MADISON (WKOW) -- One year ago, Wisconsin's first coronavirus case was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The patient was treated at UW Hospital in Madison.
Dr. Louis Scrattish was on duty in the emergency department that day.
He told WISN-TV about his concern for the patient, the other 30 patients in the ER and the medical team.
"I remember that the charge nurse had gone up to me and said that they had a patient that had just checked in whom had just traveled from China ---- and was coming in with symptoms consistent with possible COVID," Dr. Scrattish said. "There was a lot we did not know about the coronavirus at that time, and how sick it could make people. So I think there certainly was some fear there."
The patient came in days before the case of COVID-19 was confirmed. It took some time to get the test results back because the test had to go all the way to the CDC in Atlanta.
McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- The release of hundreds of migrant families who had crossed illegally into South Texas has prompted an outcry from migrant advocates about how these immigrants should be referred to in the media.
"The phrase 'catch and release' is an extremely dehumanizing phrase because it comes from fishing, and therefore it compares human beings to fish, to animals," Efrn Olivares, deputy legal directorfor the Southern Poverty Law Center, told Border Report. "It is also a propagandistic phrase developed by anti-immigrant hardliners."
Mass vaccination locations are listed first below, offer the most appointments, and updateavailability every Thursday.
If your search does not turn up any results, try expanding the distance.
NOTICE: Appointments are available for the next week at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Fenway Park in Boston, and the Eastfield Mall in Springfield. Other locations may still have limited availability.
How to schedule your appointment: On the search results page, click on the highlighted link under "URL" to go to the booking site and schedule your appointment.
Janet Hanson hasnt had anyone inside her home outside of maintenance workers for almost a year.
Because of the pandemic, the 86-year-old -- who lives in the Friendship Village senior citizen complex in Kalamazoo -- cant travel to see her daughter in Arizona. Hanson saw her son only in outdoor venues until it got too cold, and now theyre limited to phone calls. Her social life these days are limited to outdoor walks with several neighbors, all fully masked.
But on Friday, Hanson got her second dose of the Moderna vaccine. In two weeks, she will be considered 95% protected against COVID-19.
And yet its unclear when Hansons life will change; she still needs to adhere to the strict rules put in place by Friendship Village.
And its not just Friendship Village. Hanson is one of a quarter-million Michigan residents who have gotten two doses of a coronavirus vaccine so far, and public-health experts and infectious-disease doctors are saying all those individuals need to continue with masks and social distancing for now.
We havent gotten to the point yet where we say, OK, you can go go around maskless even after vaccination, even two weeks after the second dose, said Dr. Frank Rosenblat, an Oakland County infectious disease specialist with McLaren Health.
The issue is this, say Rosenblat and others: The data is clear that the vaccines greatly reduces the risks of being hospitalized or dying of COVID-19. What is much less clear is whether the current vaccines protect against asymptomatic cases.
And if, in fact, vaccinated people can still be infected with the virus, that means they could infect others and put them at risk of severe illness or death.
So whats happening now is, in effect, a real-world experiment to see what happens, and help public-health experts craft appropriate guidelines.
We have a pretty good confidence level that the vaccines prevent serious illness associated with COVID, Rosenblat said. But we dont know if people who are vaccinated can still transmit the virus to others. Theres no real data yet. Were experiencing and collecting the data as we go.
So Im telling my patients to stay safe, he said. Continue to put a mask on and do all the things you were doing before with social distancing and all that stuff until we have some better data, which Im pretty confident well have in the coming months.
Dr. Anurag Malani, an Ann Arbor infectious disease specialist with Trinity Health, said hes also telling his patients to stay the course on coronavirus mitigation strategies for now.
If you look at the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials, the vaccines were 95% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID infection, he said. But we dont have the answers yet on whether people can still be infected and infectious. And the other thing thats really important is you dont necessarily know whos had the vaccine.
For those reasons, he said, the guidance around masking and social distancing, thats not going away right now, and I dont see that changing in the near future.
That said, Malani said that researchers will be looking closely at different metrics to see how fast the nationwide vaccination program can bring down the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, and at what point herd immunity kicks in -- which means case rates fall low enough that even unvaccinated people are unlikely to get the virus.
While doctors stress the importance of masking and social distancing in public venues, they do say people who are fully immunized can start weighing the risk of increased interactions with friends and family in private settings, particularly with others who are also immunized.
