Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
The Panhandle Unified Command on Nov. 3 reported that the Southern Panhandle had 73 cases of COVID and last week’s positivity rate was 13.6%. There were 28 active hospitalizations for this district.
The following people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are eligible for the booster if they are 65 years and older: age 18+ who live in long-term care residents, age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions, age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings.
Anyone 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is eligible receive the booster.
Individuals can get their booster shots at least 6 months after Pfizer or Moderna or at least 2 months after J&J. You may have a preference on which booster shot to get, but you can get any booster shot.
COVID has disrupted children’s lives, interrupting school, youth sports, and time with friends and loved ones. Health authorities say vaccinating children is a step toward protecting their health and restoring their lives.
The authorities warn that there’s a lot of misinformation out there, some targeted at parents. They say don’t believe everything you see or read online, and seek answers from credible sources.
“As a grandma, I encourage parents to please have their children 5 and older vaccinated. If you have questions, please talk with your physician, school nurse, pharmacist, or call us at public health,” said Kim Engel, Panhandle Public Health District director.
The Pfizer COVID vaccine is over 90% effective at preventing COVID in children ages 5 through 11 years. Getting your child vaccinated can help protect them against COVID, as well as reduce disruptions to in-person learning and group activities by helping curb community transmission.
COVID vaccines have undergone – and continue to undergo – the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. In clinical trials of about 3,000 children, serious side effects were rare and self-limiting.
After getting a COVID vaccine, children may have some side effects similar to those seen in adults and with other vaccines. These are normal signs that their body is building protection, but they should go away in a few days.
Vaccinations have protection against all known variants, including Delta. For anyone age 5 and older, the COVID vaccine is widely available across the Panhandle and there is no charge..