OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials say that many of the sickest COVID-19 patients who are filling up the state’s hospitals are now unvaccinated younger adults instead of older individuals. 

The number of people hospitalized in Nebraska with the virus continues to climb this fall, and it hit 555 on Tuesday, which is the highest it has been since last winter. 

Although the number of hospitalizations remains well below last fall’s peak of 987, hospital capacity remains strained.

 That state said just 13% of the adult intensive care beds and 20% of the pediatric ICU beds were available Tuesday. 

The Nebraska Hospital Association says unvaccinated patients in the state’s hospitals outnumber vaccinated patients by a ratio of 11:1.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials say that many of the sickest COVID-19 patients who are filling up the state’s hospitals are now unvaccinated younger adults instead of older individuals. The number of people hospitalized in Nebraska with the virus continues to climb this fall, and it hit 555 on Tuesday, which is the highest it has been since last winter. Although the number of hospitalizations remains well below last fall’s peak of 987, hospital capacity remains strained. That state said just 13% of the adult intensive care beds and 20% of the pediatric ICU beds were available Tuesday. The Nebraska Hospital Association says unvaccinated patients in the state’s hospitals outnumber vaccinated patients by a ratio of 11:1.

Many of the state's COVID hospitalizations are young adults


Creighton
University medical experts are counseling patience but also vigilance
in the face of reports of a new COVID variant emerging from South
Africa.


Dubbed
“omicron” and identified as a “variant of concern” by the
World Health Organization, the variant has caused the United States
and other nations to suspend travel from multiple African nations,
even as medical authorities there insist that omicron, while
unusually transmissible, engenders only mild symptoms.


“I
would like to stress that very little is known at this time beyond
the fact that omicron is a new variant with a significant number of
genetic changes compared to delta, which is the predominant variant
worldwide,” says Michael Belshan, PhD, professor of medical
microbiology and immunology at the Creighton University School of
Medicine. “I recommend patience. Everything is speculative at this
time.”


Belshan
leads Creighton’s work monitoring COVID-19 variants circulating in
Nebraska. Conducted under an ongoing contract with the Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services, the project enables the
state to conduct extensive surveillance of COVID to detect new
variants within days of their appearance.


Maureen
Tierney, MD, MSc., FIDSA, assistant dean of public health at the
Creighton School of Medicine and chair of the Department of Clinical
Research, urged COVID vigilance while medical authorities at
Creighton and around the world gather data on the omicron variant.


“Although
we agree that there is much not known, what we are recommending is
vaccination of the unvaccinated, booster shots, and
non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as masking and social
distancing,” Tierney said. “If this turns out to be a more
transmissible and/or a more virulent strain, then we are better
prepared. These steps will also help reduce the rising number of
cases of delta.”


Tierney
and Renuga Vivekanandan, MD, associate professor of medicine at
Creighton and chief of infectious diseases at CHI Health Creighton
University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy, said a new COVID strain is
not the only viral challenge facing Americans this winter. The other
key component is the flu.


“The
U.S. Centers for Disease Control put out a Health Alert Network last
week describing clusters of cases of influenza, especially among
younger adults and on college campuses,” Tierney said. “Many
states, including Nebraska, have detected flu activity, predominantly
H3N2 which is usually more virulent and is associated with an
increased rate of concomitant bacterial pneumonia.” 



The
CDC health alert noted that the flu strain was included in this
year’s vaccine but that it is already beginning to mutate.


Tierney
and Vivekanandan call for a renewed commitment to battling
respiratory viral infections. They offer the following
recommendations:

News Release Creighton University
Creighton
University medical experts are counseling patience but also vigilance
in the face of reports of a new COVID variant emerging from South
Africa.
Dubbed
“omicron” and identified as a “variant of concern” by the
World Health Organization, the variant has caused the United States
and other nations to suspend travel from multiple African nations,
even as medical authorities there insist that omicron, while
unusually transmissible, engenders only mild symptoms.
“I
would like to stress that very little is known at this time beyond
the fact that omicron is a new variant with a significant number of
genetic changes compared to delta, which is the predominant variant
worldwide,” says Michael Belshan, PhD, professor of medical
microbiology and immunology at the Creighton University School of
Medicine. “I recommend patience. Everything is speculative at this
time.”
Belshan
leads Creighton’s work monitoring COVID-19 variants circulating in
Nebraska. Conducted under an ongoing contract with the Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services, the project enables the
state to conduct extensive surveillance of COVID to detect new
variants within days of their appearance.
Maureen
Tierney, MD, MSc., FIDSA, assistant dean of public health at the
Creighton School of Medicine and chair of the Department of Clinical
Research, urged COVID vigilance while medical authorities at
Creighton and around the world gather data on the omicron variant.
“Although
we agree that there is much not known, what we are recommending is
vaccination of the unvaccinated, booster shots, and
non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as masking and social
distancing,” Tierney said. “If this turns out to be a more
transmissible and/or a more virulent strain, then we are better
prepared. These steps will also help reduce the rising number of
cases of delta.”
Tierney
and Renuga Vivekanandan, MD, associate professor of medicine at
Creighton and chief of infectious diseases at CHI Health Creighton
University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy, said a new COVID strain is
not the only viral challenge facing Americans this winter. The other
key component is the flu.
“The
U.S. Centers for Disease Control put out a Health Alert Network last
week describing clusters of cases of influenza, especially among
younger adults and on college campuses,” Tierney said. “Many
states, including Nebraska, have detected flu activity, predominantly
H3N2 which is usually more virulent and is associated with an
increased rate of concomitant bacterial pneumonia.” 

The
CDC health alert noted that the flu strain was included in this
year’s vaccine but that it is already beginning to mutate.
Tierney
and Vivekanandan call for a renewed commitment to battling
respiratory viral infections. They offer the following
recommendations:<ul>
 <li>
	Encourage
	friends, relatives and colleagues to get vaccinated against
	COVID-19.
	</li><li>
	Encourage
	everyone over 6 months old to get a flu shot.
	</li><li>
	Emphasize
	the importance of COVID-19 booster shots for all those six months
	past their second mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) shot and two months
	after a Johnson &amp; Johnson shot.
	</li><li>
	Mask
	when indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces in areas of high or
	sustained community transmission (almost all of Nebraska, including
	Douglas County).
	</li><li>
	Remind
	everyone that masking and social distancing also help reduce flu
	transmission.
	</li><li>
	If
	sick with respiratory symptoms, get tested for flu and COVID and
	stay home. 
	
	</li><li>
	Ask
	your doctor if you should be treated for the flu and/or bacterial
	pneumonia while awaiting test results. 
	
	</li><li>
	If
	you test positive for COVID-19, ask your health care provider if you
	are someone who should receive monoclonal antibodies.
</li>
 </ul>

Creighton experts urge patience, vigilance in face of 'omicron' variant

(AP) - The U.S. is in better shape approaching its second Thanksgiving of the pandemic, thanks to the vaccine. But some cold weather regions are reporting surges of COVID-19 cases that could get worse in the days ahead as families travel the country. 

Nearly 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated. 

That leaves millions without a shot in the arm. 

Hospitals in the cold Upper Midwest, especially Michigan and Minnesota, are filled with COVID-19 patients who are mostly unvaccinated.

 Dr. Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccines make this fall holiday much different.

