Wednesday, Nov. 17, Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced all fully vaccinated Kansans over the age of 18 are now eligible for COVID-19 booster shots

“The COVID-19 vaccine is free, safe, effective, and the best way to keep our communities protected from this virus,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly. “Expanding access to booster shots will help us put an end to this deadly pandemic. Whether you are considering your first shot or signing up for a booster, I urge everyone to get the facts and get vaccinated.”

All Kansans at least 18 years old&nbsp;and&nbsp;have met the 6-month time period following the primary vaccination series for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or it has been at least 2 months since their Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine are eligible and encouraged to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“As we move into the winter months, Kansans will increasingly be indoors, putting themselves at greater risk of contracting the virus,”&nbsp;said Secretary Lee Norman, M.D., Kansas Department of Health and Environment.&nbsp;“Allowing Kansans to self-determine their risk of exposure to COVID-19 ensures that every tool is available to protect themselves and reduce the possibility of a winter COVID-19 surge.”

Available data right now show that all three of the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?data=04%7C01%7CMatthew.Lara%40ks.gov%7C3219deb10ea34228646108d9a9fad495%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637727717036540198%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;reserved=0&amp;sdata=CWD2MYE%2FHQpPIm52LG%2FpRscEaXfoxNgJDp%2BDBTs86fQ%3D&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.RrkAXw4ABRUBUNyhR2rmLHg8hvADpcyQex1KnOkqnuE%2Fs%2F1827122333%2Fbr%2F114450830309-l%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States</a>&nbsp;continue to be&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?data=04%7C01%7CMatthew.Lara%40ks.gov%7C3219deb10ea34228646108d9a9fad495%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637727717036550153%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;reserved=0&amp;sdata=ro0078NS%2BL2raoOO8d%2FabpbUn%2FPCvkwmTu%2B0TBNNkbQ%3D&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.BawDTyMuYcOtJr_yrql19LTzEOi3EQavicttlorMDjw%2Fs%2F1827122333%2Fbr%2F114450830309-l%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">highly effective</a>&nbsp;in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?data=04%7C01%7CMatthew.Lara%40ks.gov%7C3219deb10ea34228646108d9a9fad495%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637727717036550153%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;reserved=0&amp;sdata=s5%2BNu2o6Y2%2Ban%2Bl85S4YjqTV0IDjtHjAW8jPegffqO4%3D&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.CSo7J6ScuSUU9mnblLeHdqTqzvbo_gYj28oNTyXVqdI%2Fs%2F1827122333%2Fbr%2F114450830309-l%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">Delta variant</a>. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging. To find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?data=04%7C01%7CMatthew.Lara%40ks.gov%7C3219deb10ea34228646108d9a9fad495%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637727717036560115%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;reserved=0&amp;sdata=Pn0lHsPateDoqxAsn%2Fz74EqyUD7N%2B%2BZUy4ngG%2B68Yhw%3D&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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._khF6jbbL5MZ6LtJIb3LyeAjvxouXZOQHPUtn6MBNR0%2Fs%2F1303161022%2Fbr%2F121153707897-l%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">Vaccines.gov</a>.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634902775004.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wednesday, Nov. 17, Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced all fully vaccinated Kansans over the age of 18 are now eligible for COVID-19 booster shots“The COVID-19 vaccine is free, safe, effective, and the best way to keep our communities protected from this virus,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly. “Expanding access to booster shots will help us put an end to this deadly pandemic. Whether you are considering your first shot or signing up for a booster, I urge everyone to get the facts and get vaccinated.”All Kansans at least 18 years old&nbsp;and&nbsp;have met the 6-month time period following the primary vaccination series for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or it has been at least 2 months since their Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine are eligible and encouraged to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.“As we move into the winter months, Kansans will increasingly be indoors, putting themselves at greater risk of contracting the virus,”&nbsp;said Secretary Lee Norman, M.D., Kansas Department of Health and Environment.&nbsp;“Allowing Kansans to self-determine their risk of exposure to COVID-19 ensures that every tool is available to protect themselves and reduce the possibility of a winter COVID-19 surge.”Available data right now show that all three of the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?data=04%7C01%7CMatthew.Lara%40ks.gov%7C3219deb10ea34228646108d9a9fad495%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637727717036540198%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;reserved=0&amp;sdata=CWD2MYE%2FHQpPIm52LG%2FpRscEaXfoxNgJDp%2BDBTs86fQ%3D&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEwMjIuNDc3NTM3NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2djYzAyLnNhZmVsaW5rcy5wcm90ZWN0aW9uLm91dGxvb2suY29tLz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuY2RjLmdvdiUyRmNvcm9uYXZpcnVzJTJGMjAxOS1uY292JTJGdmFjY2luZXMlMkZkaWZmZXJlbnQtdmFjY2luZXMuaHRtbCZkYXRhPTA0JTdDMDElN0NQaGlsbGlwLkdyaWZmaW4lNDBrcy5nb3YlN0M4MzM0YzE2NTRhMjc0MDhlZDk3ZjA4ZDk5NGZkMmQ5YyU3Q2RjYWU4MTAxYzkyZDQ4MGNiYzQzYzY3NjFjY2NjYzVhJTdDMCU3QzAlN0M2Mzc3MDQ2MzczOTcxODcxODclN0NVbmtub3duJTdDVFdGcGJHWnNiM2Q4ZXlKV0lqb2lNQzR3TGpBd01EQWlMQ0pRSWpvaVYybHVNeklpTENKQlRpSTZJazFoYVd3aUxDSlhWQ0k2TW4wJTNEJTdDMTAwMCZzZGF0YT1YZjMxMGF4dWd0VWglMkZrdlAlMkZjZ3ptNTlYRWVjNzNOeEp1V0hvdTl1QW13QSUzRCZyZXNlcnZlZD0wIn0.RrkAXw4ABRUBUNyhR2rmLHg8hvADpcyQex1KnOkqnuE%2Fs%2F1827122333%2Fbr%2F114450830309-l%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States</a>&nbsp;continue to be&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?data=04%7C01%7CMatthew.Lara%40ks.gov%7C3219deb10ea34228646108d9a9fad495%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637727717036550153%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;reserved=0&amp;sdata=ro0078NS%2BL2raoOO8d%2FabpbUn%2FPCvkwmTu%2B0TBNNkbQ%3D&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.BawDTyMuYcOtJr_yrql19LTzEOi3EQavicttlorMDjw%2Fs%2F1827122333%2Fbr%2F114450830309-l%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">highly effective</a>&nbsp;in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?data=04%7C01%7CMatthew.Lara%40ks.gov%7C3219deb10ea34228646108d9a9fad495%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637727717036550153%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;reserved=0&amp;sdata=s5%2BNu2o6Y2%2Ban%2Bl85S4YjqTV0IDjtHjAW8jPegffqO4%3D&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.CSo7J6ScuSUU9mnblLeHdqTqzvbo_gYj28oNTyXVqdI%2Fs%2F1827122333%2Fbr%2F114450830309-l%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">Delta variant</a>. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging. To find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?data=04%7C01%7CMatthew.Lara%40ks.gov%7C3219deb10ea34228646108d9a9fad495%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637727717036560115%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;reserved=0&amp;sdata=Pn0lHsPateDoqxAsn%2Fz74EqyUD7N%2B%2BZUy4ngG%2B68Yhw%3D&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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._khF6jbbL5MZ6LtJIb3LyeAjvxouXZOQHPUtn6MBNR0%2Fs%2F1303161022%2Fbr%2F121153707897-l%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">Vaccines.gov</a>.

