COVID-19 Q&A: Some COVID-19 infections in vaccinated people are expected

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health1 Comment

What is a vaccination breakthrough case of COVID-19?

A COVID-19 vaccination breakthrough case is when someone who is fully vaccinated tests positive for COVID-19 more than 14 days after getting the second dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or more than 14 days after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Are breakthrough cases common?

Breakthrough cases are expected, but they are not common. No vaccine is 100 percent effective at preventing illness, and that includes the COVID-19 vaccines.

Let’s do some math.

In Idaho, 826,587 people were fully vaccinated as of Oct 27. Of those, 13,285 had experienced a breakthrough case. That means 1.6 percent of fully vaccinated people have experienced a breakthrough case. Or 98.4 percent of fully vaccinated people haven’t experienced a breakthrough case.

The Department of Health and Welfare tracks breakthrough cases in Idaho on its COVID-19 data dashboard at the bottom of the Case Characteristics page.

Do breakthrough cases mean the COVID-19 vaccines don’t work?

The vaccines are working. They are especially effective against hospitalization and death, and they greatly reduce your chances of getting COVID-19 in the first place. If you do have a breakthrough case, it further reduces the likelihood that you will be sick enough to have to go to the hospital or die.

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From DHW Director Dave Jeppesen: The facts about breakthrough cases – they are a normal part of all vaccines and are not evidence that vaccines do not work

On By idhwmediaIn Director Updates2 Comments

The COVID-19 vaccine is an important tool against the pandemic. However, no vaccine for any disease is 100 percent effective at preventing illness. At DHW, we track cases among Idahoans who have contracted COVID-19 after they are fully vaccinated (i.e. breakthrough cases). Breakthrough cases are expected, but they do not mean the vaccine is ineffective.

Let’s look at the data. One way is to look at the total number of Idaho COVID-19 cases in 2021 and see how many of those are breakthrough cases. In Idaho, there have been 142,655 cases of COVID-19 reported during 2021, of which 13,285 have been breakthrough cases. That means that 9.3 percent of all cases in 2021 have been breakthrough cases. However, looking at the data this way can sometimes be distorted by the number of people vaccinated vs. the number of people not fully vaccinated.

A better way to look at the data is to look at the number of breakthrough cases among those who are fully vaccinated. This is a better measure since it tells you directly, if you get vaccinated, how likely you are to get a breakthrough case. 

In Idaho, there are 826,587 people who are fully vaccinated as of Oct 27, 2021, of which 13,285 have experienced a breakthrough case. That means 1.6 percent of fully vaccinated people have experienced a breakthrough case. Or said differently, 98.4 percent of fully vaccinated people haven’t experienced a breakthrough case.  I don’t know about you, but I will take those odds any day of the week.

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COVID-19 Q&A: An update on vaccine booster doses

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have approved and recommended booster doses for Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccines for certain people.

Who is at highest risk of having breakthrough infections, even if they are fully immunized?

Seniors 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems caused by certain health conditions or treatments (including organ transplants, HIV, and some cancers and chemotherapy) are more likely to have breakthrough infections. These groups are strongly recommended to get a booster dose when they are eligible.

Who is now eligible for a booster dose?

Booster doses are available for these groups at least six months after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

  • People who should get a booster dose: 65 and older; 18+ living in long-term care facilities; 50+ with underlying health conditions, or disabilities.
  • People who may get a booster dose: 18+ who have underlying health conditions, disabilities; 18+ who live or work in high-risk settings. 

Adults 18 or older who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine two or more months ago also are recommended to get a booster dose.

Is it OK to get a different vaccine as a booster than you received at first?

Eligible people may choose which vaccine they get as a booster dose. Some people may prefer the vaccine type they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for mix-and-match dosing for booster shots.

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From DHW Director Dave Jeppesen: Correcting misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines; and a reminder to take our COVID-19 impact survey

On By idhwmediaIn Director Updates2 Comments

Are there any deaths in Idaho that have been caused by the COVID-19 vaccine?

That is a question we are getting a lot. Across social media and other communication channels, misinformation is being shared that connects the COVID-19 vaccine to deaths in Idaho. This is simply not true.