(AP) - The U.S. is in better shape approaching its second Thanksgiving of the pandemic, thanks to the vaccine. But some cold weather regions are reporting surges of COVID-19 cases that could get worse in the days ahead as families travel the country. Nearly 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated. That leaves millions without a shot in the arm. Hospitals in the cold Upper Midwest, especially Michigan and Minnesota, are filled with COVID-19 patients who are mostly unvaccinated. Dr. Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccines make this fall holiday much different.

Vaccines making Thanksgiving easier, but hot spots remain

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A second set of states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. 

The suit filed in Louisiana on behalf of 12 states was dated Monday.

 It comes less than a week after another lawsuit challenging the rule was filed in Missouri by a coalition of 10 states. 

Both lawsuits say the rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violates federal law and unconstitutionally encroaches on powers reserved to the states. 

In addition to Louisiana, the latest suit covers Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A second set of states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. The suit filed in Louisiana on behalf of 12 states was dated Monday. It comes less than a week after another lawsuit challenging the rule was filed in Missouri by a coalition of 10 states. Both lawsuits say the rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violates federal law and unconstitutionally encroaches on powers reserved to the states. In addition to Louisiana, the latest suit covers Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia.

2nd group of states challenges health worker vaccine mandate

Dr. June Steely, Medical Director for Nomi Health, joined the November 10, 2021 briefing to discuss the importance of COVID testing. Nomi Health is the organization that coordinated TestNebraska until July 2021 and now offers direct to consumer testing.

Steely explained as the number of cases have been increasing again, this can be cause for concern for several reasons with individuals suffering from the virus and the opportunity for it to mutate.

Testing helps break the train of transmission which is why it is so important. There are colds going around but if you have a stuffy nose or cold symptoms, it’s great to know right away if you have it and to stop the spread.

There’s a possibility you could be asymptomatic (not experiencing any symptoms) and with the holidays coming up the potential for spread increases too. People will be traveling and seeing family members and others that could be especially vulnerable to the virus.

“I’m going to visit my folks for Thanksgiving and my whole family will be getting tested a day or two before we leave to protect them,” said Dr. Steely.

Testing access around the Panhandle can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pphd.org/" target="_blank">www.pphd.org</a>. Nomi Health is one of the testing options in Scottsbluff and information can also be found on the PPHD website.

Dr. June Steely is a board-certified internal medicine physician with over 21 years of experience. As Medical Director for Nomi Health, Dr. Steely provides clinical guidance and medical expertise for Nomi's testing and vaccination programs.

Who is eligible for a COVID booster shot?

If you received a Pfizer or Moderna series:

Individuals can get their booster shots at least 6 months after Pfizer or Moderna or at least 2 months after J &amp; J. You may have a preference on which booster shot to get, but you can get any booster shot.

Vaccinations have protection against all known variants, including Delta. For anyone age 5 and older, please get vaccinated. COVID vaccine is widely available across the Panhandle and there is no charge for the vaccine.

If you are homebound or have a condition that makes it hard for you to access a COVID vaccine, Call Vianey Zitterkopf, RN at 308-430-8390 or Janet Felix, LPN at 308-672-4653.

People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu</a>.

Unified Command confirms 250 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle.

Current COVID testing access can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html" target="_blank">http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html</a>.

The Panhandle COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pphd.org/" target="_blank">www.pphd.org</a>. The state COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf</a>. For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.

By PPHDDr. June Steely, Medical Director for Nomi Health, joined the November 10, 2021 briefing to discuss the importance of COVID testing. Nomi Health is the organization that coordinated TestNebraska until July 2021 and now offers direct to consumer testing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636652360517.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Steely explained as the number of cases have been increasing again, this can be cause for concern for several reasons with individuals suffering from the virus and the opportunity for it to mutate.Testing helps break the train of transmission which is why it is so important. There are colds going around but if you have a stuffy nose or cold symptoms, it’s great to know right away if you have it and to stop the spread.There’s a possibility you could be asymptomatic (not experiencing any symptoms) and with the holidays coming up the potential for spread increases too. People will be traveling and seeing family members and others that could be especially vulnerable to the virus.“I’m going to visit my folks for Thanksgiving and my whole family will be getting tested a day or two before we leave to protect them,” said Dr. Steely.Testing access around the Panhandle can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pphd.org/" target="_blank">www.pphd.org</a>. Nomi Health is one of the testing options in Scottsbluff and information can also be found on the PPHD website.Dr. June Steely is a board-certified internal medicine physician with over 21 years of experience. As Medical Director for Nomi Health, Dr. Steely provides clinical guidance and medical expertise for Nomi's testing and vaccination programs.Who is eligible for a COVID booster shot?If you received a Pfizer or Moderna series:<ul>
 <li>65 years and older</li><li>Age 18+ who live in long-term care residents</li><li>Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions</li><li>Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings</li>
 </ul>If you received a J&amp; J vaccine:<ul>
 <li>Age 18+</li>
 </ul>Individuals can get their booster shots at least 6 months after Pfizer or Moderna or at least 2 months after J &amp; J. You may have a preference on which booster shot to get, but you can get any booster shot.Vaccinations have protection against all known variants, including Delta. For anyone age 5 and older, please get vaccinated. COVID vaccine is widely available across the Panhandle and there is no charge for the vaccine.<ul>
 <li><a>Box Butte/Grant:&nbsp;</a><a href="https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Dave's Pharmacy Hemingford &amp; Alliance, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5:30 PM (Pfizer 2 PM- 5:30 PM)</li><li>Alliance Community Pharmacy, Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 6 PM</li><li>Cheyenne/Deuel:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>During COVID clinic hours visit&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p</a>&nbsp;for days and hours</li><li>Dawes/Sioux:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Western Community Health Resources, Monday-Friday, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM</li><li>Garden: To schedule an appointment visit&nbsp;<a href="http://vaccinate.ne.gov/" target="_blank">vaccinate.ne.gov</a>&nbsp;- provider will call you</li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Regional West Garden County Clinic Front Desk, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM</li><li>Kimball:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Kimball Health Services, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM</li><li>Morrill:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Morrill County Hospital Clinic, Wednesdays, 8 AM - 4 PM</li><li>Sheridan:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Gordon Rural Health Clinic, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM</li><li>Scotts Bluff/Banner:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/hkw7wk2p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/hkw7wk2p</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine1_landing_schedule" target="_blank">walgreens.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Gering CAPWN Health Center, Monday-Friday, 9 AM-12 PM &amp; 1 PM-4 PM</li><li>Scottsbluff County Immunization Clinic, Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-5:30 PM</li>
 </ul>If you are homebound or have a condition that makes it hard for you to access a COVID vaccine, Call Vianey Zitterkopf, RN at 308-430-8390 or Janet Felix, LPN at 308-672-4653.People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu</a>. Unified Command confirms 250 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636652271078.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>March 2, 2020-November 8, 2021<ul>
 <li>Positive: 13,662</li><li>Last week’s cases: (cases/100,000): 289.8</li><li>Last 7 day cases: 250</li><li>Last week’s positivity rate: 13.5%</li><li>Deaths: 224</li><li>Deaths Pending Verification: 12</li><li>Active Hospitalizations: 29</li><li>Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 724</li>
 </ul>Current COVID testing access can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html" target="_blank">http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html</a>.The Panhandle COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pphd.org/" target="_blank">www.pphd.org</a>. The state COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf</a>. For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636652391665.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636652408290.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

PPHD: 250 more virus cases reported, testing and vaccine keys to safer holidays

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Hospitals are fuller than at any point in the pandemic in Omaha amid a surge in COVID-19 cases that has health officials raising alarms. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that Nebraska had the nation’s fifth-highest percentage increase in COVID cases last week, part of a surge of infections occurring in the upper Great Plains. 