COVID-19 booster shots available to all fully vaccinated adults

By KEN CARPENTER Great Bend Post

The Barton County Health Department is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 through 11. The Centers For Disease Control approved the vaccine last Tuesday. County Health Director Karen Winkelman explained what the children will receive.

"Now we can give the Pfizer vaccine. There's a special preparation for children ages 5 through 11," Winkelman said. "You get one dose, you get a second dose in three weeks just like the adult preparation."

The vaccine is administered at the Health Department at 1300 Kansas Avenue in Great Bend on a walk-in basis.

Winkelman is also praising the new "test-to-stay" program created by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that allows children to stay in school after they have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

"Last year we've faced so many missed days of school with children and missed days of education," Winkelman commented. "This year the "test-to-stay" option has been implemented in several of our districts, and it's been a good thing. We work very closely with the school to identify if they have a positive that they report it to us. Then they also identify closed contacts within the school setting."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Winkelman says there has been a slight decrease in COVID-19 cases in the county since September. the Health Department is still providing COVID testing Mondays through Fridays. Anyone wanting a test should call the Health Department before coming for the test.   

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629818056813.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KEN CARPENTER Great Bend PostThe Barton County Health Department is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 through 11. The Centers For Disease Control approved the vaccine last Tuesday. County Health Director Karen Winkelman explained what the children will receive."Now we can give the Pfizer vaccine. There's a special preparation for children ages 5 through 11," Winkelman said. "You get one dose, you get a second dose in three weeks just like the adult preparation."The vaccine is administered at the Health Department at 1300 Kansas Avenue in Great Bend on a walk-in basis.Winkelman is also praising the new "test-to-stay" program created by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that allows children to stay in school after they have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus."Last year we've faced so many missed days of school with children and missed days of education," Winkelman commented. "This year the "test-to-stay" option has been implemented in several of our districts, and it's been a good thing. We work very closely with the school to identify if they have a positive that they report it to us. Then they also identify closed contacts within the school setting."&nbsp;&nbsp;Winkelman says there has been a slight decrease in COVID-19 cases in the county since September. the Health Department is still providing COVID testing Mondays through Fridays. Anyone wanting a test should call the Health Department before coming for the test.

COVID vaccinations for younger children available in Barton County

TOPEKA— Governor Laura Kelly says Kansas will encourage its public schools to hold clinics for vaccinating children ages 5 through 11 against COVID-19. 

She said Wednesday during the Safer Classrooms Workgroup virtual meeting that some doses already have arrived in the state. Kansas expects to receive nearly 128,000 doses of a vaccine for younger children manufactured by Pfizer by next week.

The governor announced that all children in the 5-11 age group immediately will be eligible for shots and that most of the doses should be in the state by Friday. The doses would be enough for 46% of the state's children ages 5 through 11 to get the first of two shots.

The state is following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinating children.

Federal health authorities gave the final go-ahead Tuesday for a vaccine made by Pfizer for younger children.

