Jackson County Health Department Weekly Update for August 19, 2021

(August 19, 2021 5:46 PM)  The Jackson County Health Department has released its weekly update:

On August 13^th, the Centers for Disease Control released recommendations for a third vaccine for moderately to severely immunocompromised people.  This group is already at a much higher risk of serious and prolonged illness if they are infected with the COVID virus.  Available data show that these people don’t always build adequate levels of protection after an initial 2-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. The list of immunocompromised is very specific at this time.  The list of immunocompromised people identified for a 3^rd dose vaccine are as follows:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

It is important that these individuals work closely with their health care providers when planning to obtain their third dose.  The third dose vaccine also has certain restrictions associated with the type of vaccine that is allowed:

• People receiving the 3^rd dose should receive the same dose as the first series whether it was Pfizer or Moderna and it should be at least 28 days (4 weeks) after the second dose was received.
• At this time, Johnson and Johnson vaccine (one doses series) has not been approved for an additional dose and people who had this vaccine are not eligible for an additional dose of Pfizer or Moderna. There is not enough data at this time to make further recommendations although it is being looked at very closely.

DELTA VARIANT:  The Delta Variant continues to be the dominant variant of concern in Michigan and the United States.  It has proven to be a strong virus, which affects both vaccinated and unvaccinated people allowing them to easily transmit the virus to other people around them.  The CDC continues to issue recommendations to reduce the risk of COVID illness.  The number one item on the list is to GET a Vaccine if you are eligible and get the third shot if you fall in the recommended group of immunocompromised people.  They also recommend the use of masks for everyone regardless of vaccination status if they are indoors or in public settings where social distance (6 feet) cannot be maintained in order to reduce spreading the COVID virus.  Be prepared and always carry a mask with you. Be respectful of others who are wearing masks as they are protecting themselves and their loved ones.

SCHOOLS:  The Jackson County Health Department is working with local schools to answer questions and ensure they are meeting the recommendations and requirements per state and federal guidelines.  The CDC and the State of Michigan have released recommendations for schools regarding vaccines, masking, social distancing, positive case reporting, quarantine, and other issues associated with reducing the rates of exposure and positive case counts in the schools.  As parents, you can do your part by getting your children vaccinated if they are eligible, providing masks for them to wear, (mandatory on public busing per CDC requirements) and reminding them to social distance as much as possible.  Habits such as cover your cough or coughing into your elbow and avoiding sharing items, and frequently washing their hands are some things that you as parents can work on practicing with them at home.  This will provide your students with some sense of control which many students may need.  The Health Department is posting some School and Parent Resources in our Coronavirus webpage section and you are encouraged to visit it for more information.

LOCAL MONITORING:  The CDC and the State of Michigan are monitoring the COVID situation closely.   According to the CDC COVID-19 Tracking System, Jackson County is a high level of community transmission area as of the previous 7-day time period -Tue Aug 10, 2021 – Mon Aug 16, 2021. If travel plans are in your future, plan ahead and find out what the expectations are where you will be visiting so you are not surprised by any rules or mandates regarding masks or social distancing.  You may also want to check the website of places you plan to visit to find out if they have any restrictions in place such as showing a vaccination card or masking requirement. You can minimize your risk of getting COVID by doing the following:

• Get a vaccine.
• Frequently wash your hands
• Wear a mask if you are in tightly enclosed places or within 6 feet of others
• Check out rates of transmission in areas you may be traveling to
• Get tested if you are exposed to COVID or if you experience symptoms
• Stay home if you are not feeling well and monitor your symptoms (this means no visitors, no quick stops, no drive thru, etc.)

Check out the Jackson County Health Department webpage for the latest COVID information including the daily number of cases in the county.  It is updated Monday-Friday by 12 noon.  On Mondays, a county map is uploaded to show areas where COVID cases have increased throughout the county.  An Epicurve graph provides some historical data and shows the peaks and lulls of COVID infections in Jackson County.