If youve had the vaccine and someone else has had the vaccine, that kind of changes things in terms of rules for interaction, Malani said. The risk of spending time together is going to be significantly less, if theres any risk at all.
Its been almost a month since Dr. Maureen Ford, an emergency department physician at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, got her second dose of vaccine. Shes still masking and social distancing around those outside her household.
I definitely havent changed my immediate behavior, she said.
But once her parents and in-laws get fully immunized, Ford said that she may loosen things up a bit with them -- although one factor is that Fords husband and children will still be unvaccinated.
We may hang out indoors, but I honestly think well still mask, she said. And hopefully, in the spring and summer, we can do more -- especially outdoor stuff -- and be able to see each other more regularly.
Ford said there are tentative plans for a summer camping trip with extended family. Were optimistic that can happen, she said.
Dr. Dennis Cunningham, an infectious disease specialist with Henry Ford Health System in metro Detroit, said the vaccine does give more protection, which means, say, sharing a meal with people outside the household becomes less risky.
But even with the vaccine, he said, theres still a 5% risk for a vaccinated person to have a symptomatic case of COVID. You have to think about whether its worth the risk, he said. It can be a pretty brutal infection, so I would advise people to be more conservative in relaxing the rules.
But Mulani also acknowledges that many people -- especially senior citizens -- have had severely constricted social lives for almost a year, and the risk vs. benefit calculations have shifted as the pandemic has continued.
COVID has taught us that nothing is 100% risk free, right? he said. Its all about risk mitigation.
So yes, I think even if youve been vaccinated, you need to avoid a Super Bowl party with people you dont know, he said. But there are situations where the risk is low enough that Id be willing to consider the potential upside, like grandparents seeing their family members. Vaccinated people getting together with other vaccinated people.
He and others also said that as more people become vaccinated and, hopefully, coronavirus case levels diminish, public-health recommendations are likely to loosen in upcoming months.
The way we move towards a time where were not wearing masks is by having enough of population immune -- herd immunity -- and were nowhere near that now, Mulani said. But as more people get vaccinated, every day is hopefully a step in the right direction.
It cant come fast enough for Hanson and her friends in Friendship Village.
A lot of us do feel its about time to start the change in moving back to normal, Hanson said. Change at least some things. Im looking forward to it.
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The chance to get the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be at a premium in Los Angeles County next week as a continuing supply crunch and a hefty queue of those needing a second shot will leave few opportunities for those looking to start their inoculations, a top health official said Friday.
Most appointments offered at the major county-run vaccination sites will be needed for second doses, according to Dr. Paul Simon, chief science officer for the L.A. County Department of Public Health. At the countys five mega-PODs, or mass points of distribution, only a very limited number of people will be able to receive their first doses Monday.
Were just struggling with the supply, the limited supply, and feeling an obligation to make sure that people that had a first dose are able to get their second dose, he said during a briefing. But we know, just based on the numbers, next week at least in our sites, beyond Monday, we really have to stick with the second doses. When we get to the following week, it may be a slightly different story if we are able to get a larger supply of a vaccine. But well have to wait and see.
In the face of constrained and inconsistent supplies, the county is reserving sufficient doses to ensure there is enough for everyone who has already received the first shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
Both vaccines require two shots, administered three and four weeks apart, respectively.
Because of that, residents who receive their initial dose need to get back in line weeks later. When the countys total vaccine supply remains flat, or goes down, that leaves little wiggle room to also offer first doses.
In L.A. County, 193,950 doses arrived the week of Jan. 11, but only 168,575 were delivered the following week and 146,225 the week after that.
County officials said 184,625 doses arrived this week. While a boost from last weeks total, shipments need to be much larger to keep up with demand and allow additional pools of Angelenos to receive their first shots.
If we do continue to receive increasing supplies, obviously well be able to expand and continue to offer first doses, Simon said. Certainly, we want to do that.
Cumulatively, more than 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in L.A. County, and nearly 850,000 people or about 11% of the population of those 16 and over have received first doses. Roughly 2.6% of Angelenos in that age range are fully vaccinated.
The bottleneck isnt unique to L.A. County. Regions throughout California have reported similar problems and have had to take similar steps to make sure people dont miss out on the second shots.
First-dose clinics have been paused in Napa County as officials catch up on giving second inoculations.