TOPEKA— Governor Laura Kelly says Kansas will encourage its public schools to hold clinics for vaccinating children ages 5 through 11 against COVID-19. <div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cdn1YlkaONE?start=144" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>She said Wednesday during the Safer Classrooms Workgroup virtual meeting that some doses already have arrived in the state. Kansas expects to receive nearly 128,000 doses of a vaccine for younger children manufactured by Pfizer by next week.The governor announced that all children in the 5-11 age group immediately will be eligible for shots and that most of the doses should be in the state by Friday. The doses would be enough for 46% of the state's children ages 5 through 11 to get the first of two shots.The state is following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinating children.Federal health authorities gave the final go-ahead Tuesday for a vaccine made by Pfizer for younger children.

🎥 Gov. Kelly encourages schools to hold COVID vaccine clinics 

TOPEKA —Governor Kelly discussed Kansas' plan to vaccinate children ages 5-11 years-old at the Safer Classrooms Workgroup virtual meeting Wednesday. It began just after 1p.m.

The state expects to receive nearly 128,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 through 11 next week, and the state also announced Wednesday that all of them will be eligible for shots. 

According to Gov. Kelly, Kansas is following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinating children. 

Kansas has about 276,000 children from 5 through 11, and the doses it expects to receive will be enough for 46% of them to get the first of two shots. Federal health authorities gave the final go-ahead Tuesday for a vaccine made by Pfizer for younger children.

TOPEKA —Governor Kelly discussed Kansas' plan to vaccinate children ages 5-11 years-old at the Safer Classrooms Workgroup virtual meeting Wednesday. It began just after 1p.m.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cdn1YlkaONE?start=144" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The state expects to receive nearly 128,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 through 11 next week, and the state also announced Wednesday that all of them will be eligible for shots. According to Gov. Kelly, Kansas is following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinating children. Kansas has about 276,000 children from 5 through 11, and the doses it expects to receive will be enough for 46% of them to get the first of two shots. Federal health authorities gave the final go-ahead Tuesday for a vaccine made by Pfizer for younger children.

🎥 Governor on Kansas plan to vaccinate kids age 5-11 

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 

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2021, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a single dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for adults over 65 years, adults 18-64 at high risk of developing severe COVID-19, and adults 18-64 that have occupational or residential high risk for COVID-19 due to exposure who completed a primary two dose series of Moderna at least six months prior. The FDA also authorized a booster dose of the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson (J&amp;J) COVID-19 vaccine for anyone 18 years and older who completed a single dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccine at least two months prior. In addition, the FDA authorized the use of a different approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccine brand or type for any anyone eligible for a boost dose.

On Oct. 22, 2021, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practice (ACIP) voted 15-0 to recommend the Moderna 50 µg (half dose) booster dose for adults 18 and older at least 6 months after the second dose of the primary series for the same risk groups recommended for the Pfizer booster: 

“A single COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is recommended greater than or equal to 6 months after completion of an mRNA primary series, in the same risk groups for whom CDC recommended a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech, under FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization.” In a second vote, the ACIP voted 15-0 to recommend the Janssen/Johnson &amp; Johnson booster dose for all adults 18 and older who received the J&amp;J primary series at least 2 months after the initial dose: “A single COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is recommended for persons aged 18 years and older, greater than or equal to 2 months after receipt of the initial Janssen dose, under the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization.”

Upon review of the ACIP recommendations, the CDC Director, Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH issued the following recommendations:

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• 65 years and older • Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings • Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions • Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

For all people who got the Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is authorizing COVID-19 enrolled providers to begin using the above CDC recommendations for booster doses as the updated guide for provision of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine in their clinics.

All efforts should be made to confirm completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccine series using patient vaccination cards, electronic medical records, KS-WebIZ or other data sources. In the absence of this documentation, patient self-attestation may be used. Currently available data show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, reduce the spread of the virus to others, and help prevent new variants from emerging.

The following is attributable to Dr. Walensky:

“These recommendations are another example of our fundamental commitment to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19. The evidence shows that all three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States are safe – as demonstrated by the over 400 million vaccine doses already given. And, they are all highly effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even in the midst of the widely circulating Delta variant.”

Providers who have questions may contact the Kansas Immunization Program at kdhe.vaccine@ks.gov .

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1633022671635.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2021, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a single dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for adults over 65 years, adults 18-64 at high risk of developing severe COVID-19, and adults 18-64 that have occupational or residential high risk for COVID-19 due to exposure who completed a primary two dose series of Moderna at least six months prior. The FDA also authorized a booster dose of the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson (J&amp;J) COVID-19 vaccine for anyone 18 years and older who completed a single dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccine at least two months prior. In addition, the FDA authorized the use of a different approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccine brand or type for any anyone eligible for a boost dose.On Oct. 22, 2021, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practice (ACIP) voted 15-0 to recommend the Moderna 50 µg (half dose) booster dose for adults 18 and older at least 6 months after the second dose of the primary series for the same risk groups recommended for the Pfizer booster: “A single COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is recommended greater than or equal to 6 months after completion of an mRNA primary series, in the same risk groups for whom CDC recommended a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech, under FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization.” In a second vote, the ACIP voted 15-0 to recommend the Janssen/Johnson &amp; Johnson booster dose for all adults 18 and older who received the J&amp;J primary series at least 2 months after the initial dose: “A single COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is recommended for persons aged 18 years and older, greater than or equal to 2 months after receipt of the initial Janssen dose, under the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization.”Upon review of the ACIP recommendations, the CDC Director, Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH issued the following recommendations:For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:• 65 years and older • Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings • Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions • Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settingsFor all people who got the Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is authorizing COVID-19 enrolled providers to begin using the above CDC recommendations for booster doses as the updated guide for provision of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine in their clinics.All efforts should be made to confirm completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccine series using patient vaccination cards, electronic medical records, KS-WebIZ or other data sources. In the absence of this documentation, patient self-attestation may be used. Currently available data show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, reduce the spread of the virus to others, and help prevent new variants from emerging.The following is attributable to Dr. Walensky:“These recommendations are another example of our fundamental commitment to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19. The evidence shows that all three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States are safe – as demonstrated by the over 400 million vaccine doses already given. And, they are all highly effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even in the midst of the widely circulating Delta variant.”Providers who have questions may contact the Kansas Immunization Program at kdhe.vaccine@ks.gov .

