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Top Texas officials again urged health care providers to administer more coronavirus vaccines Tuesday, the same day the state reported that the proportion of Texans whose coronavirus tests come back positive has hit levels not seen since a summer wave of cases that overwhelmed some hospitals.
The state reported Tuesday that 163,700 Texans had been vaccinated with at least one dose of the vaccine. About 1.2 million doses have been allocated to providers across the state through the first three weeks since their arrival, according to the Department of State Health Services.
"A significant portion of vaccines distributed across Texas might be sitting on hospital shelves as opposed to being given to vulnerable Texans," Gov. Greg Abbott said in a tweet Tuesday evening.
That tweet came after health officials asked providers that received doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to immediately vaccinate all eligible Texans, including people 65 and older and those who are at least 16 with a qualifying medical condition. That renewed push echoed a statement Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas DSHS, sent to providers last week directing them to administer their entire allotment with all deliberate speed.
"Dr. Hellerstedt put out that statement today to make it clear to all providers that people over the age of 65 and people with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of severe disease of death from COVID-19 are eligible to receive vaccine now," said spokesperson Douglas Loveday. "Vaccine supply remains limited but more vaccine will be delivered to providers each week. It will take time to vaccinate everyone in those priority groups."
Texas officials' push for providers to administer more vaccines comes as Texas seven-day average COVID-19 positivity rate has remained above 15% for one week, according to data the state released Tuesday. And that sustained rise in the rate comes one day after the state reported a record number of Texans hospitalized with the virus.
We can expect an increasing surge in case numbers over the coming weeks as a result, and not far behind the surge in cases will be a surge in hospitalizations and potential fatalities, said Angela Clendenin, an epidemiologist and biostatistician at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health.
Clendenin said the rising positivity rate is likely in part due to a greater number of tests among people who are asymptomatic and those who have only mild symptoms.
On Tuesday, the state reported that 17.15% of molecular coronavirus tests came back as confirmed cases over the last seven days. The seven-day average positivity rate has remained above 15% since Dec. 22.
Abbott in May said that a sustained positivity rate above 10% was cause for alarm.
If the positivity test rate is more than 10%, thats one of those red flags that we begin to look at, Abbott said at a May 5 press briefing.
But in recent months, Abbott has repeatedly sworn off any new shutdowns. Instead, he has pointed to a statewide mask mandate that remains in effect and certain occupancy reductions that are triggered when the proportion of a regions COVID-19 patients exceeds 15% of hospital capacity for seven days. A Texas Tribune analysis found those restrictions did little to ease burdened health care systems in areas hit hardest by the virus.
Gov. Abbott continues to rely on the data-driven hospitalization metrics used by doctors and medical experts to help inform and guide the states ongoing efforts to mitigate COVID-19, said spokesperson Renae Eze. As some communities experience a rise in hospitalizations, the state of Texas is working closely with local officials to quickly provide the resources needed to address these spikes and keep Texans safe, including surging medical personnel and supplies.
In September, the Texas DSHS began publishing a new version of the states positivity rate. It takes into account the date a test was administered, not when it was reported. That change in reporting revealed that the share of people receiving positive test results was higher in the spring than originally disclosed.
Texas rising positivity rate is the latest in a series of metrics that has worried public health experts, particularly in the midst of the holiday season which could exacerbate an already spreading virus.
On Monday, the state reported more Texans were hospitalized with the virus than at any point during the pandemic. And earlier this month, the states stock of available intensive care beds sank to its lowest point yet. There were 11,775 people in hospitals on Tuesday and 653 available ICU beds.
Two weeks ago, Texas began vaccinating front-line health care workers and nursing home residents and staff, marking a significant first step in the fight against the coronavirus. But experts estimate that it will take between six and nine months for the COVID-19 vaccine to be widely available.
It is more important than ever, where we find ourselves today, to remain extra vigilant about physical distancing, mask wearing, good hand hygiene, and avoiding non-essential travel and gatherings with others outside of our households until the vaccine becomes widely available and a significant number of people become vaccinated, Clendenin said.