With local hospitals brimming, cases rising and flu season coming, Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse made an urgent appeal to people to get vaccinated, wear masks indoors, socially distance, and be aware and cautious in settings where there may be a lot of unvaccinated people.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Hospitals are fuller than at any point in the pandemic in Omaha amid a surge in COVID-19 cases that has health officials raising alarms. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Nebraska had the nation’s fifth-highest percentage increase in COVID cases last week, part of a surge of infections occurring in the upper Great Plains. With local hospitals brimming, cases rising and flu season coming, Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse made an urgent appeal to people to get vaccinated, wear masks indoors, socially distance, and be aware and cautious in settings where there may be a lot of unvaccinated people.

Hospitals fill up as COVID cases surge in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska recorded a second straight week of increased COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continued to creep up.

 That prompted the state to resume daily updates on the virus instead of providing only weekly numbers. 

The state reported 5,104 new virus cases last week to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

That was up from 4,177 cases during the previous week. Before that, cases had been flat or slightly falling for several weeks. 

An average of 400 Nebraskans were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the past week, which was up from 386 the previous week. 

That number of COVID patients, combined with regular patients, continues to strain the state’s hospitals.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska recorded a second straight week of increased COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continued to creep up. That prompted the state to resume daily updates on the virus instead of providing only weekly numbers. The state reported 5,104 new virus cases last week to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That was up from 4,177 cases during the previous week. Before that, cases had been flat or slightly falling for several weeks. An average of 400 Nebraskans were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the past week, which was up from 386 the previous week. That number of COVID patients, combined with regular patients, continues to strain the state’s hospitals.

Nebraska reports more COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Health officials in Nebraska say they’re expecting 64,200 initial doses of the coronavirus vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.

 The allocataion is enough to cover nearly 35% of the 186,200 Nebraska children who fall in that age range. 

Don Herrington, the acting director of the state Department of Health Services, recommends that parents have their children vaccinated against COVID-19.

 He says pediatric vaccinations will be available in some areas at special vaccination clinics arranged with schools and local health care providers.

 Retail pharmacies and more than 900 providers such as pediatricians and community health clinics also will provide the vaccinations to children.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Health officials in Nebraska say they’re expecting 64,200 initial doses of the coronavirus vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The allocataion is enough to cover nearly 35% of the 186,200 Nebraska children who fall in that age range. Don Herrington, the acting director of the state Department of Health Services, recommends that parents have their children vaccinated against COVID-19. He says pediatric vaccinations will be available in some areas at special vaccination clinics arranged with schools and local health care providers. Retail pharmacies and more than 900 providers such as pediatricians and community health clinics also will provide the vaccinations to children.

Nebraska slated to get 64,200 pediatric vaccine doses

COVID has disrupted our children’s lives, interrupting school, youth sports, and time with friends and loved ones. Vaccinating our children is a step toward protecting their health and restoring their lives.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there, especially targeted at parents. Don’t believe everything you see or read online. Seek answers from credible sources.

"As a grandma, I encourage parents to please have their children five 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.

If you are homebound or have a condition that makes it hard for you to access a COVID vaccine, call Vianey Zitterkopf, RN at 308-430-8390 or Janet Felix, LPN at 308-672-4653.

Unified Command confirms 244 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle.

The Panhandle COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pphd.org/" target="_blank">www.pphd.org</a>. The state COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf</a>.&nbsp;For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.

By PPHDIndividuals can get their booster shots at least 6 months after Pfizer or Moderna or at least 2 months after J &amp; J. You may have a preference on which booster shot to get, but you can get any booster shot.COVID has disrupted our children’s lives, interrupting school, youth sports, and time with friends and loved ones. Vaccinating our children is a step toward protecting their health and restoring their lives.There’s a lot of misinformation out there, especially targeted at parents. Don’t believe everything you see or read online. Seek answers from credible sources."As a grandma, I encourage parents to please have their children five 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, please get vaccinated. COVID vaccine is widely available across the Panhandle and there is no charge for the vaccine.<ul>
 <li><a>Box Butte/Grant:&nbsp;</a><a href="https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Dave's Pharmacy Hemingford &amp; Alliance, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5:30 PM (Pfizer 2 PM- 5:30 PM)</li><li>Alliance Community Pharmacy, Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 6 PM</li><li>Cheyenne/Deuel:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>During COVID clinic hours visit&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p</a>&nbsp;for days and hours</li><li>Dawes/Sioux:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Western Community Health Resources, Monday-Friday, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM</li><li>Garden: To schedule an appointment visit&nbsp;<a href="http://vaccinate.ne.gov/" target="_blank">vaccinate.ne.gov</a>&nbsp;- provider will call you</li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Regional West Garden County Clinic Front Desk, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM</li><li>Kimball:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Kimball Health Services, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM</li><li>Morrill:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Morrill County Hospital Clinic, Wednesdays, 8 AM - 4 PM</li><li>Sheridan:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Gordon Rural Health Clinic, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM</li><li>Scotts Bluff/Banner:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/hkw7wk2p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/hkw7wk2p</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine1_landing_schedule" target="_blank">walgreens.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Gering CAPWN Health Center, Monday-Friday, 9 AM-12 PM &amp; 1 PM-4 PM</li><li>Scottsbluff County Immunization Clinic, Monday-Friday, 9:40 AM-12:30 PM &amp; 1:30 PM-5:30 PM</li>
 </ul>If you are homebound or have a condition that makes it hard for you to access a COVID vaccine, call Vianey Zitterkopf, RN at 308-430-8390 or Janet Felix, LPN at 308-672-4653.People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu</a>. Unified Command confirms 244 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635981835684.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>March 2, 2020-November 1, 2021<ul>
 <li>Positive: 13,293</li><li>Last week’s cases: (cases/100,000): 282.8</li><li>Last 7 day cases: 244</li><li>Last week’s positivity rate: 13.6%</li><li>Deaths: 224</li><li>Deaths Pending Verification: 9</li><li>Active Hospitalizations: 28</li><li>Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 716</li>
 </ul>Current COVID testing access can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html" target="_blank">http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html</a>.The Panhandle COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pphd.org/" target="_blank">www.pphd.org</a>. The state COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf</a>.&nbsp;For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635981939812.png" alt="" />
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635981965495.jpeg" alt="" />
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PPHD: 244 more virus cases reported in the Panhandle 

ATLANTA (AP) —U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign.

The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.

The announcement by CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky came only hours after an advisory panel unanimously decided Pfizer’s shots should be opened to the 28 million youngsters in that age group.