Booster dose for all COVID vaccines now recommended

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

Pfizer asked the U.S. government Thursday to allow use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 -- and if regulators agree, shots could begin within a matter of weeks.

Many parents and pediatricians are clamoring for protection for children younger than 12, today’s age cutoff for the vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. Not only can youngsters sometimes get seriously ill, but keeping them in school can be a challenge with the coronavirus still raging in poorly vaccinated communities.

Pfizer announced in a tweet that it had formally filed its application with the Food and Drug Administration.

Now the FDA will have to decide if there’s enough evidence that the shots are safe and will work for younger children like they do for teens and adults. An independent expert panel will publicly debate the evidence on Oct. 26.

One big change: Pfizer says its research shows the younger kids should get a third of the dose now given to everyone else. After their second dose, the 5- to 11-year-olds developed virus-fighting antibody levels just as strong as teens and young adults get from regular-strength shots.

While kids are at lower risk of severe illness or death than older people, COVID-19 does sometimes kill children and cases in youngsters have skyrocketed as the extra-contagious delta variant has swept through the country

“It makes me very happy that I am helping other kids get the vaccine,” said Sebastian Prybol, 8, of Raleigh, North Carolina. He is enrolled in Pfizer’s study at Duke University and doesn’t yet know if he received the vaccine or dummy shots.

“We do want to make sure that it is absolutely safe for them,” said Sebastian’s mother, Britni Prybol. But she said she will be “overjoyed” if the FDA clears the vaccine.

Pfizer studied the lower dose in 2,268 volunteers ages 5 to 11, and has said there were no serious side effects. The study isn’t large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation that sometimes occurs after the second dose of the regular-strength vaccine, mostly in young men.

If the FDA authorizes emergency use of the kid-sized doses, there’s another hurdle before vaccinations in this age group can begin. Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will decide whether to recommend the shots for youngsters, and the CDC will make a final decision.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressPfizer asked the U.S. government Thursday to allow use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 -- and if regulators agree, shots could begin within a matter of weeks.Many parents and pediatricians are clamoring for protection for children younger than 12, today’s age cutoff for the vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. Not only can youngsters sometimes get seriously ill, but keeping them in school can be a challenge with the coronavirus still raging in poorly vaccinated communities.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UPDATE: We and <a href="https://twitter.com/BioNTech_Group?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BioNTech_Group</a> officially submitted our request to <a href="https://twitter.com/US_FDA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@US_FDA</a> for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> vaccine in children 5 to &lt;12. <a href="https://t.co/72Z2HXlkOx">pic.twitter.com/72Z2HXlkOx</a>&mdash; Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) <a href="https://twitter.com/pfizer/status/1446082946335715334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Pfizer announced in a tweet that it had formally filed its application with the Food and Drug Administration.Now the FDA will have to decide if there’s enough evidence that the shots are safe and will work for younger children like they do for teens and adults. An independent expert panel will publicly debate the evidence on Oct. 26.One big change: Pfizer says its research shows the younger kids should get a third of the dose now given to everyone else. After their second dose, the 5- to 11-year-olds developed virus-fighting antibody levels just as strong as teens and young adults get from regular-strength shots.While kids are at lower risk of severe illness or death than older people, COVID-19 does sometimes kill children and cases in youngsters have skyrocketed as the extra-contagious delta variant has swept through the country“It makes me very happy that I am helping other kids get the vaccine,” said Sebastian Prybol, 8, of Raleigh, North Carolina. He is enrolled in Pfizer’s study at Duke University and doesn’t yet know if he received the vaccine or dummy shots.“We do want to make sure that it is absolutely safe for them,” said Sebastian’s mother, Britni Prybol. But she said she will be “overjoyed” if the FDA clears the vaccine.Pfizer studied the lower dose in 2,268 volunteers ages 5 to 11, and has said there were no serious side effects. The study isn’t large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation that sometimes occurs after the second dose of the regular-strength vaccine, mostly in young men.If the FDA authorizes emergency use of the kid-sized doses, there’s another hurdle before vaccinations in this age group can begin. Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will decide whether to recommend the shots for youngsters, and the CDC will make a final decision.___

Pfizer asks US to allow COVID shots for kids ages 5 to 11

Great Bend High School, Eisenhower Elementary School in Great Bend and
Country Place Senior Living in Hoisington were all named to the state’s
COVID-19 cluster list. 
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment publishes the names of
locations that have five or more coronavirus cases with symptom onset dates in the
last 14 days. 
Country Place Senior Living had nine cases with the latest onset date of
Oct. 3. Great Bend High School and Eisenhower Elementary had
five cases within the last 14 days with the latest onset date of Sept. 27.
 
