COVID-19 has returned to DeKalb County, Tennessee in a big way! Many medical professionals say it never left. And, preventative shots again will be available soon, if not already. The strains, now affecting citizens everywhere, are the variants KP.3 and the KP.3.1.1. “They are highly infectious strains,” said the CDC.
Should you test positive for the virus, Michiko Howard Martin, manager of the local Family Medical Center in Smithville, said to remain positive and take medically-informed steps until the latest vaccination is available, such as covering coughs, staying away from large gatherings, and to remain home if you are sick. She specifically mentioned the large gatherings at schools and churches and that the virus is spread through cough-droplets.
As COVID-19 cases rise again, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) medical panel recommends an updated vaccine for the 2024-25 fall and winter virus season. This also includes the yearly flu vaccine, while the RSV vaccine already is available.
In last Wednesday’s global press release, “It might not seem like it, but we’re in the middle of a COVID surge – the worst summer spike since 2022. The FDA is reportedly moving to approve updated vaccines as soon as this week.” Last year, it wasn’t released until September,
Contrarily, the upstart of current COVID cases at this time remains “three times higher than it was a month ago,” wrote the CDC.
COVID-19 has vastly become well-known throughout the world. And, again, the numbers continue to grow in DeKalb County, Tennessee. Why it matters is that we have loosened our guards since the unknown infection first penetrated DeKalb County three years ago in 2021.
And, as Dr. Justin Hooper recently said, “COVID will be with us forever. It’s very much like the preventative influenza (flu) shot. The vaccine will be offered on a yearly basis.”
The target dates for the vaccine distribution are late August and September, 2024. Currently, no specific dates yet have been determined nor released. This vaccine will target the highly contagious JN.1 variant or one of its descendants. JN.1 emerged in the country in late August, 2023 and by January, 2024 became the dominant strain in circulation. Please note that different variants are responsible for the influx of COVID viruses at differing times.
Although COVID cases remain low throughout the U. S., vaccine experts are already looking toward the winter - hoping to be prepared for a seasonal surge. Unvaccinated persons are encouraged to be vaccinated, regardless of whether you have been or not. One shot is better than none. Why winter? Because persons are gathered together inside and the virus has an easier time of spreading,
Pharmaceutical doctor, Justin Hooper of Webb’s Pharmacy in Smithville, said he had not yet received any information from the drug companies about the upcoming vaccination. He also said they usually send the injections without prior notification. As an update on Wednesday, August 21, Dr. Hooper was contacted and Webb’s Pharmacy had not received the last COVID vaccinations. Again, they are anxiously awaiting their arrival.
At a meeting last Thursday at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, infectious disease experts voted to recommend updated COVID vaccines for all Americans ages six months and older. Their vote was 11-1.
However, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued the following guideline, “Health officials have told Americans to expect a yearly update for COVID vaccines, just like they are recommended to get a new shot each fall to protect against the latest strains.” Since 2023, most COVID snapshots of case information have stopped because the cases/deaths have dwindled to almost nothing.
The good news is you can be vaccinated against the deadly influenza (flu) at the same time and both shots can be administered together, said Dr. Hooper. He also said that COVID cases were increasing in DeKalb County, whereas they had stalled for a brief time period earlier this year. This statement can be verified by Martin in the above interview.
In a recent AP press release, it targeted the sudden increase of the virus, “With fresh COVID-19 cases bubbling up in some parts of the country, health officials are setting course for a new fall vaccination campaign.”
In 2023, more than 916,300 persons were hospitalized because of COVID systemic illnesses. More than 75,500 died from COVID-19. During the 2023-24 flu season, more than 44,900 persons are estimated to have died from complications of the flu.
CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen issued the following statement: “Our top recommendation for protecting yourself and your loved ones from respiratory illness is to get vaccinated. Make a plan now for you and your family to get both updated flu and COVID vaccines this fall, which is ahead of the respiratory virus season.”
The most recent DeKalb County COVID numbers are: 9,995 persons (48.8%) have received at least one vaccination dose; 8,755 (42.7%) have received two doses; 4,224 (20.6%) have received a booster dose; and 1,748 (8.5%) have received an updated bivalent booster shot. Fewer than 0.001% of persons who received a dose experienced a severe adverse action to their vaccination.
By the numbers, only 20 percent of persons living in DeKalb County, Tennessee have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
If you want the shots – fine.
If you don’t want the shots – fine.
I’m frustrated and tired of trying to make one person understand the simple difference and life-saving importance of being vaccinated.
