanna Demarco (Getty Images)
The worlds covid-19 vaccination rate stands at just 13.4%, a stubbornly low number that needs to improve before we can declare the coronavirus pandemic behind us. But some countries have done exceedingly well at getting their populations protected.
Some countries have gotten large percentages of their populations fully vaccinated because they have relatively small populations. Others have great health care systems compared to the rest of the world. And others, like the U.S., Spain, and UK, are wealthy countries that got hit very hard by the pandemic and ordered plenty of vaccines to make sure there was a lot to go around.
The list below, showing how much of the eligible population in each country is fully vaccinated, is based on data from Johns Hopkins University, which has been tracking the covid-19 pandemic since before it was even called the covid-19 pandemic. Weve also listed the total population of each country to better put things in perspective.
Where are the worst vaccination rates? The bottom of the list is dominated by low-income countries that have struggled with getting doses, such as Uganda, Papua New Guinea, and South Sudan. But among wealthy countries, there are still plenty of nations with very little excuse for their poor vaccination rates.
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As one example, Australias vaccination rate is just 12.18%, according to Johns Hopkins University. And yet Australia is a tremendously wealthy country. What went wrong? The federal government simply didnt order enough vaccine doses, putting most of its eggs in one basketthe AstraZeneca vaccine, which many Australians have become afraid of over extremely rare side effects.
Money isnt the only thing that will get the world through this pandemic, as we can see with Australias example, but it certainly helps. And the pandemic isnt truly over until its over for everyone around the world. Sadly, we have a long way to go.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:JULY 22, 2021
COLUMBIA, S.C The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)is happy to announce that, as of Thursday, 50 percent of eligible South Carolina residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
The latest vaccination data shows that 816,007 South Carolinians have received at least one dose of the Moderna vaccine, and 1,189,885 residents have received at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Another 141,039 residents have received the single-dose Janssen, which means they are already fully vaccinated. Overall, 44 percent of South Carolina residents are now fully vaccinated, which means they are two weeks removed from their second dose of Moderna or Pfizer, or their single-shot of Janssen.
This milestone is encouraging, and we thank everyone who made the decision to get vaccinated. We are especially proud of our senior citizens, ages 65 and up, who account for more than a third of our states vaccinations. But we still have a lot of work to do, said Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC Director. We encourage our younger residents to roll up their sleeve and get this life-saving vaccine so they can protect themselves, as well as family members who may have preexisting conditions and children who are too young to get vaccinated.
In South Carolina, our younger residents those who are ages 20-24 and 12-19 respectively are among the least vaccinated age groups. We are seeing significant increases in cases and hospitalizations among these younger groups, and the recent uptick in cases has been almost entirely among those who are not vaccinated. Becoming fully vaccinated is the most effective way to prevent serious illness and even death from COVID-19 infection.Residents who have not gotten their second shot are encouraged to get it now to complete their vaccination. If you missed your second shot appointment or its been more than the recommended 21 or 28 days since your first dose, thats ok. DHEC encourages you to complete your vaccination as soon as possible. Vaccinations are more important than ever due to increased cases of the Delta variant and other Variants of Concern identified by the CDC. These variants have made COVID-19 more transmissible and increase the risk of severe sickness, hospitalization, and death.
This is especially concerning as children prepare for the new 2021-2022 school year. Between June 1 and July 15, at least 150 COVID-19 cases were reported among South Carolina residents who attended or worked at a summer camp. These camps include children who attend sleepovers, as well as day camps in a variety of settings.
These numbers are a snapshot of what could happen in our schools this year if more parents, students, teachers, and other school officials dont get vaccinated, Simmer added. At this time last year, we did not have a solution to defeat COVID-19. Now we do. We dont want this deadly virus spreading in our school or communities. Vaccinations will help us end this pandemic, and we need all eligible residents to be on board.
DHEC is currently finalizing its guidance for South Carolina schools and will make it available next week. Visit DHECs information page for more information on the vaccines, and the locator page to schedule a vaccine appointment.
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Bill Ellzey| Correspondent/Houma Courier-Thibodaux Daily Comet
WH aware of 'frustrations' over vaccine hesitancy
White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday said the White House understood the "frustrations" of many governors who are trying to persuade the many holdouts in their states to finally get a vaccine shot. (July 23)
AP
Covid-19 still rages, apparently unabated, and the virus that causes it is changing as viruses do. The shots thathave provided protection may not cope with the current variant of the killer disease. If you have not yet been vaccinated, you are vulnerable, and if you are fully vaccinated, be prepared to get a booster shot as soon as they become available.
In the meantime, continue wearing those troublesome masks whenever you are among crowds, especially indoors.
While none of the shot or mask recommendations have been fully tested, follow them anyway. One startling statistic stands out. Of the hundreds nationwide who have died of COVID-19, 95% were unvaccinated.
State concerns: Louisiana governor 'recommends' return to masking as state leads nation in case growth
Officials respond: Terrebonne, Lafourche officials ask residents to take precautions as COVID-19 cases spike
Rising cases: Use our interactive graphics to track the rise in COVID cases in Terrebonne and Lafourche
I have had the shotsand intend to get a booster as soon as I can. I will mask for the foreseeable future.
Our suburban Houma rooster, Drew, is still the chicken of interest around the area of Duval and Central.
