Omicron: A New Variant on the Rise |
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Current knowledge about Omicron from the World Health Organization:
Researchers in South Africa and around the world are conducting studies to better understand many aspects of Omicron and will continue to share the findings of these studies as they become available.
Transmissibility: It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible (e.g., more easily spread from person to person) compared to other variants, including Delta.
The number of people testing positive has risen in areas of South Africa affected by this variant, but epidemiologic studies are underway to understand if it is because of Omicron or other factors.
Severity of disease: It is not yet clear whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease compared to infections with other variants, including Delta. Preliminary data suggests that there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, but this may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result of specific infection with Omicron.
There is currently no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants. Initially reported infections were among university students -- younger individuals who tend to have more mild disease -- but understanding the level of severity of the Omicron variant will take days to several weeks.
All variants of COVID-19, including the Delta variant that is dominant worldwide, can cause severe disease or death, in particular for the most vulnerable people, and thus prevention is always key.
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Lack of Awareness Surrounding Long COVID Deemed a "Scandal" |
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Because children and adolescents with COVID-19 initially exhibited little to no symptoms, many believed the virus had less of an effect on younger age groups.
However, as more children develop long COVID, it's becoming clear that long-term effects of coronavirus are a serious health concern. UK politicians have deemed the lack of awareness surrounding long COVID a "national scandal."
Long COVID is a mystery currently plaguing doctors as they work to understand why some adolescents recover easily while some develop serious long-term symptoms several months after the initial infection.
Symptoms of long COVID vary in intensity and duration, in some cases lasting for months, and include:
- Chest pain.
- Cough, breathlessness, and other respiratory problems.
- Exercise-induced dyspnea (or labored breathing).
- Changes to smell or taste.
- Fatigue.
- Brain fog.
- Anxiety.
- Heart palpitations.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Difficulty walking.
- Headache.
- Insomnia.
- Sore throat.
Support groups and researchers say there may be up to 100 other symptoms including gastrointestinal problems, nausea, dizziness, seizures, hallucinations, and testicular pain.
UK advocacy group Long COVID Kids has collected details of more than 1200 children with long COVID from families across England, Ireland, the U.S., and more. Children as young as six years old are sharing their symptoms, location, and the date to help supplement research.
Since January 2021, parents of Long COVID Kids have been sharing their heartbreaking stories to raise awareness for other families. One honor roll student is now homeschooled due to frequent seizures; a 14-year-old daughter's heart pain and restricted movement led to seven months of bed rest.
Because ethical approval takes longer for children's studies, most long COVID research is based on adults. However, even results among adults are not consistent. It's not yet clear why long COVID symptoms develop in some people and not others, nor why the intensity varies.
Because infants and toddlers can't verbalize what they're feeling, the information we do have on long COVID in adolescents is likely only from those who can self-report symptoms. It's important that children exhibiting symptoms of long COVID seek medical attention, not only for their own health and safety, but also to help provide much-needed answers.
As of the end of October, nearly 6.4 million children had been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Vaccines are the best defense to protect children from contracting the coronavirus and especially from developing severe long COVID symptoms.
Help keep your family safe. Get answers about COVID-19 in children and teens.
The pediatric Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 is available during walk-in clinics at the Lafayette County Health Department every Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Pfizer Pediatric Vaccine Approved for Children Ages 5-11
The authorization for this age group is only for the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available to people age 18 and older.
What you need to know:
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Dosing: The Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 is administered as a two-dose primary series, 3 weeks apart. It is a lower dose (10 micrograms) than that used for individuals 12 years of age and older (30 micrograms).
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Safety: The vaccine’s safety was studied in approximately 3,100 children ages 5 through 11 who received the vaccine. No serious side effects have been detected in the ongoing study.
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Efficacy: Immune responses of children 5 through 11 years of age were comparable to those of individuals 16 through 25 years of age. In addition, the vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5 through 11.
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COVID-19 Cases Continue to Surge |
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7-Day Averages
Deaths attributed to COVID-19: 1,547
The U.S. has reported more than 47 million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Deaths related to COVID-19 in the U.S. have now surpassed 771,000.
28 states reported an increase in cases the last two weeks, including Missouri. There were 330 new cases in Missouri, where community transmission rates remain high.