Although its amazing that the vaccine is here now, we just dont have enough of it, said Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa Countys public health officer. Supplies are unpredictable. Were running on thin margins.
So far, more than 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered throughout California.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 7 million doses of the vaccine have been shipped, and 6.8 million have been delivered to health providers in the state. That means, nearly 62% of the available supply has been used.
Officials said the state is expecting a vaccine allocation of more than 1 million doses next week, and a similar amount the week after. Previously, the state had been allocated roughly 300,000 to 500,000 doses per week.
The supply, while increasing, remains low compared to whats needed, and eligibility is limited. California health departments can currently administer vaccines to healthcare workers, staff and residents at long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and adults who are at least 65 years old.
They also have the option of doling out doses to those who work in the fields of education, emergency services and food and agriculture but many counties have yet to open eligibility to those groups, given supply constraints.
L.A. County, for instance, is accepting appointments only for healthcare workers, residents of long-term care facilities and adults who are at least 65 years old.
Together, those groups comprise about 2 million people, meaning 4 million doses would be needed to fully vaccinate those who are currently eligible to say nothing of the millions more Angelenos who still need to be inoculated.
Unfortunately, the biggest issue we continue to face in our ability to vaccinate is a scarcity of supply and variability in the amount of vaccines we receive from week to week, Simon said. This has been an issue across the country, and it makes planning very challenging.
Times staff writer Faith E. Pinho contributed to this report.
Despite national confusion, mixed messages, and scarcity, McCann, 39, had managed to lock in a date for her Chester County parents, both cancer survivors in their 70s, to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Then she scheduled shots for her in-laws and older family and friends. She hasnt stopped since. In just two weeks, the Exton woman, her sister, Mary Brady, and cousin, Alicia Karr, have established a network of volunteers helping dozens in the area, most of them strangers, get vaccinated.
The ghost lights new message is emanating from stages in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Florida, California, and across the globe. Sarah Rasmussen, artistic director of Princetons McCarter Theatre Center, says that she will sometimes walk into the McCarters Matthews Theatre just to spend a moment in the presence of the ghost light and remind herself that live performances will be back someday.
Was at school Monday through Thursday; close contacts notified
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) Parents of students at Elk Meadow Elementary School in southwest Bend were notified in a letter Friday evening that a person associated with the school who was on site for four days this week has tested positive for COVID-19.
Principal Kelle Hildebrandt said she could not identify the person who was at the school Monday through Thursday, due to federal patient privacy protections.
Our health team has completed an investigation regarding this case, Hildebrandt wrote. All individuals identified as close contact to the positive case have been contacted directly.
She said the parents of any child identified as a close contact to the person will also receive a contact tracing communication, with close contact defined as being less than six feet away for 15 minutes or more within 24 hours. If you do not receive an individual contact, your child was not a close contact of the case, the principal said.
Much as a COVID-19 case late last month at High Lakes Elementary, parents were advised if anyone at their home becomes sick with one or more listed symptoms between now and Feb. 18 should contact their health care provider for guidance.
I am empathetic that these messages may cause concern, Hildebrandt wrote. We believe that it is important to keep our families in the loop while reinforcing positive behaviors that help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and community while balancing trust and transparency through this information sharing.
The three-page letter also included contact tracing information, quarantine instructions and reminders on protecting against COVID-19.
The COVID case came before Bend-La Pine Schools return to in-person instruction at all schools on Monday, for the first time in more than 10 months.
Also next week, hundreds of staff members will receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The school district announced that next Fridays school day will return to distance learning, so staff are able to get vaccinated.
Like many other San Diegans, Patricia Horvath has been daydreaming for months about what life will be like once she gets the COVID-19 vaccine.
Hug the grandkids. Take an international cruise with friends.
Itll be a real shot in the arm, the 81-year-old Point Loma resident figured, in more ways than one.
Except now that shes received the vaccine, shes finding out its not that simple.
Its a two-sided coin, she said. Of course Im happy to get it. I feel more comfortable now. But at the same time, theres still a lot of uncertainty.
Uncertainty about whether she can get asymptomatic infections and pass them on to others. Uncertainty about how well the vaccines will work against new variants. Uncertainty about how long the inoculation will last.
So for the time being, she said, shes not changing a lot. Still wearing a mask when she goes out. Still washing her hands regularly. Still keeping her distance around other people except, maybe, those grandkids.
Im not going to let down my defenses much, she said.
A Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot is prepared at the San Diego Convention Center.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Since its arrival here almost a year ago, the novel coronavirus has been all about risk-reward calculations. The vaccines are adding a new layer to that, even as they offer hope that the end is near for a pandemic that has killed more than 2,700 people in the county, 43,000 in California, and 450,000 nationwide.
Now, with the U.S. administering about 1.3 million shots per day, those 65 and over who have been lucky enough to navigate the online vaccine-appointment system suddenly find themselves in an altered reality.
They used to be the ones considered most at risk from the virus, the ones everybody else worried about. Now that theyve been vaccinated, they feel the burden of watching out for their loved ones.
Along the way, theyve become objects of jealousy, on social media and elsewhere. Does posting a photo of yourself with an orange I got my COVID-19 vaccine! sticker make you a goodwill ambassador for widespread inoculation and herd immunity, or does it make you a braggart?
In the eye of the beholder, no doubt. Which is why Dr. Davey Smith, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego, thinks the cautious approach Horvath is taking is the right one.
The vaccine isnt a get out of jail free card, he said. You should still follow the public-health guidelines on mask-wearing and other things. Thats the best way to keep us all safe.
Dr. Davey Smith in a laboratory at UC San Diego.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
As a health-care worker, Smith received the vaccine, and was super relieved to get it, he said. It definitely makes me feel better going out and about, whether its seeing patients in the hospital or shopping for groceries.
Its still unknown how well vaccines will keep the virus from spreading, and until then, Smith said, those who have had their shots still need to do what they can to protect the community. That will go a long way toward getting us all to where we want to be.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer similar advice on their website. While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic.
Others say its important not to dwell too much on what the newly vaccinated shouldnt do, though. That might discourage others from getting inoculated.
You have to message hope and optimism, Monica Gandi, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Francisco, told the Washington Post.
She said two couples who have been vaccinated should be fine to share a meal together indoors because data so far shows they probably wont transmit much, if any, of the virus. Other scientists, though, say its too soon to tell about transmission rates.
Maureen Martin, for one, isnt willing to take chances.
Shes been acting as if I dont have the vaccine at all, even as she anticipates being able soon to resume a regular supper club she had with friends for 15 years before the coronavirus sidelined it.
Marco Sac-Sum gets a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot from San Diego firefighter Brian Sanford at the San Diego Convention Center.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
A registered nurse in Encinitas, Martin, 69, got inoculated early, as part of a clinical trial for a vaccine. She said she volunteered to contribute to science, but also to protect her 81-year-old husband, who has cancer.
Now hes received his first dose of the vaccine, with the second shot coming up in a few days, and thats made them both feel better about the threats they face from the coronavirus.
Their supper club involves five other couples, and once everybody has been vaccinated, theyll probably get together again, Martin said.
But she envisions the meal will be held outside, with the participants keeping their distance from each other and wearing masks when they arent eating.
Well feel a little more comfortable because weve been vaccinated, she said. But well still need to take precautions.
Martin and her husband have also started talking about renewing another passion: travel. Theyve been eyeing New Zealand, perhaps some time next year, depending on how things look with the pandemic. Or maybe Canada.
Linda Nehme, a Clairemont resident, is also making overseas plans after getting her first vaccine dose last week. She rebooked a trip to Chile, canceled by the pandemic last April, for the fall.
For the first time in a long, long time, I really believe Im going to be able to do this, she said. A trip to India at the end of the year is a possibility, too, she said.
At home, though, in the day-to-day, she remains cautious. Her husband, Gareth, works in an office with other people. She worries about possibly passing along the virus to him. She wont feel fully protected until after she gets her second shot, in a few weeks.
People wait in their cars after getting a COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Petco Park Vaccination Super Station.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
So masks and hand-washing and social-distancing are still part of the game plan. Nothings changed, she said. If anything, Im even more wary because of the variants that are out there.
She received her vaccine at Petco Park and remembers the mood there as one of sheer happiness, everybody thinking the same thing, that maybe Im not going to die from this. Even with people wearing masks, she could tell that most were smiling.
Who needs Disneyland? she heard one of the nurses say.
Waiting in the car for her shot, she watched the sky light up with the pinks and purples of a spectacular San Diego sunset. Her overall feeling, she said, was one of joy, tempered by the realization that so many people still havent had the chance to be vaccinated.
