ECHS COVID-19 update: Oct. 27, 2021

On this episode of the Post Podcast Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy shares recent information about COVID-19 in Ellis County.

 

Transcript

 

James Bell 

COVID-19 booster shots are available in Ellis County. Ellis County Health Services director Jason Kennedy talks to us about that and more on this episode of the Post Podcast.

 

Jason Kennedy 

Last Friday, late last Friday, they approved booster shots really kind of for anybody that was able to get the additional shot. So right now that is individuals over 12 If you're looking at Pfizer, and then adults if you're looking at Moderna, J&J, so over 18, for those two, so I will tell you, this is probably one of the most I think COVID hasn't been confusing enough. But the FDA, the CDC and the KDHE have decided to make this booster rollout about as confusing as they possibly can so that the public is just generally has no idea what's going on, which is which is great. So

 

James Bell 

Makes your job easier, right?

 

Jason Kennedy 

Yeah, it does. It does. Um, so I think the easiest way to say this right now is boosters are approved kid vaccines or not, as of right now, and the primary focus is still getting primary vaccines into people that it's approved for. So the booster doses Yes, sir. there if you want one, absolutely. Come get one we have posted. We posted a couple of different locations or different options for people in town on our Facebook page, but essentially the private pharmacies, Dillons, both Dillons locations Walgreens, Walmart, pharmacy, and then Ellis County Health Department, we are all providing booster dose vaccines as well as primary vaccines. So if you if you're able to jump on our Facebook page, or if you give the office call, we can kind of direct you to not every location has every vaccine. But the health department does have every vaccine we have we have Pfizer, we have Moderna and we have Johnson and Johnson. So right now, if you want a booster dose, come get one. The boosters are safe. It is I've seen some misinformation about this, that it's a new formulation or it's a new there's new chemical there is there is nothing different or new about the booster doses it is the exact same same thing that was that was given as an initial primary dose. And so if if you didn't have any issues with with the initial shot, come get your booster shot if you want it. I will say that there is not a time critical crunch to getting booster doses done right now. We we don't see waning immunity with the initial vaccinations, we actually see them still very highly effective at that reduction in hospitalizations and really reduction in deaths. So yeah, we're giving them Yes, absolutely. Go get one if if it makes sense for you, if if you talk to your doctor, your doctor wants you to get it the patients that we still see some breakthrough infections that are leading to issues are the immunocompromised, And likely that is not due to waning immunity, it is just due to the fact that the vaccine just didn't work for them because they are unable to mount an immune response because of their their pre existing medical conditions. So boosters are a good thing. It is the exact same dose, there's there's nothing different about it, it will increase your level of immunity. It will hopefully you know continue to keep us safe here through the winter. But if if you're not able to get one today, it is not a it's not a giant thing like it your your your current vaccine is working. And it's working well. And we're not seeing any changes to that. So the people that aren't vaccinated, the vaccines work. The vaccines are safe. I know there's there's a there's a large political following with with with vaccines and they've really been attached to a political agenda, a political party. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Not that there's anything that says you're a bad person if you're unvaccinated. The unvaccinated people are not creating problems for people. They're creating problems for themselves. They are they are increasing the risk of hospitalization. They are increasing the risk of death, but they're not hurting anyone else. If if you want to be vaccinated, be vaccinated. I do highly encourage anyone that's eligible, be vaccinated. They are they are working and they work really well.

 

James Bell 

You know, on the on the booster note, you know, I've heard a little bit about that they're they're looking at mixing the vaccines. So if you got Maderna you could maybe get a Pfizer booster to help boost up the little bit of remaining  efficacy that might be missing. I'm wondering if you want to share with us the latest you've heard on that.

 

Jason Kennedy 

So yeah, you can you can mix boosters. Primary doses you still don't want to mix. So if you if you're on your first shot to Moderna get your second shot of Moderna. If you're on a first shot of Pfizer get your second shot of Pfizer if you're fully vaccinated with either Moderna, Pfizer or J&J, you can mix and match booster doses, you can get a booster dose of an mRNA if you had the J&J, you know, they asked the head of the CDC this weekend on the news, you know, what, what did she recommend? And she not duck the question, but but wisely said, hey, you know, we don't really have a recommendation of a better vaccine. I share that sentiment, we I don't have a recommendation of a better vaccine, they all work. They're all highly effective. We're not seeing, we're not seeing hospitalizations, and deaths of any vaccine. So it really is up to you, I would say, you know, if you didn't have issues with your first vaccine, stay with it. If you had issues with your first vaccine, call your doctor, talk to your doctor, see what they recommend as far as moving forward with a booster dose. But if if you had no issues with the first one, all these vaccines are safe, they're all effective. We really are seeing great response with the vaccine. So there's not a huge issue to fret over which one I got? Or did I get the right one that I get the wrong one? No, because they all work. And so if you didn't have any issues, stick with it. If you have questions or you you really are concerned you would you would like to get one over the other because you've read this call and talk to your doctor about it, they're gonna be the best people to guide your medical decision. You know, we don't rarely, it's pretty rare that that someone just decides like some internet research and then they're like, oh, you know what, I'm gonna start treatment on my own cancer. Like, you know, we go we go to the doctor, we trust the doctor to make the best decision, because it's, that's what they do. That's, that's what they're good at. And so same thing with this, if you if you have questions, give your doctor.

 

James Bell 

Excellent. You know, I wonder if you want to talk a little bit to I'm hearing some new treatments are maybe coming down the pike or or are getting, I don't know what the right word but certified? I don't know, if you have anything there you'd like to share as well.

 

Jason Kennedy 

Sure, um, you know, it's still pretty early on well, not not really, actually they, they've studied it there, there are effective treatments, they are still in the approval process. So as far as you know, running out and get them or anything like that they're not available. I do think that all in all, we've the medical system has gotten better at treating COVID-19. We know that some of the early on things that we were doing were leading to poor patient outcomes, they have they have changed that treatment course they have returned to kind of a standard course of treatment for other viruses. And then with these new over the counter treatments coming out, they they are effective. However, the most effective way to battle any viruses to not get it. So the best way to help yourself is to not get COVID then you don't have to worry about whether the treatments effective or not just don't get it. And so it's right now the best way to do that is really be vaccinated. And, you know, kind of just take those basic hygiene measures and live your life but there are there are some some good treatments on the horizon or some good evidence to support that. At least the treatments will will have a reduction in hospitalizations, deaths and that kind of stuff.

 

James Bell 

Excellent. Well, sir, we've just about that time got to get over to news but any last thoughts before we go?

 

Jason Kennedy 

No, you know, it's right now it's confusing for everybody. We understand that. If you if you have questions, talk to your doctor. If you have questions, call the health department. If you want to be vaccinated or want to if you want to get your initial vaccine, absolutely do it if you want to get a shot there. As far as the kid vaccines almost there, they're still in the process but likely in the next couple of weeks.