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#GetYourShot: Booster Doses Offer Extra Protection |
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A booster dose helps extend the immune response and protection offered by the primary dosing of the COVID-19 vaccine. |
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On November 19, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorizations (EUA) for both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, authorizing booster doses for all individuals 18 and older (following a completed primary vaccination).
Prior to these authorizations, a single booster dose of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines was authorized for individuals 65 and older, individuals 18-64 at high risk of severe COVID-19, and individuals 18-64 who live or work in a high-risk setting.
The EUAs expand the use of booster doses of both vaccines to include all individuals 18 and older at least six months after completion of the primary vaccination series of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or at least two months after completion of primary vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
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35.4 million people have received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine following their completed primary vaccination.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheets |
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Flu Season FAQs:
What Do I Need to Know?
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Will a flu vaccine protect me against COVID-19?
No. Flu vaccines do not protect against COVID-19. Flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death in addition to other important benefits.
COVID-19 transmission rates are high in my community. Should I still go out to get a flu vaccine?
Yes. Getting a flu vaccine is an essential part of protecting your health and your family’s health every year. Take recommended precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19 while getting your flu vaccine.
I think I may have the flu. Is it safe for me to visit my health care provider when COVID-19 is spreading in my community?
Health care professionals may have different practices for diagnosing and treating flu during the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow your health care professional’s and CDC’s recommendations for doctor visits.
Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time?
Yes, you can get a flu vaccine at the same time you get a COVID-19 vaccine, including a COVID-19 booster shot.
However, people should follow the recommended schedule for either vaccine: If you haven’t gotten your currently recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine, get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.
Can children get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time?
Yes, children ages 5 years and older who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same visit.
However, each injection is administered at a different injection site. If your child is 5 years and older, get their COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu vaccine as soon as possible. You can get both vaccines at the same time, but don’t delay either vaccination in order to get them both at the same visit. Both vaccines are recommended, and your child should get the recommended doses for each vaccine.
All children 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine. Most children will only need one dose of flu vaccine. Your child’s healthcare provider can tell you if your child needs two doses of flu vaccine.
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Unvaccinated People 20 Times More Likely to Die from COVID-19 |
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According to a Texas Study |
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Researchers at the Texas Department of State Health Services combed through millions of electronic lab records, death certifications and state immunization records spanning back to Jan 15.
From Sept. 4 to Oct. 1 — which is when the delta variant became the dominant strain in Texas — unvaccinated people were 13 times more likely to become infected with COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people and 20 times more likely to die from COVID-19 complications than fully vaccinated people.
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For people in their 30s, the risk of dying from COVID-19 was 48 times higher in unvaccinated people than in vaccinated people.
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For people in their 40s, the risk was 63 times higher.
In the month between Sept. 4 and Oct. 1, fewer than 10 fully vaccinated people died from COVID-19 between the ages of 18 and 29. In that same age group and timeframe, 339 unvaccinated people died from COVID.
According to the state's analysis, unvaccinated people in this age range were 99 times more likely to die from COVID compared to their vaccinated peers.
Among all age groups from Jan. 15 to Oct. 1, state researchers found unvaccinated folks were 40 times more likely to die from COVID than vaccinated folks.
According to the state's study, between Jan. 15 and Oct. 1, "unvaccinated people were 45 times more likely to have an infection with COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people."
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Mortality Study Underscores Vaccine Safety |
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Despite the outbreak of the highly transmissible Delta variant within the same time frame, daily vaccination rates fell 78% between April and September of 2021. The study of 11 million people was conducted to evaluate and compare mortality rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated participants.
Researchers found that COVID-19 vaccine recipients had lower rates of mortality not associated with COVID-19 (non-COVID-19 mortality) than unvaccinated people. The results of the study reinforce the safety profile of currently approved COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S.
With more than 196 million people fully vaccinated as of November 22, 2021, the proof is in the numbers: there is no increased risk for mortality among COVID-19 vaccine recipients.
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Keep an eye out for our upcoming toolkit with resources to help you strengthen vaccine confidence in your community.
This toolkit will include:
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Social Media Posts and Graphics |
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Editorial, Video, and Additional Media |
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