Can you imagine, she said, to have hunkered down for all these months, to have done your best to protect yourself and others from COVID, and then to get it just as theres this light at the end of the tunnel? That would be so heartbreaking.
Should you get vaccinated if you have multiple sclerosis? Experts debunk common myths and provide the facts you need.
Epidemiologists are still learning about the nuances of COVID-19 and the vaccines, and some people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may hear conflicting recommendations about getting a vaccine.
For example, you may have been told that no one with MS was part of clinical trials, so that means side effects are unknown. Or, you may hear that if youre immunocompromised and the vaccine causes a strong immune response, it could put you at risk.
You might have other chronic conditions that should either cause you to avoid vaccination in the near-term, or, conversely, get you to the head of the line.
Whats the truth? An epidemiologist and MS specialist offer insights on the three key points you need to know.
While its true that vaccine trials didnt study MS participants specifically, that doesnt mean the vaccine will be unsafe for you, says Sri Banerjee, MD, an epidemiologist and professor of public health at Walden University.
Several members of his family have MS, and hes heard concerns about vaccinations from them and from his patients.
This is often the biggest point of controversy, that people with MS think there are too many unknowns because of the lack of MS patients in the clinical trial, he says. However, that doesnt mean the issue hasnt been examined by experts.
Most notably, the National MS Society gathered a group of researchers and medical professionals to review the available science and make evidence-based recommendations, which you can find on the organizations website.
Using knowledge from studies of other vaccines administered to people with MS, as well as data about the current COVID-19 vaccines, the National MS Society determined that people with MS should be vaccinated against COVID-19. They also decided that the vaccines being given are safe and effective.
In terms of known side effects, the vaccine may cause a fever, and that may make your MS symptoms worse. However, thats considered a temporary side effect and should subside within a few days, if not sooner.
On its own, MS places you in a high-risk category that should warrant getting a vaccine when available.
Furthermore, the National MS Society notes that some individuals are in a higher risk group: those who have progressive forms of MS, are older, have a higher level of physical disability, or are Black or Hispanic. These people should take the vaccine as soon as its available to them.
Thats because these factors have already shown, through research, to be associated with severe symptoms if you develop COVID-19.
The same is true if you have certain other chronic conditions in addition to your MS also called comorbidities according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These include:
Smoking and pregnancy are also a concern for severe COVID-19 symptoms, the CDC adds.
The higher your risk, the sooner you should be vaccinated, says Banerjee.
The question with any vaccination is what advantage you have by getting vaccinated now, compared to later, he says. For some people, waiting longer wont have a significant effect and wont raise their risk. But for those with MS, particularly with comorbidities, the longer they wait, the more of a gamble theyre taking.
Another important point: If youve already had COVID-19, that shouldnt change your vaccination plans.
Many people with MS are on disease modifying therapies, known as DMTs, that affect immune system regulation.
These therapies work by tamping down the immune system so it doesnt begin attacking the bodys own cells, says Barbara Giesser, MD, a neurologist and MS specialist at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute.
For this reason, some people with MS may be at increased risk for becoming sick from the virus that causes COVID-19, she says.
Research on previous vaccines also suggests there may be a diminished response to the COVID-19 vaccine, Geisser adds.
Even if that happens, keep in mind were talking about vaccines that are 95 percent effective, she says. Even if you reduce the effectiveness by 20 or even 30 percent, thats still much better than not getting the vaccine which has zero effectiveness.
Concern about the DMT effect has caused some patients to wonder if they should temporarily stop their therapy as a way to improve the vaccine response, adds Banerjee. But he says thats a dangerous tactic.
Stopping DMT suddenly can cause a significant risk of disability and new lesions, he says. A better approach is to talk with your health provider and time your DMT with the vaccine, so you get the effectiveness of both.
The biggest advice from experts? Talk with your healthcare team about your specific situation.
Although recommendations for people with MS might apply to you, its worth talking through any concerns, especially if youve had severe allergic reactions to vaccines in the past, Geisser says.
Most of all, even after youre vaccinated, continue to take precautions: wear a mask, avoid gatherings, and wash your hands.
Elizabeth Millard lives in Minnesota with her partner, Karla, and their menagerie of farm animals. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including SELF, Everyday Health, HealthCentral, Runners World, Prevention, Livestrong, Medscape, and many others. You can find her and way too many cat photos on her Instagram.