Millions of shots made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech have already been shipped to states, doctors’ offices and pharmacies, to be ready for CDC’s decision.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635890433225.png" alt="CDC Director Rochelle Walensky" />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Rochelle Walensky</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) —U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign.The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635537216378.png" alt="The vaccine for children has an orange cap-Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>The vaccine for children has an orange cap-Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>The announcement by CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky came only hours after an advisory panel unanimously decided Pfizer’s shots should be opened to the 28 million youngsters in that age group.Millions of shots made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech have already been shipped to states, doctors’ offices and pharmacies, to be ready for CDC’s decision.___

US gives final clearance to COVID-19 shots for kids 5 to 11

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-five-million-dead-memorials-acd5a25aabb50f203c8ee059803a1bec">global death toll</a>&nbsp;from COVID-19 topped 5 million on Monday, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones with first-rate health care systems.

Together, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Brazil — all upper-middle- or high-income countries — account for one-eighth of the world’s population but nearly half of all reported deaths. The U.S. alone has recorded over 740,000 lives lost, more than any other nation.

“This is a defining moment in our lifetime,” said Dr. Albert Ko, an infectious disease specialist at the Yale School of Public Health. “What do we have to do to protect ourselves so we don’t get to another 5 million?”

The death toll, as tallied by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the populations of Los Angeles and San Francisco combined. It rivals the number of people killed in battles among nations since 1950, according to estimates from the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Globally, COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and stroke.

The staggering figure is almost certainly an undercount because of limited testing and people dying at home without medical attention, especially in poor parts of the world, such as India.

Hot spots have shifted over the 22 months since the outbreak began, turning different places on the world map red. Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-europe-pandemics-moscow-b844be49c2811a454440d4e84d5e5338">the virus is pummeling Russia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-religion-europe-eastern-europe-2c9668cdc75b37ed140345405fcc3f54">Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe</a>, especially where rumors, misinformation and distrust in government have hobbled vaccination efforts. In Ukraine, only 17% of the adult population is fully vaccinated; in Armenia, only 7%.

“What’s uniquely different about this pandemic is it hit hardest the high-resource countries,” said Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, director of ICAP, a global health center at Columbia University. “That’s the irony of COVID-19.”

Wealthier nations with longer life expectancies have larger proportions of older people, cancer survivors and nursing home residents, all of whom are especially vulnerable to COVID-19, El-Sadr noted. Poorer countries tend to have larger shares of children, teens and young adults, who are less likely to fall seriously ill from the coronavirus.

India, despite its terrifying delta surge that peaked in early May, now has a much lower reported daily death rate than wealthier Russia, the U.S. or Britain, though there is uncertainty around its figures.

The seeming disconnect between wealth and health is a paradox that disease experts will be pondering for years. But the pattern that is seen on the grand scale, when nations are compared, is different when examined at closer range. Within each wealthy country, when deaths and infections are mapped, poorer neighborhoods are hit hardest.

In the U.S., for example, COVID-19 has taken an outsize toll on Black and Hispanic people, who are more likely than white people to live in poverty and have less access to health care.

“When we get out our microscopes, we see that within countries, the most vulnerable have suffered most,” Ko said.

Wealth has also played a role in the global vaccination drive, with rich countries accused of locking up supplies. The U.S. and others are already dispensing booster shots at a time when millions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-business-cape-town-health-48046e5255cc3e4fa27455fc12ab5e52">across Africa haven’t received a single dose</a>, though the rich countries are also shipping hundreds of millions of shots to the rest of the world.

Africa remains the world’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-europe-philanthropy-31fd688936caec29ff082412ef23e30a">least vaccinated region</a>, with just 5% of the population of 1.3 billion people fully covered.

In Kampala, Uganda, Cissy Kagaba lost her 62-year-old mother on Christmas Day and her 76-year-old father days later.

“Christmas will never be the same for me,” said Kagaba, an anti-corruption activist in the East African country that has been through multiple lockdowns against the virus and where a curfew remains in place.

The pandemic has united the globe in grief and pushed survivors to the breaking point.

“Who else is there now? The responsibility is on me. COVID has changed my life,” said 32-year-old Reena Kesarwani, a mother of two boys, who was left to manage her late husband’s modest hardware store in a village in India.

Her husband, Anand Babu Kesarwani, died at 38 during India’s crushing coronavirus surge earlier this year. It overwhelmed one of the most chronically underfunded public health systems in the world and killed tens of thousands as hospitals ran out of oxygen and medicine.

In Bergamo, Italy, once the site of the West’s first deadly wave, 51-year-old Fabrizio Fidanza was deprived of a final farewell as his 86-year-old father lay dying in the hospital. He is still trying to come to terms with the loss more than a year later.

“For the last month, I never saw him,” Fidanza said during a visit to his father’s grave. “It was the worst moment. But coming here every week, helps me.”

Today, 92% of Bergamo’s eligible population have had at least one shot, the highest vaccination rate in Italy. The chief of medicine at Pope John XXIII Hospital, Dr. Stefano Fagiuoli, said he believes that’s a clear result of the city’s collective trauma, when the wail of ambulances was constant.

In Lake City, Florida, LaTasha Graham, 38, still gets mail almost daily for her 17-year-old daughter, Jo’Keria, who died of COVID-19 in August, days before starting her senior year of high school. The teen, who was buried in her cap and gown, wanted to be a trauma surgeon.

“I know that she would have made it. I know that she would have been where she wanted to go,” her mother said.

In Rio de Janeiro, Erika Machado scanned the list of names engraved on a long, undulating sculpture of oxidized steel that stands in Penitencia cemetery as an homage to some of Brazil’s COVID-19 victims. Then she found him: Wagner Machado, her father.

“My dad was the love of my life, my best friend,” said Machado, 40, a saleswoman who traveled from Sao Paulo to see her father’s name. “He was everything to me.”