ROUTINE HEALTH SCREENINGS:  The State of Michigan Health and Human Services is urging women to make sure they schedule and keep their routine screening appointments for Breast and Cervical Cancer.  These life-saving screenings have seen a significant reduction during the pandemic with an 87% drop in breast cancer screens and an 84% drop in cervical screens on a nationwide basis as noted by the CDC. These screens are proactive measures that can help find cancers at early stages before symptoms appear.  The earlier a cancer is found, the more likely and easier it is to successfully treat it. The health screenings are also helpful in finding other chronic conditions a person may have for chronic disease.  Check on the MDHHS Webpage to determine if you or someone you know is eligible for this potentially life-saving program.

VACCINE OPPORTUNITIES:  Vaccine opportunities in the Jackson County area and location information can be found on the VaccineFinder webpage. Minors aged 12–17 are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine with parent permission.   Call ahead to find out what the requirements for third vaccines are. 

Homebound individuals who are interested in a COVID-19 vaccine, please contact Disability Connections at (517) 998-3084, Region 2 Area on Aging at (517) 592-1976 or the Jackson County Department on Aging at (517) 788-4364.   

JCHD UPDATES:  The Jackson County Health Department joins the State of Michigan in celebrating August as Immunization Awareness Month.  Due to the Covid pandemic, many children are behind in their vaccines. Parents are encouraged to visit the CDC Vaccine Webpage which provides information on the vaccines recommended for all ages of a person’s life including childhood and pregnancy.  The JCHD would like to remind everyone that August was designated as a critical time for vaccines as children start preparing to go back into the classroom and exposures to additional bacteria and viruses can occur. It is more important than ever to make sure your children get back on schedule with all of their shots.  The Immunization Clinic at the Health Department is available to assist in getting your child’s immunizations up to date.  The JCHD Immunization Clinic is open by appointment every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, 8 am – 11:30 am & 1 pm – 4:00 pm.  Please plan to call (517) 768-4468 to schedule your child’s/ adult vaccines. 

All other clinics are open to in-person services as well. Most clinics require an appointment, so please check the website or call ahead to verify if you need an appointment for the service you are seeking.

Masks are required regardless of vaccination status in small office areas and exam rooms. (Please remember to bring your own or you will be provided with one.)

This is done in order to protect our immunocompromised clients such as children or other vulnerable populations who may be at high risk of infection.

If you still need your COVID-19 vaccine, you can come to the immunization clinic and get your vaccine of choice! Call and make an appointment at (517) 768-4468.

If you are EXPERIENCING ANY UPPER RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS (COUGH, DIFFICULTY BREATHING, ETC) OR FEVER, WE ASK THAT YOU RESCHEDULE ANY APPOINTMENT YOU HAVE scheduled.  If necessary, you may want to schedule an appointment with your physician or call 911, if it becomes life-threatening.

Data:  Jackson County Health Department reports the following data as of August 17, 2021. This information is also available on the Michigan Vaccine Dashboard which is updated on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays each week by 3:00 p.m. Data now reflects the addition of the 12-15 year-olds. 

Number of Doses   Administered to   Jackson County   Residents	Percent of Jackson County Residents over the age of 12 vaccinated to date	Number of   Jackson Residents who have   completed their 1stvaccination	Number of Jackson County Residents who have completed their vaccination series (2 for Moderna / Pfizer and 1 for Johnson &   Johnson
139,147	56.6% Initial Dose  52.1% Completed Dose	77,224	71,041

   COVID case numbers in Jackson County compared to the State of Michigan:   

Category	Jackson County	State of Michigan
COVID-19 Total  Confirmed Cases*	15,380	925,377
COVID-19 7 Day Average    Confirmed Cases per Million**	123	84
COVID-19 7 Day Daily Case Average **	22	986
COVID-19 Recovered*** Cases*	14,552	875,719 (as of 8/13/2021)
COVID Total Deaths*	292	20,076
COVID 7 Day Positivity Rate**	11.2%	8.2%

*Data as of August 18, 2021

**Data as of August 17, 2021

***Recovered = alive 30 days after onset date (if onset date is missing, then referral date). This calculation is using the Patient Status variable to distinguish alive vs deceased.  

Additional Resources:  

Jackson County Health Department Webpage 

State of Michigan Vaccination and Prioritization Strategy https://www.mistartmap.info/about 

Centers for Disease Control Vaccine Information Page 

JCHD COVID Information phone line – (517) 817-4469