Public health officials promote COVID vaccine

FAIRFIELD — New cases of COVID-19 in Jefferson County appear to be driven by young adults.

That’s what registered nurse Deb Buch of the Jefferson County Health Department told the Fairfield City Council during its meeting Monday. Buch said the county’s vaccination rate was “not great … not even half” and that it was just under 40 percent.

Council member Doug Flournoy asked if the vaccinated residents of the county tended to be older, and Buch said yes, the elderly are more likely to have received the vaccine.

“We’re finding that those who are becoming positive now are in the age range 18-27 years old,” Buch said.

Jefferson County reported 38 new cases of COVID on Monday, bringing its total positive cases to 1,595, and a seven-day positivity rate of 14 percent, meaning 14 percent of people who got a COVID test during that time tested positive.

Council member Michael Halley asked Buch if she was “realistically hopeful” more people would get the vaccine in the near future, given that it is free and has been available for several months. Buch said she was hopeful, but acknowledged that vaccinations have slowed to a trickle.

“In the last three weeks, we’ve [vaccinated] 12 new people,” Buch said.

Buch said the country received good news recently when the Food and Drug Administration announced the Pfizer vaccine was fully approved for ages 16 and up. It had been administered under an “emergency use authorization” before then. Buch said she hoped that the Pfizer vaccine would become more available in Jefferson County as a result of its full approval, and that the news would encourage more residents to get vaccinated.

Buch shared with the council the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to get a booster shot of the vaccine. The booster is given eight months after your most recent shot. Health care workers and older people who got the vaccine in December or January could receive a booster dose as early as next month.

The council also heard from Jefferson County Health Center CEO Bryan Hunger, who told them that COVID cases are on the rise. He said he pays special attention to the number of COVID hospitalizations, and confers with other hospitals in Southeast Iowa about the number of available beds.

“As of right now, we’re sitting in a decent position with the number of beds available,” Hunger said.

Hunger added that, of those hospitalized for COVID in Iowa, 79 percent are unvaccinated. He said that of those who have been admitted to an intensive care unit, 86 percent are unvaccinated.

“That gives warrant to the value of being vaccinated and the protection it can provide,” Hunger said.

Hunger noted that the number of people seeking COVID tests has tripled from what it was earlier this summer, prompting the health center to resume its drive-through testing shed.

All COVID testing has migrated to the shed, which health center officials have said was done to reduce exposure risk to patients and staff alike. Tests are processed at the health center and results may arrive in less than 24 hours. The testing shed is located in the parking area on the north side of the health center campus.