Mandi Cai contributed to this story.
Disclosure: Texas A&M University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
As COVID-19 vaccinations become more readily available to the general public, companies will be facing a decision: In order to ensure a safer workplace, should employees be required to show proof of inoculation?
Also, would such a mandate be lawful?
Laura Rideout, an attorney with Portland law firm Preti Flahertys labor and employment practice group, said certain industries indeed may impose such requirements in order to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19. Still, an informal survey of major employers in Maine by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram found that none have any immediate plans to require their workers to be vaccinated.
Generally, employers may be allowed to mandate that their employees receive vaccinations, Rideout said, but there are a whole bunch of legal considerations that come into play.
What if the employee objects on religious grounds? Or is pregnant? Or has a disability that conflicts with the requirement? The pandemic, Rideout noted, does not nullify anti-discrimination laws.
Rideout also raises the possibility of employees rebelling against a companys hardline stance. If 75 percent of the workforce refuses to be vaccinated, that puts the company in a tricky situation.
Do they back down? That doesnt necessarily look great, Rideout said. It can have other implications if an employer has a policy on the books and doesnt enforce it and then there are problems that arise that the policy was designed to prevent.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently updated guidelines concerning the impact of COVID-19 on anti-discrimination laws, with an entire section of questions and answers focused on vaccinations.
Included in the update is a reminder that guidance from public health authorities is likely to change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves: Therefore, employers should continue to follow the most current information on maintaining workplace safety.
A few of Maines largest employers already have policies in place regarding vaccinations, and others are still formulating their plans.
Two of the states largest health care organizations are encouraging, but not mandating, vaccines for their workers. MaineHealth requires flu vaccines, but stops short of a mandate in its stated policy to employees on COVID-19 vaccines.
While the COVID-19 vaccine has gone through the trials and steps that would normally be required of any vaccine, and it has been shown to be both safe and effective, as it is a new vaccine, MaineHealth is not requiring care team members to receive it as is the case with flu vaccination, reads the policy provided by a MaineHealth spokesman. Still, we urge all eligible care team members to educate themselves and take advantage of this opportunity to enhance their safety and that of their colleagues and patients.
Northern Light Health is encouraging all staff to get vaccinated and said it will offer to perform those vaccinations as more supply becomes available.
As you know, current supplies are limited and we are focused on those staff members who are most at risk of COVID-19 exposure at this time, said company spokesman Andy Soucier in an emailed response to a reporters question. Currently, Northern Light Health has no plans to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for staff.
Melanie Tinto, chief human resources officer at the Portland-based payment technology firm Wex Inc., said it was highly unlikely that her company would require a vaccine.
At Wex, we always respect our employees choices to make their own healthcare decisions whenever possible, she said. With that said, we will likely work to see what we can do to help our employees and their families who choose to get access to the vaccine where possible.
Central Maine Power is a subsidiary of Connecticut-based Avangrid, which operates in other states as well as Maine. That means policy is being formulated at a national level with the understanding that many decisions will be made at the state level.
We are closely following the logistics associated with vaccine distribution that are being established at the state and sometimes county levels, said CMP spokeswoman Catharine Hartnett. We are engaged in ongoing conversations as it relates to both the availability and timing of vaccine distribution, and will look to the recommendations by local and public health authorities to guide our decision-making process.
Similarly, representatives of L.L. Bean, Idexx, Hannaford Supermarkets and Bangor Savings Bank all said they are following developments but not ready to implement vaccination policies.
Rideout, the Preti Flaherty attorney, said companies are probably wise to avoid strict mandates, unless were talking about one of those critical industries where a vaccination is truly necessary for safety.
She stressed that those who do receive vaccinations should not assume they can return to their old way of doing business.
What the CDC has said is that vaccines are now one more tool that we have in our toolbox to promote safety, she said. People still need to be doing masking and social distancing. So from that regard, vaccines probably shouldnt change the way employers are approaching whatever safety protocols theyve already implemented in their workplace.
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Airlines are joining the fight against the coronavirus.
