COVID cases remain low in region
COVID cases across the region remain low. Cases in Europe have risen, which is often an indicator that cases in the USA might increase in the coming weeks. There is, however, still ample time to prepare and prevent winter surges. One way to do this is through the new bivalent boosters.
In an email to the Nugget, Norton Sound Health Corporation’s Medical Director Dr. Mark Peterson wrote: “We currently have ample supply of Covid Bivalent Vaccine for people ages 12 and up. Our Clinic in Nome and all of our Village clinics have enough supply to vaccinate those who are interested in getting this booster. We would recommend it for anyone 12 and up who is at least two months out from their Covid shots, or their last booster, or a recent Covid infection.”
On October 12, the FDA authorized the updated booster for children aged 5-11 and the CDC recommended the booster for the same age group, but NSHC has yet to receive that supply from the State of Alaska. Peterson said that NSHC will let the region know when that supply arrives.
As COVID infection numbers dwindle, other respiratory illnesses that had mostly been mitigated by public health protocols are making a comeback. Peterson wrote that “We have gotten more supply of flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and up. It appears that this flu season will be worse than previous years. We are already seeing quite a few cases in our region. We would strongly encourage everyone six months and up to get a flu shot as soon as possible.”
Patients interested in any of the shots should call their clinic to schedule an appointment.
According to the Alaska Department of Health, “FDA amended the emergency use authorizations of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent to authorize their use as a single booster dose in younger age groups at least two months following completion of primary or booster vaccination. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is authorized for administration in children down to six years of age. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is authorized for children down to five years of age. Bivalent booster recipients may receive a different brand from their primary series.
With this authorization, the original Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized as booster doses for people ages five years and older. Both original monovalent vaccines continue to be authorized for primary series administration in individuals six months of age and older.
The week in numbers On Tuesday, October 11, NSHC identified one new case in the region, in Teller. There were seven active cases in the region: three in Brevig, two in Nome and two in Teller.
On Wednesday, October 12, NSHC identified two new cases in the region, one in Nome that was detected previously and one in Savoonga. Active cases declined to four, with two in Teller, one in Brevig, and one in Savoonga.
Over the weekend, NSHC identified one new case in Brevig and two new cases in Nome. On Monday, October 17, there were four active cases in the region: two in Nome and one each in Brevig and Teller.
Since the start of the pandemic the USA has had 96,768,081 officially reported cases of COVID-19 and 1,059,806 associated deaths.
The state of Alaska has had at least 284,076 cases, 4,077 hospitalizations, and 1,356 deaths. There are currently 40 people hospitalized due to COVID-19. Statewide, there were 498 cases in the week of Oct. 5-11.
The Nome Census Area had at least 6,544 cases, 48 hospitalizations and six deaths.