By CARLA K. JOHNSON, Associated PressThe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-five-million-dead-memorials-acd5a25aabb50f203c8ee059803a1bec">global death toll</a>&nbsp;from COVID-19 topped 5 million on Monday, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones with first-rate health care systems.Together, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Brazil — all upper-middle- or high-income countries — account for one-eighth of the world’s population but nearly half of all reported deaths. The U.S. alone has recorded over 740,000 lives lost, more than any other nation.“This is a defining moment in our lifetime,” said Dr. Albert Ko, an infectious disease specialist at the Yale School of Public Health. “What do we have to do to protect ourselves so we don’t get to another 5 million?”The death toll, as tallied by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the populations of Los Angeles and San Francisco combined. It rivals the number of people killed in battles among nations since 1950, according to estimates from the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Globally, COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and stroke.The staggering figure is almost certainly an undercount because of limited testing and people dying at home without medical attention, especially in poor parts of the world, such as India.Hot spots have shifted over the 22 months since the outbreak began, turning different places on the world map red. Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-europe-pandemics-moscow-b844be49c2811a454440d4e84d5e5338">the virus is pummeling Russia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-religion-europe-eastern-europe-2c9668cdc75b37ed140345405fcc3f54">Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe</a>, especially where rumors, misinformation and distrust in government have hobbled vaccination efforts. In Ukraine, only 17% of the adult population is fully vaccinated; in Armenia, only 7%.“What’s uniquely different about this pandemic is it hit hardest the high-resource countries,” said Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, director of ICAP, a global health center at Columbia University. “That’s the irony of COVID-19.”Wealthier nations with longer life expectancies have larger proportions of older people, cancer survivors and nursing home residents, all of whom are especially vulnerable to COVID-19, El-Sadr noted. Poorer countries tend to have larger shares of children, teens and young adults, who are less likely to fall seriously ill from the coronavirus.India, despite its terrifying delta surge that peaked in early May, now has a much lower reported daily death rate than wealthier Russia, the U.S. or Britain, though there is uncertainty around its figures.The seeming disconnect between wealth and health is a paradox that disease experts will be pondering for years. But the pattern that is seen on the grand scale, when nations are compared, is different when examined at closer range. Within each wealthy country, when deaths and infections are mapped, poorer neighborhoods are hit hardest.In the U.S., for example, COVID-19 has taken an outsize toll on Black and Hispanic people, who are more likely than white people to live in poverty and have less access to health care.“When we get out our microscopes, we see that within countries, the most vulnerable have suffered most,” Ko said.Wealth has also played a role in the global vaccination drive, with rich countries accused of locking up supplies. The U.S. and others are already dispensing booster shots at a time when millions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-business-cape-town-health-48046e5255cc3e4fa27455fc12ab5e52">across Africa haven’t received a single dose</a>, though the rich countries are also shipping hundreds of millions of shots to the rest of the world.Africa remains the world’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-europe-philanthropy-31fd688936caec29ff082412ef23e30a">least vaccinated region</a>, with just 5% of the population of 1.3 billion people fully covered.In Kampala, Uganda, Cissy Kagaba lost her 62-year-old mother on Christmas Day and her 76-year-old father days later.“Christmas will never be the same for me,” said Kagaba, an anti-corruption activist in the East African country that has been through multiple lockdowns against the virus and where a curfew remains in place.The pandemic has united the globe in grief and pushed survivors to the breaking point.“Who else is there now? The responsibility is on me. COVID has changed my life,” said 32-year-old Reena Kesarwani, a mother of two boys, who was left to manage her late husband’s modest hardware store in a village in India.Her husband, Anand Babu Kesarwani, died at 38 during India’s crushing coronavirus surge earlier this year. It overwhelmed one of the most chronically underfunded public health systems in the world and killed tens of thousands as hospitals ran out of oxygen and medicine.In Bergamo, Italy, once the site of the West’s first deadly wave, 51-year-old Fabrizio Fidanza was deprived of a final farewell as his 86-year-old father lay dying in the hospital. He is still trying to come to terms with the loss more than a year later.“For the last month, I never saw him,” Fidanza said during a visit to his father’s grave. “It was the worst moment. But coming here every week, helps me.”Today, 92% of Bergamo’s eligible population have had at least one shot, the highest vaccination rate in Italy. The chief of medicine at Pope John XXIII Hospital, Dr. Stefano Fagiuoli, said he believes that’s a clear result of the city’s collective trauma, when the wail of ambulances was constant.In Lake City, Florida, LaTasha Graham, 38, still gets mail almost daily for her 17-year-old daughter, Jo’Keria, who died of COVID-19 in August, days before starting her senior year of high school. The teen, who was buried in her cap and gown, wanted to be a trauma surgeon.“I know that she would have made it. I know that she would have been where she wanted to go,” her mother said.In Rio de Janeiro, Erika Machado scanned the list of names engraved on a long, undulating sculpture of oxidized steel that stands in Penitencia cemetery as an homage to some of Brazil’s COVID-19 victims. Then she found him: Wagner Machado, her father.“My dad was the love of my life, my best friend,” said Machado, 40, a saleswoman who traveled from Sao Paulo to see her father’s name. “He was everything to me.”___

COVID-19's global death toll tops 5 million 

Alliance - Beginning Friday, October 22, Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) will implement changes to the temporary visitor policy put in place.

Due to the continued community-related COVID-19 exposures, and in an effort to protect patients, visitors and staff, we have revised our visitor policy for the Emergency Room and Inpatient (PCU) departments. There will be no visitors permitted for COVID-19 patients and one designated adult visitor for non-COVID-19 patients.

Patients with an appointment at the Greater Nebraska Medical and Surgical Services (GNMSS) clinic, rehab, radiology, laboratory, and specialty clinic may have one adult and up to two children and one infant six months of age or younger accompany them. Children may not be left unattended in waiting rooms.

There are no changes to the Wellness Center.

The health and safety of our patients, staff, and visitors is a top priority at BBGH. We understand how important the support of loved ones and friends is to patients during their hospital stay. However, COVID-19 requires us to temporarily adjust our visitor policy in order to keep our patients, staff, and visitors safe from infection.

We continue to implement vigorous policies and procedures to address COVID-19 and are following all governmental recommendations as well. If you have any questions about the updated visitor policy, please ask a member of the patient’s healthcare team. Thank you for your understanding and for adhering to these policies to help us keep our patients, families, staff, and visitors protected and healthy during this time.

Alliance - Beginning Friday, October 22, Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) will implement changes to the temporary visitor policy put in place.Due to the continued community-related COVID-19 exposures, and in an effort to protect patients, visitors and staff, we have revised our visitor policy for the Emergency Room and Inpatient (PCU) departments. There will be no visitors permitted for COVID-19 patients and one designated adult visitor for non-COVID-19 patients.Patients with an appointment at the Greater Nebraska Medical and Surgical Services (GNMSS) clinic, rehab, radiology, laboratory, and specialty clinic may have one adult and up to two children and one infant six months of age or younger accompany them. Children may not be left unattended in waiting rooms.There are no changes to the Wellness Center.The health and safety of our patients, staff, and visitors is a top priority at BBGH. We understand how important the support of loved ones and friends is to patients during their hospital stay. However, COVID-19 requires us to temporarily adjust our visitor policy in order to keep our patients, staff, and visitors safe from infection.We continue to implement vigorous policies and procedures to address COVID-19 and are following all governmental recommendations as well. If you have any questions about the updated visitor policy, please ask a member of the patient’s healthcare team. Thank you for your understanding and for adhering to these policies to help us keep our patients, families, staff, and visitors protected and healthy during this time.

Box Butte General Hospital updates virus visitor policy 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions more Americans can get a COVID-19 booster and choose a different company’s vaccine for that next shot, federal health officials said Thursday.

Certain people who received Pfizer vaccinations months ago already are eligible for a booster and now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says specific Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson recipients qualify, too. And in a bigger change, the agency is allowing the flexibility of “mixing and matching” that extra dose regardless of which type people received first.

The Food and Drug Administration had already authorized such an expansion of the nation’s booster campaign on Wednesday, and it was also endorsed Thursday by a CDC advisory panel. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky had the final word on who gets the extra doses.

“These past 20 months have taught us many things, but mostly to have humility,” she told the panel. “We are constantly learning about this virus, growing the evidence base and accumulating more data.”

There still are restrictions on who qualifies and when for a booster. Starting six months past their last Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, people are urged to get a booster if they’re 65 or older, nursing home residents, or at least 50 and at increased risk of severe disease because of health problems. Boosters also were allowed, but not urged, for adults of any age at increased risk of infection because of health problems or their jobs or living conditions. That includes health care workers, teachers and people in jails or homeless shelters.

Moderna’s booster will come at half the dose of the original two shots.

As for recipients of the single-shot J&amp;J vaccine, a COVID-19 booster is recommended for everyone at least two months after their vaccination. That’s because the J&amp;J vaccine hasn’t proved as protective as the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer options.