Cases are associated or linked to a particular location through public health
investigations. 
KDHE releases the data for more transparency about the exact locations where
people are potentially exposed and to empower Kansans to be proactive about
assessing their own personal risk.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information visit <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">coronavirus.kdheks.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633547349696.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend High School, Eisenhower Elementary School in Great Bend and
Country Place Senior Living in Hoisington were all named to the state’s
COVID-19 cluster list. 
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment publishes the names of
locations that have five or more coronavirus cases with symptom onset dates in the
last 14 days. 
Country Place Senior Living had nine cases with the latest onset date of
Oct. 3. Great Bend High School and Eisenhower Elementary had
five cases within the last 14 days with the latest onset date of Sept. 27.
 
Cases are associated or linked to a particular location through public health
investigations. 
KDHE releases the data for more transparency about the exact locations where
people are potentially exposed and to empower Kansans to be proactive about
assessing their own personal risk.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;For more information visit <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">coronavirus.kdheks.org</a>.

Three Barton County locations named to COVID-19 cluster list

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

Local health care workers joined a Great Bend Chamber of Commerce online chat Monday afternoon to discuss the current climate of COVID-19 in Barton
County and Kansas. Representatives from University of Kansas Health System,
Clara Barton Hospital, Ellinwood Hospital, Barton County Health Department and
the State of Kansas joined the live panel. 

Barton County Health Director Karen
Winkelman said there have been over 430 positive cases of COVID-19 within the
county this month, with a few days still left in September. 

Kansas Governor Laura
Kelly’s Chief Advisor for COVID Coordination Dr. Marci Nielsen said this second
year of the virus, including the delta variant, is concerning because it is
affecting more of the younger population, including children. "When school got back, we saw a significant number of outbreaks and lots of kids with COVID," said Nielsen. "The children's hospitals are in Wichita and Kansas City. We saw a doubling last week of the number of kids who were hospitalized with COVID." 
The Barton County Health Department still has 20-30 citizens per day make use
of the department’s drive-through testing that they schedule in the alley by their office. 
Different forms of the vaccination are available to the public for free, with
or without insurance.

The health panel all agreed that they would approve the vaccination
for their own eligible children. Physician Assistant Taylor Bieberle at Clara
Barton Hospital in Hoisington recommended the vaccination after seeing the long-term effects on COVID patients. 
"COVID changes the body," said Bieberle. "You see imaging that is significantly changed that you don't see from other common viruses. You see scans of the lungs that look they are glass now versus something that is very soft like the lungs should generally be. You take it a year later, potentially, and that might not change." 
The local hospital representatives noted they are seeing more and more
COVID-related patients fill their hospital rooms and it has become difficult to
transfer those patients to facilities that provide higher level of care.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

View the entire live chat from Sept. 27, 2021 by clicking <a href="https://fb.watch/8idCa6UbGb/">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632799068876.png" alt="The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce held a live chat with local health workers Sept. 27, 2021." />
 <figcaption>The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce held a live chat with local health workers Sept. 27, 2021.</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostLocal health care workers joined a Great Bend Chamber of Commerce online chat Monday afternoon to discuss the current climate of COVID-19 in Barton
County and Kansas. Representatives from University of Kansas Health System,
Clara Barton Hospital, Ellinwood Hospital, Barton County Health Department and
the State of Kansas joined the live panel. Barton County Health Director Karen
Winkelman said there have been over 430 positive cases of COVID-19 within the
county this month, with a few days still left in September. Kansas Governor Laura
Kelly’s Chief Advisor for COVID Coordination Dr. Marci Nielsen said this second
year of the virus, including the delta variant, is concerning because it is
affecting more of the younger population, including children. "When school got back, we saw a significant number of outbreaks and lots of kids with COVID," said Nielsen. "The children's hospitals are in Wichita and Kansas City. We saw a doubling last week of the number of kids who were hospitalized with COVID." 
The Barton County Health Department still has 20-30 citizens per day make use
of the department’s drive-through testing that they schedule in the alley by their office. 
Different forms of the vaccination are available to the public for free, with
or without insurance. The health panel all agreed that they would approve the vaccination
for their own eligible children. Physician Assistant Taylor Bieberle at Clara
Barton Hospital in Hoisington recommended the vaccination after seeing the long-term effects on COVID patients. 
"COVID changes the body," said Bieberle. "You see imaging that is significantly changed that you don't see from other common viruses. You see scans of the lungs that look they are glass now versus something that is very soft like the lungs should generally be. You take it a year later, potentially, and that might not change." 
The local hospital representatives noted they are seeing more and more
COVID-related patients fill their hospital rooms and it has become difficult to
transfer those patients to facilities that provide higher level of care.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;View the entire live chat from Sept. 27, 2021 by clicking <a href="https://fb.watch/8idCa6UbGb/">HERE</a>.

Barton County health workers discuss current COVID impact

Barton County coronavirus update: 128 active cases

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. vaccination drive against COVID-19 stood on the verge of a major new phase as government advisers Thursday recommended booster doses of Pfizer’s vaccine for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans — despite doubts the extra shots will do much to slow the pandemic.

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said boosters should be offered to people 65 and older, nursing home residents and those ages 50 to 64 who have risky underlying health problems. The extra dose would be given once they are at least six months past their last Pfizer shot.

