Utahns over the age of 75 have raised the priority of the COVID-19 vaccine.Key Workers Down – St. George News

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ST. George — The timing of COVID-19 vaccines for Utah people has changed. People over the age of 75 have moved up, but the profession of a person as a mandatory worker is no longer considered a criterion for prioritizing vaccines. It also revealed when teachers, caregivers and staff would be vaccinated.

The Utah Department of Health announced on Monday morning that all Utah states over the age of 75 have transitioned to the start of Phase 2 vaccine distribution. Phase 1 is currently ongoing. It begins with front-line staff at the Dixie Regional Medical Center and will be expanded this week to all medical staff throughout the state, including staff at other medical facilities in southern Utah, including Cedar City Hospital.

So far, Dr. Todd Vento, an infectious disease specialist at Intermountain Healthcare, said the main complaint of vaccinated people is arm pain.But more Severe short-term side effects of the vaccine – Including fever and up to 48 hours of chills – was seen after the second vaccination, which should be given within 21 days of the first vaccination.

Teachers and staff from kindergarten to high school, as well as care staff and patients, will be next at this point in the middle of next month. First responders will be launched shortly thereafter, ending Phase 1 in early February. Phase 2 will begin in mid-February for people over the age of 75 who want the vaccine.

“When moving to Phase 2 of the vaccination program, it makes the most sense to vaccinate those at highest risk of hospitalization and death first,” Governor Gary Herbert said in a statement. “We continue to improve our plans and move forward under the principle that those who suffer the most should be vaccinated first.”

Vent said it made sense to start at the age of 75.

“That’s really important. That group is the one at greatest risk,” Vent said. “The sooner we start doing those things, the less hospitalization we will probably see in the coming months.”

According to the Utah Department of Health, people over the age of 85 make up the majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state, 26.5%, and can die more than four times as many as other age groups.

Previously, occupations were to be a category for deciding who would be vaccinated. Key workers who were considered workers in the grocery, food service, utilities and transportation industries were prioritized. However, the health sector is now choosing to prioritize based on age and other risk factors. This is a move welcomed by the next governor, Spencer Cox.

“Focusing on age, we can continue vaccination, reducing infections and reducing hospitalization more than any other category of individual,” Cox said. “I am very supportive of this change and know that it will save lives.”

Key workers need to wait until the vaccine is released to the general public. This is expected between April and June.

The Ministry of Health has still determined the order of vaccinated people in the high-risk group after people over the age of 75 have been vaccinated.

Vaccine supply is growing slower than expected, with less than expected supply from the federal level.On the other hand, at least 15,000 doses I promised Southern Utah so farThe Utah Department of Health said the area had received 7,325 doses at this time.

Supply may soon be boosted when President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team announces on Monday that it will implement the Defense Production Act to increase vaccine production. The law, which allows the president to order companies to prioritize specific manufacturing, helps President Donald Trump increase ventilator production at a time when the supply of ventilators was thought to be low. I used it for. ..

Healthcare professionals receive vaccines from supplies shipped directly to hospitals.

St. George News learned that some local care centers are said to be vaccinated on January 15th. These vaccines are handled through national pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens, as well as community nursing services. Vaccines are provided at long-term care facilities.

Local school districts, including the Washington and Iron County districts, coordinate with the Public Health Service in southwestern Utah for distribution to teachers and staff. Schools, like medical facilities, are not expected to require vaccines in the short term.

A mass vaccination clinic is planned through the community health department for patients aged 75 and over in Phase 2. The Public Health Service in southwestern Utah is already hosting a dry run.. Vaccines are then expected to be available through pharmacies and healthcare providers, just as influenza vaccinations are currently available.

The virus is mutated, but the vaccine still works

Mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which are prone to infection and infectious, appeared in 50% of new infections in the UK last week and were detected over the weekend, and have already spread around the world. Los Angeles area.

But Vent said the good news is that the vaccine is still effective against mutated viruses.

“Mutation of the virus makes it easier to infect the virus and less virus invades the body. But they see people who have the vaccine and the vaccine also makes people against the mutant strain. I saw that it could be immunized, “said Vent. “The virus mutates. That’s what they do.”

Mutations and uncertainties about whether a person vaccinated against the virus can still be infected, such as medical professionals wearing masks and distances, even after widespread vaccination, Vent said. He said it was part of the reason for recommending continued precautionary measures.

“If you think’the vaccine is here, we’re done’, you need to manage expectations for yourself and commit to long distances,” Vent said. “We are climbing a mountain. We have help to reach the top of the mountain. You can see the top of the mountain … but if you reach that time and are not there,” Why are we? You can’t put a timeline because you say, “Are you not at the top of the mountain?” Mountain? ‘”

Vent added that when vaccinated people carry the virus, it is too early to know if they are still unable to spread it.

It’s too early to see if the holidays will create a new surge

Due to the gestation period of the virus, Vento said it would take a week or two before the effects of Christmas and New Year’s gatherings were determined.

“Our main concern about holiday exposure compared to Thanksgiving is that we have more time with others between Christmas and New Year,” Vent said.

At the same time, Vent said hospitalization was stable, albeit at a high level that required the current contingencies found in places like the Dixie Community Health Center to continue.

At the end of last week, Dixie Regional had a capacity of 73% and 22% of beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Cedar City Hospital was 60% full and 24% of beds were COVID-19 patients.

New infectious diseases are also declining sharply, but Vento may not be a reliable indicator at this time as holiday testing has been completed and the possibility of a holiday surge has not yet been considered. I warned that there was sex.

“The next few months will be important,” Vent said. “These precautions remain the same. We cannot go beyond ourselves.”

COVID-19 Information Resources

St. George News has made every effort to ensure that the information in this story is accurate at the time it was written. However, some data may have changed as the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus and science continue to evolve.

Check the following resources for the latest information and resources.

Number of coronaviruses in southern Utah (as of December 28, 2020, 7-day average in parentheses)

Positive COVID-19 test: 18,171 (187.1 new infections per day in 7 days, decreased after December 22)

• County figures released late Monday

New Infectious Diseases in Major Cities in Southern Utah (Numbers Announced Prior to Southern Utah):

• St. George: 66 (falling)
• Washington: 27 (Fall)
• Hurricane / Rubberkin: 19 (Fall)
• Ivins City / Santa Clara: 11 (Fall)
• Cedar City: 32 (Fall)

Dead (number): 132 (0.9 per day, fall)

• Washington County: 107 (two new from previous report: long-term care women over 85, inpatient women over 85)
• Iron County: 15
• Garfield County: 7
• Kane County: 1
• Beaver County: 2

Hospitalization: Number of hospitalizations Released late Monday

Currently infected (number: 6,862 (rise)

Current Utah 7-day average: 1,969 (falling)

Vaccines Shipped to Southern Utah: 7,325

Number of first vaccinations in southern Utah: 502

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