PRESS RELEASE: COVID-19 UPDATE

January 26, 2022

Good evening!

My apologies for not giving an update sooner.  Thing have been quite busy over the last 3 weeks due to the surge of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant.  According to CDC and Texas data, almost 100% of current COVID cases are being caused by the Omicron variant.   The data shows that patients infected with this virus are, in general, less sick than with Delta, or other variants.  Obviously, it is still making some patients very sick, as hospitalizations continue to be elevated across all of Texas at this time.

As of 01/25/2022, Somervell County has experienced 1925 total known cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.  Somervell County has recorded a total of 31 deaths attributable to COVID-19 infections and our current active case report is around 170-190 patients.  The case fatality rate in Somervell County is 1.61%.  Statewide case fatality is 1.38%.  Both of these numbers have started to drop due to the high volume of new cases, and relatively low number of fatalities due to Omicron.  Despite this, January 2022 is tied with August 2021 for the most fatalities in a single month for our county (5).  The majority of deaths in Texas are above age 50.

Most of the illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the state and locally, are occurring in unvaccinated individuals.  The data shows that 80% of hospitalizations, 90% of ICU/ventilator patients, and 98%+ of fatalities are occurring in unvaccinated patients.  Due to the increase contagiousness of the Omicron variant, more vaccinated individuals are experiencing breakthrough cases.  In general though, these patients are not getting very ill, although there is an exception to every rule.  Data confirms that the length of time since being vaccinated is likely to increase the risk of infection.  This is the rationale for booster shot recommendations, and, it appears that higher antibody levels are correlated strongly with less breakthrough infections.  New research has shown that a booster protects patients from Omicron for at least 4 months after the booster.

Booster shots are widely available.  Anyone age 12 and up, is eligible for a booster shot 5 months after receiving their second shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or their first shot of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.  Data is showing that changing vaccines can improve immunity, especially for patients who started out taking the J&J vaccine.

The most current numbers are found at: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus then click on the button that says TEXAS CASE COUNTS.  This website will be the most consistent place to get information regarding local and statewide numbers.  Please note that the state is no longer providing a count of “active” cases.  The number above, is a calculation that I am performing locally.

Hospitalizations are stabilizing statewide.  ICU beds continue to be filled at a higher rate than hospital beds in general.  About 1 out of every 4 COVID patients in the hospital is in a ICU bed.  Over 2,700 hospital ICU beds are currently caring for patient ill with COVID-19.  There is a total of 13,291 COVID-19 patients currently admitted to Texas hospitals.  1,551 Texans are currently on ventilators due to the severity of their COVID-19 infection.

Patients continue to have a much higher risk of complications and/or death from the disease, compared to the risk of complications from the vaccines.  If you would like to get vaccinated, please start by calling your doctor’s office, or your pharmacy.  Vaccines are readily available at this time for anyone aged 5 and up.

Monoclonal antibody treatments are no longer available locally.  For very high risk patients, sotrovimab is available in the metroplex, and your doctor should be able to help get you on the list if you qualify.  Other treatments, such as Paxlovid, remdesivir, and molnupiravir are also hard to find.  They should be reserved for our highest risk patients, especially those high risk patients who are not vaccinated.

If you choose to not be vaccinated, and have not had the disease, avoiding crowds/social distancing, especially indoors, good hand hygiene, and masking up are still the best ways to avoid getting any version of the virus causing COVID-19.

Data continues to suggest that immunity from surviving the disease is more effective than vaccination in the short term.  Unfortunately, there is no effective way of proving how long that immunity will last.  Many patients have no detectable antibodies as soon as 4-5 months after infection.  At a year out from infection, as few as 15% of patients have detectable antibody levels.  Disease survivors can still get vaccinated, and in fact, it is recommended.  Patients who have had the disease, and subsequently get vaccinated, have the strongest immunity, according to the most current data that I have seen.

Some things haven’t changed….to help protect our community, if you are ill, please do not go to work/school/out to shop.  Parents, please do not send your children to school when they are sick.

Masks are not perfect, but if you are ill and must go out, wearing a mask will help decrease the chance that you could infect someone else in you community or household.  N-95 or KN95 masks are preferred, with disposable surgical masks next in line.  Cloth masks/gaiters are the least effective, but still are better than nothing.

The good news, is that the Omicron variant may have peaked already, both in Somervell County and in Texas.  Compared to this time last week, active cases seem to have dropped by about 22.5% in our county.  I hope that this trend will continue.

Stay safe, and thank you for taking the time to read this!

Steven J Vacek, M.D.

Glen Rose HealthCare Inc.

Somervell County Local Health Authority