Butcorrespondence from Nicole reports a new chicken sighting, with a photo, ironically, in the drive-up of a Thibodaux fast-food joint.
I thought it was hilarious seeing a chicken going into the McDonald's drive up. The bird in her photo does not match the black-and-gold coloration of the Duval street rooster.
Nicole also has experience with coyotes: And as for coyotes hanging around an area, we have learned that they travel far for prey. Our cat was a victim of a coyote pack. They killed him and drug him over 2 miles from home.
Bill Ellzey: Sometimes, unfortunately, it takes tragedy to bring family together
We had a tracker device on him that works by cellphone signal and followed it to find only what was left of him along with the collar. Over the years he had lost it a few times but we quickly found it using the pet/human tracking function. If anyone is interested in keeping tabs on their pets this is definitely worth the money. It's called 'whistle go.'
We had a cat that showed up here about 4years or so ago, she continued. He used to come in nightly, and during the day at his choice, especially if the weather was bad. He hated getting wet.
One day he went missing, but we found out someone had taken him, so we got him back home and searched for a way to keep track of him. We found a tracking collar called 'whistle go'. It uses cellphone service for a small monthly fee. It sends alerts to your phone when he leaves the safe zone and when he gets back. Over the years he only lost it twice, which we recovered using the device and our phone. He was a very spoiled, laid back, friendly cat. He didn't like to be held inside against his will and would cry 'tilhe got hoarse, so I let him have his way and he had been staying outside most nights. Well, this past Thursday, his collar alerted me that he was almost 2 miles from home, so I knew in my gut that the coyoteshad him.
My husband and grandkids went and tracked the signal down and there it was. What was left of him with the collar attached. The collar did its job and well worth the money for anyone that wants peace of mind on their dog or cats' whereabouts. We had no idea that coyotes travel in packs so far. There was a pack of prints where the remains were found. A void in my heart will forever be.
Notice that Nicole's tracking device, while providing location, does not protect its animal wearer.
A half-day program covering topics like 'Infection Control / COVID-19 Care,' 'Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine,' 'Eye Diseases in the Elderly,' and 'Arthritis in the Elderly' is scheduled forAug. 5 in the Healthy Lifestyles Center atTerrebonne GeneralMedical Center.
The first session begins at 8:30 a.m., the others following, all in The Locker Room of Terrebonne General,855 Belanger St. Information at tgheaIthsystem.com or873-4141.
The Thibodaux schoolreopens Aug. 6with a new principalbut with the same dedication to the needs of area dyslexic students, reports Carol Broussard. Applications for first grade are still being accepted, and a new bus has been acquired. More details soon. Visit the website, maxcharter.org, or contact Principal Rodrigue 227-9500 or arodrigue@maxcharter.org.
Responding? Contact Bill Ellzey at 985 381-6256, at ellzey@viscom.net, billellzey312@gmail.com, or c/o The Courier, P.O. Box 2717, Houma, LA 70361.
All seven students were symptomatic, the university said.
July 23, 2021, 9:45 AM
5 min read
Stanford University reported at least seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated students this week.
All seven students were symptomatic, according to the school.
"As you have seen in the national news, cases of COVID-19 have been ticking upward," Stanford University officials said in a letter to students on Thursday. "We are seeing some of this in our own community, where we are experiencing an increase in the number of student COVID cases, including among fully vaccinated individuals."
In this Aug. 6, 2020, file photo, a general view of Hoover Tower on the campus of Stanford University is shown in Stanford, Calif.
Although the chances of contracting the novel coronavirus after being fully vaccinated are very rare, so-called breakthrough cases are still possible. Although COVID-19 vaccines have shown to be highly effective, they do not block the virus 100% of the time, meaning that some breakthrough infections occur after vaccination. This is normal and expected, and it's not proof that the vaccines aren't working, experts said.
However, health officials and experts alike have warned that new, more contagious variants of the novel coronavirus may be more effective at evading vaccines.
Stanford University officials said "vaccination continues to be our best defense against severe COVID-19 infection." Face masks, physical distancing and regular hand washing "remain powerful ways to prevent the transmission of COVID-19," officials added.
All students, faculty, staff, contractors and visitors are required to wear face coverings in spaces that are open to the public on the private university's 8,180-acre campus in Stanford, California, about 20 miles northwest of San Jose. Face coverings in crowded indoor spaces on campus are recommended.
A person gets a COVID-19 vaccine dose in Long Beach, Calif., July 6, 2021.
Stanford University recently loosened its COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated students who are living on campus or are coming to campus frequently this summer. Those individuals are no longer required to test weekly for COVID-19 or complete daily submissions on the school's "Health Check" tool if they are verified as being fully vaccinated against the disease.
Overall, Stanford University has reported at least 257 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Some 8,300 students are fully vaccinated against the disease, while 330 are partially vaccinated, according to data posted on the school's website.
Stanford University's Vaden Health Services is connecting with each student who tests positive for COVID-19 to identify and notify their close contacts, who will be encouraged to get tested as soon as possible. Students who test positive will be provided with medical care and isolation space, according to the school.
"Again, vaccinations are effective at preventing severe illness. However, we need everyone to be vigilant," Stanford University officials warned in the letter Thursday. "The variants remain of concern."