Deciding who else might get one was far tougher. While there is little evidence that younger people are in danger of waning immunity, the panel offered the option of a booster for those 18 to 49 who have chronic health problems and want one.

But the advisers refused to go further and open boosters to otherwise healthy front-line health care workers who aren’t at risk of severe illness but want to avoid even a mild infection.

“We might as well just say give it to everyone 18 and older. We have a very effective vaccine and it’s like saying, ‘It’s not working.’ It is working,” said Dr. Pablo Sanchez of Ohio State University, who helped block the broadest booster option.

Still, getting the unvaccinated their first shots remains the top priority, and the panel wrestled with whether the booster debate was distracting from that goal.

All three of the COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. still are highly protective against severe illness, hospitalization and death, even amid the spread of the extra-contagious delta variant. But only about 182 million Americans are fully vaccinated, just 55% of the population.

“We can give boosters to people, but that’s not really the answer to this pandemic,” said Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University. “Hospitals are full because people are not vaccinated. We are declining care to people who deserve care because we are full of unvaccinated COVID-positive patients.”

Thursday’s decision represented a dramatic scaling back of the Biden administration plan, announced last month, to dispense boosters to nearly everyone to shore up their protection. Late Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration, like the CDC, signed off on Pfizer boosters for a much more targeted slice of the American population than the White House envisioned.

It falls to the CDC to set final U.S. policy on who qualifies for the extra shot. The CDC usually follows its advisers’ recommendations. A final decision from the agency was expected later Thursday.

The booster plan marks an important shift in the nation’s vaccination drive. Britain and Israel are already giving a third round of shots over strong objections from the World Health Organization that poor countries don’t have enough for their initial doses.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky opened Thursday’s meeting by stressing that vaccinating the unvaccinated remains the top goal “here in America and around the world.”

Walensky acknowledged that the data on who really needs a booster right away “are not perfect.” “Yet collectively they form a picture for us,” she said, “and they are what we have in this moment to make a decision about the next stage in this pandemic.”

The CDC panel stressed its recommendations will be changed if new evidence shows more people need a booster.

The CDC advisers expressed concern over the millions more Americans who received Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson shots early in the vaccine rollout. The government still hasn’t considered boosters for those brands and has no data on whether it’s safe or effective to mix-and-match and give those people a Pfizer shot.

“I just don’t understand how later this afternoon we can say to people 65 and older you’re at risk for severe illness and death but only half of you can protect yourselves right now,” said Dr. Sarah Long of Drexel University.

About 26 million Americans got their last Pfizer dose at least six months ago, about half of whom are 65 or older. It’s not clear how many more would meet the CDC panel’s initial booster qualifications.

CDC data shows the vaccines still offer strong protection for all ages, but there is a slight drop among the oldest adults. And immunity against milder infection appears to be waning months after people’s initial immunization.

For most people, if you’re not in a group recommended for a booster, “it’s really because we think you’re well-protected,” said Dr. Matthew Daley of Kaiser Permanente Colorado. “This isn’t about who deserves a booster, but who needs a booster.”

Among people who stand to benefit from a booster, there are few risks, the CDC concluded. Serious side effects from the first two Pfizer doses are exceedingly rare, including heart inflammation that sometimes occurs in younger men. Data from Israel, which has given nearly 3 million people — mostly 60 and older — a third Pfizer dose, has uncovered no red flags.

The panelists also wrestled with how to even tell when a booster is needed. While an extra dose revs up numbers of virus-fighting antibodies, those naturally wane over time and no one knows how long the antibody boost from a third Pfizer dose will last -- or how much protection it really adds, since the immune system also forms additional defenses after vaccination.