The long wait for a vaccine may be over, but distributing it to the 7.8 billion people around the world is the next big challenge. In the U.S., both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines require two doses that will eventually need to reach the nation's roughly 330 million people.
Even though shipping is only one part of the journey, it's a critical step. DHL and McKinsey estimate vaccinating the world will require up to 15,000 flights. In the U.S., airlines have stepped up to become a crucial part of the supply chain alongside logistics giants like UPS, FedEx and DHL.
American Airlines, Delta and United have been preparing since the summer and jumped into action hours after vaccines were approved for emergency use in the U.S.
Airlines carrying pharmaceuticals and vaccines is not a new idea, but the scale and speed at which the Covid-19 vaccines must be delivered makes it a more complicated endeavor.
Watch the video to learn how U.S. airlines are transforming to rapidly transport Covid-19 vaccines.
COLLIER COUNTY
Vaccine rollout will continue for the first weekend of 2021 in Southwest Florida, but to get a vaccine in Collier County, you need an appointment, and the county is completely booked.
Florida Department of Health in Collier County says, if you do not have an appointment, do not jump in any of the lines for vaccinations.
DOH-Collier now has a feature to allow people eligible for the vaccine to join a waitlist. You can find the waitlist button by visiting the eventbrite registration page. When you click register, you will see a list of sold-out dates in addition to a red button that says Join Waitlist.
As much as Tony Cimorelli and his wife would like to get back on cruises and put the coronavirus behind them, they think the method of first-come, first-serve in Lee County was chaotic. Seeing the lines to get the COVID-19 vaccine there didnt sit well with them.
There are a lot of people out there, Cimorelli said. They are too close together.
The couple waited and hoped an appointment option would come along.
Theres no way that we are going to go down there and stand in line for 18 hours to get a shot, Cimorelli said.
People 65 and older can make appointments in Collier County, but the county is booked for the near future, and the Cimorellis missed the boat.
No we can wait in the lines if we wanted to, but like I say, why do that when there are other alternatives available, Cimorelli said.
That doesnt mean all hope is lost. Cimorelli now sits in the virtual line. He and his wife are on Collier Countys vaccination waitlist.
Hey, we are in north Cape, and we are willing to travel down to Collier to get it, Cimorelli said. Because we travel a lot, weve done over 100 cruises, and we wanna get back on the ships.
We reached out to DOH-Collier about the new waitlist option and are waiting to hear back. For more information in Collier County, visit the Florida Department of Health in Collier County website.
Cimorelli said he doesnt know how far down he and his wife are on the wait list, but he says its safer than standing in line all night.
We can hopefully get out a little bit more, Cimorelli said. Weve been sequestered in our little community here for nine months, so were ready to get out.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) --An Oregon health care worker has been hospitalized after having a severe allergic reaction to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
The Oregon Health Authority says the employee at Wallowa Memorial Hospital experienced anaphylaxis after receiving a first dose of the vaccine this week.
The health authority said vaccines for COVID-19 can cause mild to moderate side effects in some people. This can include pain and swelling on the arm and sometimes fever, chills, tiredness and headache.
In rare cases, some people have experienced severe allergic reactions.
Health officials will continue to track adverse reactions. So far, 38,698 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Oregon since the week of Dec. 13.
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Only four million people in the U.S. have received a Covid-19 vaccine thus far, well below the initial estimate of 20 million. Its all part of a federal rollout that has received bipartisan criticism, including from Utah Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) who called it inexcusable. Elizabeth Rosenthal of Kaiser Health News spoke to NBCs Joshua Johnson about what can be done to improve the distribution plan, which she says has been a nightmare.Jan. 3, 2021
The state is focused on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and by the end of this week, thousands of nursing home residents are expected to receive their first dose.
The distribution at nursing homes in the state is steady and throughout this week, the flow of vaccines will increase.
Another COVID-19 vaccine candidate was just approved in Britain and Dr. David Banach, an epidemiologist at UConn Health, is helping make sense of the emerging science as more vaccines are approved.