The CDC panel didn’t explicitly recommend anyone get a different brand than they started with but left open the option — saying only that a booster of some sort was recommended. And some of the advisers said they would prefer that J&amp;J recipients receive a competitor’s booster, citing preliminary data from an ongoing government study that suggested a bigger boost in virus-fighting antibodies from that combination.

“We’re at a different place in the pandemic than we were earlier” when supply constraints meant people had to take whatever shot they were offered, noted CDC adviser Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University.

She called it “priceless” to be able to choose a different kind for the booster if, for example, someone might be at risk for a rare side effect from a specific vaccine.

About two-thirds of Americans eligible for COVID-19 shots are fully vaccinated, and the government says getting first shots to the unvaccinated remain the priority. While health authorities hope boosters will shore up waning immunity against milder coronavirus infections, all the vaccines still offer strong protection against hospitalizations and death, even as the extra-contagious delta variant burned through the country.

And CDC’s advisers wrestled with whether people who didn’t really need boosters might be getting them, especially young, otherwise healthy adults whose only qualification was their job.

Dr. Sarah Long of Drexel University voiced concerns about opening those people to rare but serious side effects from another dose if they already were adequately protected.

“I have my own concerns that we appear to be recommending vaccines for people who I don’t think need it,” added Dr. Beth Bell of the University of Washington.

But she stressed that the vaccines work and that moving forward with the recommendations makes sense for the sake of being clear and allowing flexibility when it comes to boosters.

Despite the concerns by some members, the panels’ votes ended up being unanimous.

The vast majority of the nearly 190 million Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have received the Pfizer or Moderna options, while J&amp;J recipients account for only about 15 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634854349255.png" alt="CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky had the final word on who gets the extra doses." />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky had the final word on who gets the extra doses.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions more Americans can get a COVID-19 booster and choose a different company’s vaccine for that next shot, federal health officials said Thursday.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qoqia5YkwHc?start=24501" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Certain people who received Pfizer vaccinations months ago already are eligible for a booster and now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says specific Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson recipients qualify, too. And in a bigger change, the agency is allowing the flexibility of “mixing and matching” that extra dose regardless of which type people received first.The Food and Drug Administration had already authorized such an expansion of the nation’s booster campaign on Wednesday, and it was also endorsed Thursday by a CDC advisory panel. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky had the final word on who gets the extra doses.“These past 20 months have taught us many things, but mostly to have humility,” she told the panel. “We are constantly learning about this virus, growing the evidence base and accumulating more data.”There still are restrictions on who qualifies and when for a booster. Starting six months past their last Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, people are urged to get a booster if they’re 65 or older, nursing home residents, or at least 50 and at increased risk of severe disease because of health problems. Boosters also were allowed, but not urged, for adults of any age at increased risk of infection because of health problems or their jobs or living conditions. That includes health care workers, teachers and people in jails or homeless shelters.Moderna’s booster will come at half the dose of the original two shots.As for recipients of the single-shot J&amp;J vaccine, a COVID-19 booster is recommended for everyone at least two months after their vaccination. That’s because the J&amp;J vaccine hasn’t proved as protective as the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer options.The CDC panel didn’t explicitly recommend anyone get a different brand than they started with but left open the option — saying only that a booster of some sort was recommended. And some of the advisers said they would prefer that J&amp;J recipients receive a competitor’s booster, citing preliminary data from an ongoing government study that suggested a bigger boost in virus-fighting antibodies from that combination.“We’re at a different place in the pandemic than we were earlier” when supply constraints meant people had to take whatever shot they were offered, noted CDC adviser Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University.She called it “priceless” to be able to choose a different kind for the booster if, for example, someone might be at risk for a rare side effect from a specific vaccine.About two-thirds of Americans eligible for COVID-19 shots are fully vaccinated, and the government says getting first shots to the unvaccinated remain the priority. While health authorities hope boosters will shore up waning immunity against milder coronavirus infections, all the vaccines still offer strong protection against hospitalizations and death, even as the extra-contagious delta variant burned through the country.And CDC’s advisers wrestled with whether people who didn’t really need boosters might be getting them, especially young, otherwise healthy adults whose only qualification was their job.Dr. Sarah Long of Drexel University voiced concerns about opening those people to rare but serious side effects from another dose if they already were adequately protected.“I have my own concerns that we appear to be recommending vaccines for people who I don’t think need it,” added Dr. Beth Bell of the University of Washington.But she stressed that the vaccines work and that moving forward with the recommendations makes sense for the sake of being clear and allowing flexibility when it comes to boosters.Despite the concerns by some members, the panels’ votes ended up being unanimous.The vast majority of the nearly 190 million Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have received the Pfizer or Moderna options, while J&amp;J recipients account for only about 15 million.___

🎥 COVID-19 vaccine: CDC panel backs expanded booster rollout

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Wednesday signed off on extending COVID-19 boosters to Americans who got the Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine and said anyone eligible for an extra dose can get a brand different from the one they received initially.

The Food and Drug Administration’s decisions mark a big step toward expanding the U.S. booster campaign, which began with extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine last month. But before more people roll up their sleeves, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will consult an expert panel Thursday before finalizing official recommendations for who should get boosters and when.

The latest moves would expand by tens of millions the number of Americans eligible for boosters and formally allow “mixing and matching” of shots — making it simpler to get another dose, especially for people who had a side effect from one brand but still want the proven protection of vaccination.

Specifically, the FDA authorized a third Moderna shot for seniors and others at high risk from COVID-19 because of their health problems, jobs or living conditions — six months after their last shot. One big change: Moderna’s booster will be half the dose that’s used for the first two shots, based on company data showing that was plenty to rev up immunity again.

For J&amp;J’s single-shot vaccine, the FDA said all U.S. recipients, no matter their age, could get a second dose at least two months following their initial vaccination.

The FDA rulings differ because the vaccines are made differently, with different dosing schedules — and the J&amp;J vaccine has consistently shown a lower level of effectiveness than either of the two-shot Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

As for mixing and matching, the FDA said it’s OK to use any brand for the booster regardless of which vaccination people got first. The interchangeability of the shots is expected to speed the booster campaign, particularly in nursing homes and other institutional settings where residents have received different shots over time.

FDA’s acting commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said the agency wanted to make its booster guidance as flexible as possible, given that many people don’t remember which brand they first received. In other cases, some people may want to try a different vaccine if they previously experienced common side effects like muscle ache or chills.

Still, regulators said it’s likely many people will stick with the same vaccine brand.

The decision was based on preliminary results from a government study of different booster combinations that showed an extra dose of any type revs up levels of virus-fighting antibodies. That study also showed recipients of the single-dose J&amp;J vaccination had a far bigger response if they got a full-strength Moderna booster or a Pfizer booster rather than a second J&amp;J shot. The study didn’t test the half-dose Moderna booster.

Health authorities stress that the priority still is getting first shots to about 65 million eligible Americans who remain unvaccinated. But the booster campaign is meant to shore up protection against the virus amid signs that vaccine effectiveness is waning against mild infections, even though all three brands continue to protect against hospitalization and death.

“Today the currently available data suggest waning immunity in some populations of fully vaccinated people,” Woodcock told reporters. “The availability of these authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”

The Moderna booster decision essentially matches FDA’s ruling that high-risk groups are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, which is made with the same technology.

