COVID-19 Community Newsletter for December 16, 2021: CORRECTED

Weekly News From Los Alamos County

December 16, 2021 - CORRECTED

Inside this newsletter you will find...

News About Flu Season, Q&A, COVID-19 Data, Vaccine Booster Updates, Vaccine/Booster Resources, and Testing Information.

News

NMDOH Announces Start of Influenza (Flu) Season

An increasing number of positive influenza tests are being reported from around the state each week. Health care visits for respiratory illness and outbreaks are expected to increase in the coming weeks and months. Influenza (flu) activity is on the rise throughout the U.S. as well, with approximately 80% of positive results reported to the CDC in children and young adults.

NMDOH recommends everyone six months of age and older get the flu vaccine each flu season. You can get the COVID-19 vaccine and an influenza vaccine at the same time. For more information, click HERE.

(source NMDOH)

Talk to your medical provider to schedule your flu shot today!⠀

Your Questions

QUESTION:

I am a New Mexico resident and contemplating out-of-state travel in the coming weeks. What guidelines do I need to follow for COVID-19 when I come back?

ANSWER:

Individuals visiting New Mexico or coming back from out-of-state travel are expected to comply with the New Mexico State Executive Order. The most up-to-date travel restrictions and policies for self-isolation and self-quarantine, exemptions, and compliance can be found on page 7 HERE.

Many families are looking forward to visiting loved ones over the holidays. Whether traveling a short distance or across the country, remember these important tips:

Get fully vaccinated before traveling
Check your destination’s COVID-19 situation. State, local, and territorial governments may have travel restrictions in place.
Bring extra masks. Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes) and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports).
Do not travel if you have been exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, or if you test positive for COVID-19.
If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, get tested both before and after your trip.

For an abundance of resources to help prepare you for your trip, visit the CDC's travel page HERE

(source CDC)

Have a question? Email us.

CountyCOVIDTeam@lacnm.us

MYTH:

COVID-19 vaccines cause variants.

FACT:

COVID-19 vaccines do not create or cause variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Instead, COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent new variants from emerging.

New variants of a virus happen because the virus that causes COVID-19 constantly changes through a natural ongoing process of mutation (change). As the virus spreads, it has more opportunities to change. High vaccination coverage in a population reduces the spread of the virus and helps prevent new variants from emerging. The CDC recommends everyone 5 years of age and older get vaccinated as soon as possible. (source CDC)

Frequently Asked Questions

NMDOH has an easy-to-use FAQs site for your reference. Find answers to questions like "What are the symptoms of COVID-19?" or "What is the difference between COVID-19 and Influenza (flu)?". Click HERE for those answers and more.

COVID-19 Data Resources

CDC COVID Data Tracker

To get a break down of positive case data for Los Alamos County or other counties across the United States, click HERE

Additional Resources:

LAC Emergency Manager's Report to Council click HERE

Johns Hopkins

COVID-19 Status Report Dashboard for

Los Alamos County HERE

NMDOH Epidemiology

To see additional, in depth epidemiology reports as of December 13, 2021 HERE

Los Alamos Public Schools COVID-19 Positive Reported Case Count

Cases Reported between

Dec. 6-12, 2021

Total: 5

To learn more about reported COVID-19 cases in the individual LAPS schools, click HERE.

Vaccine/Booster Info for Los Alamos County

CDC and FDA Approve Pfizer Vaccine booster for children ages 16-17

On December 9, the FDA expanded the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization to include booster doses for individuals 16 years of age and older. Previously, boosters were approved only for those 18 years of age and older.

Visit the website HERE to register your teen for their COVID-19 booster today!

(source CDC)

Data Supporting Need for a Booster Shot

Although COVID-19 vaccination remains effective in preventing severe disease, recent data suggest vaccinations become less effective over time, especially in people aged 65 years and older, and at preventing infection or milder illness with symptoms.

The recent emergence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19. Early data from South Africa suggest increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant and the potential for immune evasion.
Recent evidence also shows that among healthcare and other frontline workers, vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection is also decreasing over time.
This lower effectiveness is likely due to the combination of decreasing protection as time passes since getting vaccinated, as well as the greater infectiousness of the Delta variant.

For more information about the importance of getting your booster, click HERE.

(source CDC)

Choosing Your COVID-19 Booster Shot

If you are 18 years or older you may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot. Some people may prefer the vaccine type they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. The CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

Children ages 16-17 must get the Pfizer vaccine/booster.

For more information about the different types of boosters, as well as what to expect when you receive your booster, click HERE.

(source CDC)