This is a weekly Q and A column written by Dr, Lydia S. Segal, M.D.l in conjunction with Chaffee County Public Health. This column is focused on questions readers have about COVID-19 news and sciences. As Segal points out, ‘Everything I write today is valid for today. COVID-19 news and science are rapidly evolving; assume updates will be made.”
QUESTION: The percentage of positive COVID tests has increased, then decreased in recent weeks in the county. What is that all about?
Bryce Rodrigue, age 14 and Mom Whitney are all smiles as they relax after his vaccination at the mobile clinic in Riverside Park in Salida. Merrell Bergin photo
ANSWER: About a month ago, the county was at one percent positivity, meaning of those tested, one percent were positive, it went up to five percent and has now returned to 1.7 percent. See the Chaffee County COVID dashboard for more details. When contact tracing is done by public health staff, the one thing that is clear is that most of those who are positive, greater than 95 percent, are unvaccinated.
This means that although treatments have improved for COVID-19, and fewer people are dying, people are still getting COVID-19 and are still getting sick and some are needing to be hospitalized. The one clear preventative measure we have is to get vaccinated. It is free and convenient. See the links below for vaccine clinics.
QUESTION: Will I need a booster? If so, when? And will it be combined with the influenza vaccine? Does the vaccine type that I got make a difference in terms of boosters?
ANSWER: According to the most current information on the duration and robustness of the vaccines, the two mRNA vaccines given in this country, Pfizer and Moderna, are showing sustained immunity at more than 250 days. This is based on the clinical trials from last summer. The adenovirus-based vaccine, J & J, looks like it is showing decreased immune protection over the last six or so months. Its trial was in the fall. This may mean a booster for the J & J vaccine may be more important and may need to be given sooner. However, we still do not know how important a booster is and exactly when it would be needed. As time progresses, we will know more.
It is not clear whether the booster will be combined with the influenza vaccine. Of note, there was practically no flu this last season. This is attributable to handwashing, masking, and social distancing.
QUESTION: Will a booster be needed for the different variants that are currently circulating in the world?
ANSWER: To date, each of the vaccine types have shown different levels of efficacy against the different variants. Each variant has a different level of transmission and a different level of lethality. Right now the variant of greatest concern is one of the variants from India. As of this writing, the mRNA vaccines are still showing high levels of immune coverage.
Keep in mind that the UK variant B.117 is the most prevalent variant from the original virus. All the USA-administered vaccines are showing good to excellent efficacy against the UK variant.
QUESTION: The variants are about to be named differently based on new naming protocols from the World Health Organization (WHO). What does this mean?
ANSWER: The WHO decided to simplify the naming of each of the variants and will be using the Greek alphabet. The UK (B.117) will be renamed alpha. The South African B.1.351 will be renamed beta and the India variant is renamed delta. This is a naming change only.
QUESTION: There are lots of events happening this summer including the upcoming FIBArk. What precautions do I need to take?
ANSWER: If you are fully immunized and an event is held outside, you are safe according to the CDC, state, and county public health authorities. To add an extra level of protection, when you can, maintain a six-foot distance from others if you don’t know their immune status and there is a lot of yelling and cheering going on around you. Remember that what we now know is the virus is passed primarily as an aerosol. It is most effectively passed in enclosed indoor spaces.
For more information about COVID and the vaccines, eligibility, and appointments, see the links below. Pharmacies will be getting small shipments of vaccines in the near future. Information will be posted online here and on the county public health web pages.
http://chaffeecounty.org/Public-Health-Coronavirus
https://www.hrrmc.com/covid-19-updates/covid-19-vaccine/
Pharmacy vaccine resources:
Salida: Walmart, Safeway, Salida Pharmacy
Buena Vista: City Market, BV Drug, Shavano Pharmacy (LaGree’s) and Valley-Wide Health
If you have a COVID related question, please send it to arkvalleyvoice@gmail.com and I will attempt to address it in the next few weeks.
By Lydia S. Segal, M.D., MPH
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