FDA recommended that everyone who’d gotten the single-shot J&amp;J vaccine get a booster since it has consistently shown lower protection than its two-shot rivals. And several independent FDA advisers who backed the booster decision suggested J&amp;J’s vaccine should have originally been designed to require two doses.

Experts continue to debate the rationale of the booster campaign. Some warn that the U.S. government hasn’t clearly articulated the goals of boosters given that the shots continue to head off the worst effects of COVID-19, and wonder if the aim is to tamp down on virus spread by curbing, at least temporarily, milder infections.

FDA’s top vaccine official suggested regulators would move quickly to expand boosters to lower age groups, such as people in their 40s and 50s, if warranted.

“We are watching this very closely and will take action as appropriate to make sure that the maximum protection is provided to the population,” said FDA’s Dr. Peter Marks.

In August, the Biden administration announced plans for an across-the-board booster campaign aimed at all U.S. adults, but outside experts have repeatedly argued against such a sweeping effort.

On Thursday an influential panel convened by the CDC is expected to offer more specifics on who should get boosters and when. Their recommendations are subject to approval by the CDC director.

The vast majority of the nearly 190 million Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have received the Pfizer or Moderna options, while about 15 million have received the J&amp;J vaccine.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Wednesday signed off on extending COVID-19 boosters to Americans who got the Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine and said anyone eligible for an extra dose can get a brand different from the one they received initially.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rou7tf4vaUU?start=414" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The Food and Drug Administration’s decisions mark a big step toward expanding the U.S. booster campaign, which began with extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine last month. But before more people roll up their sleeves, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will consult an expert panel Thursday before finalizing official recommendations for who should get boosters and when.The latest moves would expand by tens of millions the number of Americans eligible for boosters and formally allow “mixing and matching” of shots — making it simpler to get another dose, especially for people who had a side effect from one brand but still want the proven protection of vaccination.Specifically, the FDA authorized a third Moderna shot for seniors and others at high risk from COVID-19 because of their health problems, jobs or living conditions — six months after their last shot. One big change: Moderna’s booster will be half the dose that’s used for the first two shots, based on company data showing that was plenty to rev up immunity again.For J&amp;J’s single-shot vaccine, the FDA said all U.S. recipients, no matter their age, could get a second dose at least two months following their initial vaccination.The FDA rulings differ because the vaccines are made differently, with different dosing schedules — and the J&amp;J vaccine has consistently shown a lower level of effectiveness than either of the two-shot Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.As for mixing and matching, the FDA said it’s OK to use any brand for the booster regardless of which vaccination people got first. The interchangeability of the shots is expected to speed the booster campaign, particularly in nursing homes and other institutional settings where residents have received different shots over time.FDA’s acting commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said the agency wanted to make its booster guidance as flexible as possible, given that many people don’t remember which brand they first received. In other cases, some people may want to try a different vaccine if they previously experienced common side effects like muscle ache or chills.Still, regulators said it’s likely many people will stick with the same vaccine brand.The decision was based on preliminary results from a government study of different booster combinations that showed an extra dose of any type revs up levels of virus-fighting antibodies. That study also showed recipients of the single-dose J&amp;J vaccination had a far bigger response if they got a full-strength Moderna booster or a Pfizer booster rather than a second J&amp;J shot. The study didn’t test the half-dose Moderna booster.Health authorities stress that the priority still is getting first shots to about 65 million eligible Americans who remain unvaccinated. But the booster campaign is meant to shore up protection against the virus amid signs that vaccine effectiveness is waning against mild infections, even though all three brands continue to protect against hospitalization and death.“Today the currently available data suggest waning immunity in some populations of fully vaccinated people,” Woodcock told reporters. “The availability of these authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”The Moderna booster decision essentially matches FDA’s ruling that high-risk groups are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, which is made with the same technology.FDA recommended that everyone who’d gotten the single-shot J&amp;J vaccine get a booster since it has consistently shown lower protection than its two-shot rivals. And several independent FDA advisers who backed the booster decision suggested J&amp;J’s vaccine should have originally been designed to require two doses.Experts continue to debate the rationale of the booster campaign. Some warn that the U.S. government hasn’t clearly articulated the goals of boosters given that the shots continue to head off the worst effects of COVID-19, and wonder if the aim is to tamp down on virus spread by curbing, at least temporarily, milder infections.FDA’s top vaccine official suggested regulators would move quickly to expand boosters to lower age groups, such as people in their 40s and 50s, if warranted.“We are watching this very closely and will take action as appropriate to make sure that the maximum protection is provided to the population,” said FDA’s Dr. Peter Marks.In August, the Biden administration announced plans for an across-the-board booster campaign aimed at all U.S. adults, but outside experts have repeatedly argued against such a sweeping effort.On Thursday an influential panel convened by the CDC is expected to offer more specifics on who should get boosters and when. Their recommendations are subject to approval by the CDC director.The vast majority of the nearly 190 million Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have received the Pfizer or Moderna options, while about 15 million have received the J&amp;J vaccine.___

🎥 FDA answers questions after approval to mix COVID vaccines

Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson boosters are now awaiting final decision from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The FDA approved the boosters late last week. Residents will be notified when available in the Panhandle.

Moderna and Pfizer: Additional Dose (28 days)

A new, free COVID testing opportunity for symptomatic and asymptomatic residents will be available at Chadron Community Hospital beginning Thursday, October 21. This will be accessible Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm. Appointments are encouraged at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/3z8jwsy5" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/3z8jwsy5</a>.

Vaccinations have protection against all known variants, including Delta. For anyone age 12 and older, please get vaccinated. COVID vaccine is widely available across the Panhandle and there is no charge for the vaccine.

If you are homebound or have a condition that makes it hard for you to access a COVID vaccine, please call Kim Engel at 308-633-2866 ext 101.

Unified Command confirms 323 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Monday, October 11.