The U.S. has already authorized third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for certain people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients and transplant recipients. Other Americans, healthy or not, have managed to get boosters, in some cases simply by asking.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. vaccination drive against COVID-19 stood on the verge of a major new phase as government advisers Thursday recommended booster doses of Pfizer’s vaccine for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans — despite doubts the extra shots will do much to slow the pandemic.Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said boosters should be offered to people 65 and older, nursing home residents and those ages 50 to 64 who have risky underlying health problems. The extra dose would be given once they are at least six months past their last Pfizer shot.Deciding who else might get one was far tougher. While there is little evidence that younger people are in danger of waning immunity, the panel offered the option of a booster for those 18 to 49 who have chronic health problems and want one.But the advisers refused to go further and open boosters to otherwise healthy front-line health care workers who aren’t at risk of severe illness but want to avoid even a mild infection.“We might as well just say give it to everyone 18 and older. We have a very effective vaccine and it’s like saying, ‘It’s not working.’ It is working,” said Dr. Pablo Sanchez of Ohio State University, who helped block the broadest booster option.Still, getting the unvaccinated their first shots remains the top priority, and the panel wrestled with whether the booster debate was distracting from that goal.All three of the COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. still are highly protective against severe illness, hospitalization and death, even amid the spread of the extra-contagious delta variant. But only about 182 million Americans are fully vaccinated, just 55% of the population.“We can give boosters to people, but that’s not really the answer to this pandemic,” said Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University. “Hospitals are full because people are not vaccinated. We are declining care to people who deserve care because we are full of unvaccinated COVID-positive patients.”Thursday’s decision represented a dramatic scaling back of the Biden administration plan, announced last month, to dispense boosters to nearly everyone to shore up their protection. Late Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration, like the CDC, signed off on Pfizer boosters for a much more targeted slice of the American population than the White House envisioned.It falls to the CDC to set final U.S. policy on who qualifies for the extra shot. The CDC usually follows its advisers’ recommendations. A final decision from the agency was expected later Thursday.The booster plan marks an important shift in the nation’s vaccination drive. Britain and Israel are already giving a third round of shots over strong objections from the World Health Organization that poor countries don’t have enough for their initial doses.CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky opened Thursday’s meeting by stressing that vaccinating the unvaccinated remains the top goal “here in America and around the world.”Walensky acknowledged that the data on who really needs a booster right away “are not perfect.” “Yet collectively they form a picture for us,” she said, “and they are what we have in this moment to make a decision about the next stage in this pandemic.”The CDC panel stressed its recommendations will be changed if new evidence shows more people need a booster.The CDC advisers expressed concern over the millions more Americans who received Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson shots early in the vaccine rollout. The government still hasn’t considered boosters for those brands and has no data on whether it’s safe or effective to mix-and-match and give those people a Pfizer shot.“I just don’t understand how later this afternoon we can say to people 65 and older you’re at risk for severe illness and death but only half of you can protect yourselves right now,” said Dr. Sarah Long of Drexel University.About 26 million Americans got their last Pfizer dose at least six months ago, about half of whom are 65 or older. It’s not clear how many more would meet the CDC panel’s initial booster qualifications.CDC data shows the vaccines still offer strong protection for all ages, but there is a slight drop among the oldest adults. And immunity against milder infection appears to be waning months after people’s initial immunization.For most people, if you’re not in a group recommended for a booster, “it’s really because we think you’re well-protected,” said Dr. Matthew Daley of Kaiser Permanente Colorado. “This isn’t about who deserves a booster, but who needs a booster.”Among people who stand to benefit from a booster, there are few risks, the CDC concluded. Serious side effects from the first two Pfizer doses are exceedingly rare, including heart inflammation that sometimes occurs in younger men. Data from Israel, which has given nearly 3 million people — mostly 60 and older — a third Pfizer dose, has uncovered no red flags.The panelists also wrestled with how to even tell when a booster is needed. While an extra dose revs up numbers of virus-fighting antibodies, those naturally wane over time and no one knows how long the antibody boost from a third Pfizer dose will last -- or how much protection it really adds, since the immune system also forms additional defenses after vaccination.The U.S. has already authorized third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for certain people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients and transplant recipients. Other Americans, healthy or not, have managed to get boosters, in some cases simply by asking.___

Despite concern, US sets stage for COVID booster shots 

Barton County coronavirus update: 203 active cases

From. U.S. Senator Dr. Roger Marshall's office...

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. recently appeared on Newsmax to discuss the origins of COVID-19 and viral gain-of-function research. The interview comes on the heels of Senator Marshall releasing a multi-step path forward on getting to the bottom of the origins of COVID-19 and holding China accountable for its actions surrounding the earliest days of the outbreak. In the interview, Senator Marshall said in part,

“We think that we can prove the origins of COVID started in a lab in Wuhan if we can look at these precursors to what became COVID-19. We think the grandparents, the relatives of that virus will be found in these data banks. We have given China a year and a half to find some type of an intermediate species or prove to us that it came from nature. So far, it’s all empty. So we think that these genetic lab banks will have the answer and can show us the relatives. And indeed it looks like going way back to maybe 2011, that Dr. Fauci was funding viral gain-of-function research on a SARS virus. And then we taught Dr. Shi how to manipulate these viruses, and eventually she took that knowledge and made the COVID-19 virus in her laboratory. That’s what it looks like.”

You may click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ26brbHo1s" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;or on the image below to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.

In June, Senator Marshall wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demanding answers on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/23/congress-wuhan-military-games-2019-covid/" target="_blank">possible COVID-19 infections of U.S. Army troops</a>&nbsp;who participated in the 2019 World Military Games that took place in Wuhan, China from October 18-28, 2019. Following completion of the games, athletes from numerous participating countries reported experiencing symptoms similar to those associated with COVID-19.

Senator Marshall has penned several op-eds on COVID origins. You may click on the links below to view them:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FOX News – April 7, 2020:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/coronavirus-china-drug-supply-chain-roger-marshall" target="_blank">China's coronavirus reckoning – act now to end US dependency for drugs, medical supplies</a>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FOX News – May 22, 2020:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/who-reform-desperately-needed-protect-global-health-rep-dr-roger-marshall" target="_blank">WHO desperately needs reform – here’s how to protect global health now</a>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Washington Times – March 2, 2021:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/mar/2/who-must-actually-demonstrate-independence-china/" target="_blank">WHO must actually demonstrate independence from China</a>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FOX News – May 13, 2021:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/covid-19-mystery-lives-lost-questions-answers-roger-marshall" target="_blank">The COVID-19 mystery – we've lost 3 million lives and critical questions need answers</a>

In January 2020, then Congressman Marshall was&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/27/coronavirus-timeline-finds-few-heroes-inside-beltw/" target="_blank">first member of Congress to sound the alarm on the House floor about the spread of COVID-19</a>. As a physician, he would later go on to serve on the frontlines as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/content/news/KS-Congressman-Roger-Marshall-returns-to-the-clinic-to-fight-COVID-19-569873371.html" target="_blank">volunteer treating patients</a>&nbsp;in Wyandotte County and Seward County.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/27/coronavirus-timeline-finds-few-heroes-inside-beltw/" target="_blank">Few heroes to be found in Washington amid coronavirus finger-pointing (Washington Times)</a>…Rep. Roger Marshall, Kansas Republican and a medical doctor, five days later became the first to broach the virus on the House floor. He thought the information he heard coming out of China sounded fishy, and he wanted to sound the alarm…