In Idaho, no death certificate has identified the COVID-19 vaccine as the underlying cause of death in 2020 and 2021. The “underlying cause of death” means the actual event or disease that caused the death. 

We have had six deaths in people ranging from 69 to 86 years of age, for whom the death certificates mentioned the COVID-19 vaccine. All of those death certificates identified other underlying causes of death such as cancer and heart disease. Two listed the vaccine as a potential complication. The others just noted the person had received a COVID-19 vaccine.

So, what about deaths caused by vaccination reported to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)?

As you likely know, VAERS is an open system where anyone can report information. Information listed there is not confirmed on that site – it is a repository to collect information that is analyzed for serious events and trends that will be followed-up on as needed.

Serious events in VAERS, such as deaths that reportedly occurred after the COVID-19 vaccine, are investigated. The results of those investigations in Idaho have found other causes explaining the death, including cancer and heart disease. Which brings me back to the point made above – the COVID-19 vaccine has not been identified as the underlying cause of death on any Idaho death certificates.

DHW recently did a blog about VAERS and you can read it at: https://dhwblog.com/2021/10/05/covid-19-qa-vaccine-information-on-vaers-cancer-and-efficacy/

CDC guidance on VAERS is located at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vaers.html).

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COVID-19 Q&A: Booster doses of the vaccines

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Who is eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose today?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized and recommended booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine for certain people in late September.

Those eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are those who received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months earlier and who fall into one of these categories:

  • People ages 65 years and older
  • Residents of long-term care facilities
  • People ages 50-64 with underlying medical conditions
  • People ages 18-49 with underlying medical conditions, based on individual benefit and risk
  • People ages 18-64 at an increased risk of exposure and transmission due to the type of work they do (including teachers and healthcare workers) or because they live or work in an institutional setting

When will those who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines become eligible for a booster dose?  

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) met last week to discuss the use of booster doses of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine. The committee voted to recommend an Emergency Use Authorization for booster doses for both Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

More details will be available when the FDA takes action on the recommendation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues a recommendation, which may happen this week.

If a booster shot is needed, does that mean the vaccines aren’t working?

No. COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. However, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection, especially among certain populations, against mild and moderate disease.

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From DHW Director Dave Jeppesen: Trusting and believing in Idahoans

On By idhwmediaIn Director Updates1 Comment

I was born and raised in Idaho. It is where I choose to live and work. I enjoy the beautiful weather and breathtaking scenery of my home state, and I trust the people and professionals who live here. I am, and always will be, a proud Idahoan. We are extremely fortunate to live in such an amazing place.

As an Idahoan, I think of myself as independent. But the reality is that I depend on others almost every day. Most of us do this without even thinking about it. Our lives are intertwined in many ways. We rely on others to build the roads we drive on, deliver goods to the stores we shop in, and help us when we need to buy a car or a home. We, ultimately, need each other.

We all offer and seek expertise and support in our daily lives. When a pipe breaks in my home, I look to an expert, a plumber, to assess and fix the issue. I will trust the plumber because this is something I do not know how to do myself. I don’t understand the intricacies of the plumbing system in my home, and I need an expert. I trust the plumber because this person has spent many hours and years perfecting his craft.

That’s just one example. I seek experts almost every day. When I have a problem with my car, I reach out to my son, who is a master certified car technician, for help. When our dogs become ill, we have a trusted veterinarian we visit. When my children headed to college, I trusted (and still trust) the teachers and educators to prepare them for their careers.

And, when I am ill, I trust my doctor to make sure I get the most effective advice and treatment to get me back on my feet.

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From DHW Director Dave Jeppesen: COVID-19 myths and misinformation: Setting the record straight

On By idhwmediaIn Director Updates1 Comment

The misinformation and disinformation available on social media and other communication channels shows no sign of slowing down. At the Department of Health and Welfare, it is our responsibility and obligation to share accurate and timely information with all Idahoans. It is important to us that you have a place to turn to and a source for truth.