At least 200 nursing homes are expecting their first batch of shots by the end of this week.
So far, more than 55,000 vaccines have been distributed throughout the state.
Despite some slower than expected results nationwide, Gov. Ned Lamont said COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Connecticut has been moving along smoothly.
Connecticut is rolling out vaccines in phases. Currently, we're in 1A so healthcare personnel, long-term care facility residents and first responders are first in line.
"We will be working to expand and we're working now to expand the number of providers who will be able to give vaccinations. We'll be bringing retail pharmacies into the mix, more types of providers as we expand the eligible population for vaccines," said Dept. of Public Health Acting Commissioner Deidre Gifford.
The state's Vaccine Advisory Board is set to recommend who should get their shots next this week.
I just hope for all of us, that this is contained, and we can get back to our normal lives," vaccine recipient Brenda Taylor said.
HOUSTON Many Houstonians waited several hours Saturday to get their first round of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, but many of them said they wouldve waited even longer.
Its the day Alex Wathen has waited nine months for.
I have high blood pressure. I have diabetes. I have susceptibility to pneumonia," Wathen said.
So whats a few more hours?
Ill wait a whole day for this if I have to, you know," Wathen said. "I just had to make sure I get it. I just cant take any chance.
Wathen was one of the lucky ones who got in to get a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Kari McElfish was another.
It was a very smooth, but long process," McElfish said.
McElfish said she got there around 10 a.m. but didnt actually get her shot until almost six hours later.
Today was just kind of a glitch. I think that happened. I think they have everything under control. Theyre going to be doing it again tomorrow," McElfish said.
Being a home health specialist, she was one of the few who qualified to get the vaccine.
I'm excited, because its one step closer to normalizing our lives again. Just getting our normal lives back," McElfish said.
But as weve all learned, normalcy takes time.
It's been an all day process," Brenda Taylor said.
Taylor is just happy to be one step closer.
I just hope for all of us, that this is contained, and we can get back to our normal lives," Taylor said.
There will be another opportunity to get a Moderna vaccine Sunday and more this week.
The call center is back up and running, and were told there is still availability for Sunday. You can start calling (832) 393-4220 from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit the Houston Health Departments website.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, said he expects the coronavirus vaccination to be mandatory in some institutions in the future.
In an interview with Newsweek published Friday, Fauci said he's "sure" institutions like hospitals will mandate the vaccine.
"I'm not sure [the vaccine is] going to be mandatory from a central government standpoint, like federal government mandates," he said. "But there are going to be individual institutions that I'm sure are going to mandate it."
Fauci pointed to his own experience with the National Institutes of Health, which mandates all employees and contractors receive yearly influenza and Hepatitis B vaccines.
"I have to get certified every year," he told Newsweek. "If I didn't, I couldn't see patients. So in that regard, I would not be surprised, as we get into the full scope of [COVID-19] vaccination, that some companies, some hospitals, some organizations might require [COVID-19] vaccination."
Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also said schools might be among the institutions that mandate the vaccine. It is also "quite possible," he said, that the vaccine will be required for travel to and from the United States.
"Everything will be on the table for discussion" within the incoming Biden administration, he said. The Biden transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The decision to standardize the vaccine as a travel requirement is not one that Fauci can make, he said. But he thinks it would be a smart move, he told Newsweek.
"Yellow fever's a good example. So we, in this country, don't require [people] to get a yellow fever vaccine when you go [to] some place. It's the place to which you are going that requires it," he said. "I went to Liberia during the ebola outbreak. I had to get my yellow fever vaccine or they would not let me into Liberia."
In the United States, about 3.5 million doses have been given out since the Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines.
Business Insider's Susie Neilson previously reported that the vaccine rollout has been slower than anticipated, and at this rate, it will take nine years to reach widespread vaccination.
On Tuesday, President-elect Joe Biden criticized the slow rollout of vaccines.
"The effort to distribute and administer the vaccine is not progressing as it should," Biden said in Wilmington, Delaware. At this rate, he said, "it's going to take years, not months, to vaccinate the American people."
