By Amir Mohammad
Your Health
Dr. Amir Mohammad
As of this writing, I am happy to report that 70 percent of Orange residents have initiated vaccination and approximately 66 percent have been fully vaccinated.
The Orange health department, in collaboration with the Community Emergency Response Team, the Orange Visiting Nurse Association and several volunteers, were busy hosting the vaccination clinics at the High Plains Community Center for several months until the end of May. This community-wide effort inoculated almost 3,000 adults 16 and older, and likely propelled the overall increased vaccination rate in our town.
It is reassuring to note that the majority of the Orange residents have been exhibiting responsible behaviors by getting vaccines. However, we are still seeing some hesitancy in a small number of people throughout the town and the state, and the vaccination rate has stalled.
Between late May and June, the number of positive COVID-19 cases dropped precipitously. However, starting in July, we have been noticing that new positive COVID-19 cases are being diagnosed among unvaccinated residents in Orange.
The Centers for Disease Control has recently updated its guidelines, with the director tweeting, “Our biggest concern is that we are going to continue to see preventable cases, hospitalizations and, sadly, deaths among the unvaccinated.”
As experts have said, this is the pandemic of unvaccinated people. I am not surprised to see the current trend. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations among unvaccinated people are on the rise – particularly among those age 20-29. They remain the highest (56,000 cases) category. So far, 39,000 confirmed cases have also been reported in the 10-19 age group, according to the state Department of Public Health.
This trend is worrisome to public health workers, as we are approaching school openings in fall. All the individuals age 12 and over should not delay in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Due to the rising number of COVID-19 positive cases related to delta variant, the CDC is now recommending that fully vaccinated people wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission; that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease or not fully vaccinated; that fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 be tested three to five days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result; and universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.
According to recently published research, among vaccinated healthcare workers most breakthrough cases of infections were mild or asymptomatic. The good news is that all three of the available vaccines have been shown to be protective against the delta strain.
Most recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics published COVID-19 guidance for schools that strongly advocates that all policy considerations for school plans start with the goal of keeping students safe and physically present in school.
The purpose of this guidance is to continue to support communities, local leadership in education and public health, and pediatricians collaborating with schools in creating policies for safe schools during the COVID-19 pandemic that foster the overall health of children, adolescents, educators, staff and communities and are based on available evidence. The academy advises schools to collaborate with state and local public health agencies to ensure that teachers and staff have access to the COVID-19 vaccine and that any hesitancy is addressed in a timely manner.
We will be closely monitoring our local infection rate as well as the vaccination rate to provide timely and evidence-based guidance to our school superintendents. As I have said in the past, just like other existing viruses, this virus is likely to stay. Therefore, we need to adjust our activities and behaviors accordingly to protect ourselves from complications and adverse reactions. Just like other vaccines that we routinely receive, COVID-19 vaccines will likely be manufactured based on the circulating strain at the time.
All health care systems (federal, state and private) are making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory. Private corporations and businesses will soon follow the same policy. There is no point in wasting time and delaying in getting the vaccine.
We are watching live how some states and part of the world with low vaccination rate are unfortunately struggling, and unvaccinated people are succumbing to this deadly illness. To those who remain reluctant, I remind you that the risk of the “unknown” from the COVID-19 infection and its complications is much, much greater than the risks from the vaccine.
I hope and pray that we don’t go back to what happened last year. We truly are blessed that we have plenty of vaccines and therapeutics to combat this deadly virus. Only vaccines can get all of us out of this global pandemic.
This virus doesn’t see any boundary, age, gender, religion or political affiliation. It’s dangerous, but God has given us the power to do our part, save humanity and help ourselves. I remind my friends and family: don’t underestimate the power of collective goodness by protecting each other. It’s incumbent on all of us to protect our community by getting vaccines. I strongly urge my fellow residents who are still hesitant to get the vaccine. Please contact your medical providers to discuss your individual risk factors or situation. If you don’t have a medical provider and are still unsure about the safety of the vaccine or have any concern, feel free to contact me.
Dr. Amir Mohammad is the Director of Public Health for the town of Orange.