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631829183219.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From. U.S. Senator Dr. Roger Marshall's office...U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. recently appeared on Newsmax to discuss the origins of COVID-19 and viral gain-of-function research. The interview comes on the heels of Senator Marshall releasing a multi-step path forward on getting to the bottom of the origins of COVID-19 and holding China accountable for its actions surrounding the earliest days of the outbreak. In the interview, Senator Marshall said in part,“We think that we can prove the origins of COVID started in a lab in Wuhan if we can look at these precursors to what became COVID-19. We think the grandparents, the relatives of that virus will be found in these data banks. We have given China a year and a half to find some type of an intermediate species or prove to us that it came from nature. So far, it’s all empty. So we think that these genetic lab banks will have the answer and can show us the relatives. And indeed it looks like going way back to maybe 2011, that Dr. Fauci was funding viral gain-of-function research on a SARS virus. And then we taught Dr. Shi how to manipulate these viruses, and eventually she took that knowledge and made the COVID-19 virus in her laboratory. That’s what it looks like.”You may click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ26brbHo1s" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;or on the image below to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.In June, Senator Marshall wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demanding answers on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/23/congress-wuhan-military-games-2019-covid/" target="_blank">possible COVID-19 infections of U.S. Army troops</a>&nbsp;who participated in the 2019 World Military Games that took place in Wuhan, China from October 18-28, 2019. Following completion of the games, athletes from numerous participating countries reported experiencing symptoms similar to those associated with COVID-19.Senator Marshall has penned several op-eds on COVID origins. You may click on the links below to view them:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FOX News – April 7, 2020:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/coronavirus-china-drug-supply-chain-roger-marshall" target="_blank">China's coronavirus reckoning – act now to end US dependency for drugs, medical supplies</a>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FOX News – May 22, 2020:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/who-reform-desperately-needed-protect-global-health-rep-dr-roger-marshall" target="_blank">WHO desperately needs reform – here’s how to protect global health now</a>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Washington Times – March 2, 2021:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/mar/2/who-must-actually-demonstrate-independence-china/" target="_blank">WHO must actually demonstrate independence from China</a>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FOX News – May 13, 2021:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/covid-19-mystery-lives-lost-questions-answers-roger-marshall" target="_blank">The COVID-19 mystery – we've lost 3 million lives and critical questions need answers</a>In January 2020, then Congressman Marshall was&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/27/coronavirus-timeline-finds-few-heroes-inside-beltw/" target="_blank">first member of Congress to sound the alarm on the House floor about the spread of COVID-19</a>. As a physician, he would later go on to serve on the frontlines as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/content/news/KS-Congressman-Roger-Marshall-returns-to-the-clinic-to-fight-COVID-19-569873371.html" target="_blank">volunteer treating patients</a>&nbsp;in Wyandotte County and Seward County.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/27/coronavirus-timeline-finds-few-heroes-inside-beltw/" target="_blank">Few heroes to be found in Washington amid coronavirus finger-pointing (Washington Times)</a>…Rep. Roger Marshall, Kansas Republican and a medical doctor, five days later became the first to broach the virus on the House floor. He thought the information he heard coming out of China sounded fishy, and he wanted to sound the alarm…

Sen. Marshall talks COVID-19 origins

Barton County coronavirus update: 186 active cases

Due to the rapid rise in the number of positive COVID-19 cases identified in Barton County, the Health Department is contacting positive cases as soon as they are able.

If you are informed that you tested positive for COVID-19, you should isolate for 10 days from symptom onset or fever free for 72 hours (whichever is longer). If you were tested at the Health Department you will receive a call. If you were tested at another testing site, the Barton County Health Department may not receive your results for several days, delaying a call back.

If you are identified as a close contact of a positive case, it is recommended that you quarantine for a total of 14 days since your last potential exposure.

KDHE continues to provide assistance in case investigations / contract tracing, but due to the increase in volume of cases across the state, their resources are limited. We ask for your patience. Inquiry calls to the Health Department depletes resources and only hinders and delays calls to those who have tested positive. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626282501238.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From Barton County...Due to the rapid rise in the number of positive COVID-19 cases identified in Barton County, the Health Department is contacting positive cases as soon as they are able.If you are informed that you tested positive for COVID-19, you should isolate for 10 days from symptom onset or fever free for 72 hours (whichever is longer). If you were tested at the Health Department you will receive a call. If you were tested at another testing site, the Barton County Health Department may not receive your results for several days, delaying a call back.If you are identified as a close contact of a positive case, it is recommended that you quarantine for a total of 14 days since your last potential exposure.KDHE continues to provide assistance in case investigations / contract tracing, but due to the increase in volume of cases across the state, their resources are limited. We ask for your patience. Inquiry calls to the Health Department depletes resources and only hinders and delays calls to those who have tested positive.

Barton County Health Department contacting positive COVID cases ASAP

Barton County coronavirus update: 127 active cases

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 4,195 to a total of 373,171, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 24 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,581.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 4,195 to a total of 373,171, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 24 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,581.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630519048780.png" alt="Wednesday Sept. 1, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Sept. 1, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

Coronavirus Update