By PPHDModerna and Johnson &amp; Johnson boosters are now awaiting final decision from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The FDA approved the boosters late last week. Residents will be notified when available in the Panhandle.Booster? Is it right for you?Moderna and Pfizer: Additional Dose (28 days)<ul>
 <li>Moderately to severely immunocompromised</li>
 </ul>Pfizer: Booster (six months)<ul>
 <li>65+ years</li><li>Long term care residents</li><li>50-64 years at high risk for severe disease</li><li>18-49 years at high risk for severe disease are recommended to weigh their individual benefits with risks</li><li>Persons at high risk for occupational exposure including frontline workers (teachers, healthcare)</li>
 </ul>A new, free COVID testing opportunity for symptomatic and asymptomatic residents will be available at Chadron Community Hospital beginning Thursday, October 21. This will be accessible Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm. Appointments are encouraged at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/3z8jwsy5" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/3z8jwsy5</a>.Vaccinations have protection against all known variants, including Delta. For anyone age 12 and older, please get vaccinated. COVID vaccine is widely available across the Panhandle and there is no charge for the vaccine.<ul>
 <li><a>Box Butte/Grant:&nbsp;</a><a href="https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Dave's Pharmacy Hemingford &amp; Alliance, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5:30 PM (Pfizer 2 PM- 5:30 PM)</li><li>Alliance Community Pharmacy, Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 6 PM</li><li>Cheyenne/Deuel:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>During COVID clinic hours visit&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p</a>&nbsp;for days and hours</li><li>Dawes/Sioux:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Western Community Health Resources, Monday-Friday, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM</li><li>Garden: To schedule an appointment visit&nbsp;<a href="http://vaccinate.ne.gov/" target="_blank">vaccinate.ne.gov</a>&nbsp;- provider will call you</li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Regional West Garden County Clinic Front Desk, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM</li><li>Kimball:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Kimball Health Services, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM</li><li>Morrill:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Morrill County Hospital Clinic, Wednesdays, 8 AM - 4 PM</li><li>Sheridan:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Gordon Rural Health Clinic, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM</li><li>Scotts Bluff/Banner:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/hkw7wk2p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/hkw7wk2p</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine1_landing_schedule" target="_blank">walgreens.com</a></li><li>Walk-ins welcome</li><li>Gering CAPWN Health Center, Monday-Friday, 9 AM-12 PM &amp; 1 PM-4 PM</li><li>Scottsbluff County Immunization Clinic, Monday-Friday, 9:40 AM-12:30 PM &amp; 1:30 PM-5:30 PM</li>
 </ul>If you are homebound or have a condition that makes it hard for you to access a COVID vaccine, please call Kim Engel at 308-633-2866 ext 101.People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu</a>. Unified Command confirms 323 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Monday, October 11.<figure>
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PPHD: 323 more virus cases reported in Panhandle

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The number of new virus cases and hospitalizations improved slightly in Nebraska again last week but they remain at an elevated level that is straining the state’s hospitals.

 Nebraska reported 4,534 cases in the week that ended on Friday, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that is down about 5% from the 4.775 cases Nebraska reported the week before. 

The number of people hospitalized with the virus in the state averaged around 400 a day last week, which was down from 415 a day in the previous week.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The number of new virus cases and hospitalizations improved slightly in Nebraska again last week but they remain at an elevated level that is straining the state’s hospitals. Nebraska reported 4,534 cases in the week that ended on Friday, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Omaha World-Herald reports that is down about 5% from the 4.775 cases Nebraska reported the week before. The number of people hospitalized with the virus in the state averaged around 400 a day last week, which was down from 415 a day in the previous week.

Nebraska virus numbers improve slightly but remain elevated

As COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to increase in the Panhandle, residents are encouraged to take important COVID precautions by avoiding the three Cs:

Avoid Crowded Places – Avoid gathering in groups where you cannot maintain 6-feet of distance from others

Avoid Close Contact – Wear a mask over your nose and mouth or maintain 6-feet distance when you are spending more than 15 total minutes with people you don’t live with

Avoid Confined Spaces – Avoid enclosed spaces with poor ventilation

If you are confirmed positive for COVID, don’t wait to talk to your healthcare provider about getting the Monoclonal Antibody Treatment. This is most effective when done by day 5 from symptoms starting and before symptoms increase in severity. It is proven to have a 70% reduction in hospitalization and improved symptoms.

Box Butte/Grant: https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu | safeway.com

Dave's Pharmacy Hemingford &amp; Alliance, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5:30 PM (Pfizer 2 PM- 5:30 PM)

Alliance Community Pharmacy, Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 6 PM

Cheyenne/Deuel: https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p | walmart.com | safeway.com

During COVID clinic hours visit https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p for days and hours

Dawes/Sioux: https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn | walmart.com | safeway.com

Western Community Health Resources, Monday-Friday, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Garden: To schedule an appointment visit vaccinate.ne.gov - provider will call you

Regional West Garden County Clinic Front Desk, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM

Kimball Health Services, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM

Morrill County Hospital Clinic, Wednesdays, 8 AM - 4 PM

Gordon Rural Health Clinic, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM

Scotts Bluff/Banner: https://tinyurl.com/hkw7wk2p | walmart.com | safeway.com | walgreens.com

Gering CAPWN Health Center, Monday-Friday, 9 AM-12 PM &amp; 1 PM-4 PM

Scottsbluff County Immunization Clinic, Monday-Friday, 9:40 AM-12:30 PM &amp; 1:30 PM-5:30 PM

People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu.

Unified Command confirms 441 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Monday, October 11.

By PPHDAs COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to increase in the Panhandle, residents are encouraged to take important COVID precautions by avoiding the three Cs:Avoid Crowded Places – Avoid gathering in groups where you cannot maintain 6-feet of distance from othersAvoid Close Contact – Wear a mask over your nose and mouth or maintain 6-feet distance when you are spending more than 15 total minutes with people you don’t live withAvoid Confined Spaces – Avoid enclosed spaces with poor ventilationIf you are confirmed positive for COVID, don’t wait to talk to your healthcare provider about getting the Monoclonal Antibody Treatment. This is most effective when done by day 5 from symptoms starting and before symptoms increase in severity. It is proven to have a 70% reduction in hospitalization and improved symptoms.Vaccinations have protection against all known variants, including Delta. For anyone age 12 and older, please get vaccinated. COVID vaccine is widely available across the Panhandle and there is no charge for the vaccine.Box Butte/Grant: https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu | safeway.comWalk-ins welcomeDave's Pharmacy Hemingford &amp; Alliance, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5:30 PM (Pfizer 2 PM- 5:30 PM)Alliance Community Pharmacy, Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 6 PMCheyenne/Deuel: https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p | walmart.com | safeway.comWalk-ins welcomeDuring COVID clinic hours visit https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p for days and hoursDawes/Sioux: https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn | walmart.com | safeway.comWalk-ins welcomeWestern Community Health Resources, Monday-Friday, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PMGarden: To schedule an appointment visit vaccinate.ne.gov - provider will call youWalk-ins welcomeRegional West Garden County Clinic Front Desk, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PMKimball: https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrsWalk-ins welcomeKimball Health Services, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PMMorrill: https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvummWalk-ins welcomeMorrill County Hospital Clinic, Wednesdays, 8 AM - 4 PMSheridan: https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38Walk-ins welcomeGordon Rural Health Clinic, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM- 9:30 AMScotts Bluff/Banner: https://tinyurl.com/hkw7wk2p | walmart.com | safeway.com | walgreens.comWalk-ins welcomeGering CAPWN Health Center, Monday-Friday, 9 AM-12 PM &amp; 1 PM-4 PMScottsbluff County Immunization Clinic, Monday-Friday, 9:40 AM-12:30 PM &amp; 1:30 PM-5:30 PMIf you are homebound or have a condition that makes it hard for you to access a COVID vaccine, please call Kim Engel at 308-633-2866 ext 101.People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu.Unified Command confirms 441 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Monday, October 11.<figure>
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 </figure>March 2, 2020-October 11, 2021<ul>
 <li>Positive: 11,961</li><li>Last week’s cases: (cases/100,000): 382.5</li><li>Last week’s cases: 330</li><li>Last week’s positivity rate: 13.9%</li><li>Deaths: 204</li><li>Deaths Pending Verification: 12</li><li>Active Hospitalizations: 34</li><li>Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 644</li>
 </ul>Current COVID testing access can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html" target="_blank">http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html</a>.The Panhandle COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pphd.org/" target="_blank">www.pphd.org</a>. The state COVID dashboard is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/ufj9fcuf</a>. For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.<figure>
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Coronavirus Update