There is still much to learn about the coronavirus and COVID-19. New information from peer-reviewed studies accepted by the scientific community becomes available all the time. This is information from the experts that we can all trust. We are committed to sharing what we know now and will continue to share new information as it becomes available. Below is some of the false and misleading information we continue to see online, and my response to that information, based on discussions and consultations with the experts at DHW.

______________________________

FICTION: Vaccines are failing and the vaccinated are spreading the Delta variant of COVID-19.

FACT: In a phone briefing in August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director stated that a small number of vaccinated people who are infected with the Delta variant can have a similar viral load as infected unvaccinated people. A rumor quickly spread that the director said that the COVID-19 vaccines are failing.

The truth is that vaccinated people in Idaho are five times less likely than unvaccinated people to contract Delta, making it much harder for them to spread it to others. The vaccines are not failing – they provide excellent protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19. But they are not perfect, and it is possible to become infected even after vaccination. However, people who receive the vaccine and do become infected are less likely to have serious illness resulting in hospitalization or death.

______________________________

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COVID-19 Q&A: Vaccine information on VAERS, cancer, and efficacy

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health3 Comments

Misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines is everywhere. But the fact is that the COVID-19 vaccine is the very best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness and hospitalization. It’s safe, and it’s effective. And it will help keep you from having to go to the hospital.

Here are some common questions and answers about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Are all events reported to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) caused by vaccination?

No. VAERS data alone cannot determine if the reported adverse event was caused by a COVID-19 vaccination.

Everyone, including patients and their healthcare providers, can report events to VAERS, even if it is not clear whether a vaccine caused the problem. Some VAERS reports may contain information that is incomplete, inaccurate, coincidental, or unverifiable.

Serious adverse events reported into VAERS are studied by vaccine safety experts who look for unusually high numbers of health problems, or a pattern of problems, after people receive a vaccine. The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) reviews VAERS reports that indicate a serious adverse event for Idaho residents.

Recently, the number of deaths reported to VAERS after COVID-19 vaccination has been misinterpreted and misreported as deaths proven to be caused by vaccination. However, reports to VAERS of adverse events after vaccination, including deaths, do not necessarily mean that a vaccine caused a health problem.

Learn more about VAERS.

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From DHW Director Dave Jeppesen: Correcting COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation takes all of us

On By idhwmediaIn Director Updates3 Comments

Every day, our public health officials, doctors, nurses, and others are responding to the ongoing pandemic and the surge of COVID-19 cases and deaths in our own state. They are exhausted and disheartened. And, on another front, we face the continued challenge of responding to the overabundance of misinformation and disinformation related to the virus on social media. Much of this information could be harmful.

I want to address information you might see on social media platforms that is patently false and misleading.

___________________

FICTION: The mRNA vaccine alters your DNA.

FACT: No. (Read more about this in my DHW Voice blog from Aug. 27)

____________________

FICTION: Public health officials, doctors, nurses, hospitals (and others in healthcare) get paid to specifically talk about the COVID-19 vaccine and encouraging others to get the vaccine.

FACT: No, this is false.

____________________

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COVID-19 Q&A: Booster doses now available for some people

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Late last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized and recommended booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine for certain people.

Our No. 1 goal is to have as many Idahoans as possible protected from COVID-19 by getting vaccinated, and last week’s authorization of a booster allows more at-risk Americans to receive additional protection. The new recommendation adds to the number of people who may seek a third dose of vaccine; FDA and CDC authorized and recommended a third dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for people with compromised immune systems in August.

Who’s eligible for the Pfizer booster?

  • Adults who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago and are 65 years and older, live in a long-term care facility, or are 50-64 with certain medical conditions should receive the booster.
  • Adults younger than 50 with certain medical conditions who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine at least six month ago may choose to receive a booster.
  • Adults less than 65 years who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months ago and are at increased risk because of the work they do (such as teachers and frontline workers) or because they live in an institutional setting may choose to receive a booster.

Where can I get my Pfizer booster?

Boosters are available at pharmacies, clinics, and healthcare providers statewide. They are not available to the public at hospitals. Use the Vaccine Finder to find locations, the vaccine brands available, and walk-in or appointment details. Neither proof of eligibility nor a prescription is required, and all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are free of charge.

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