Important COVID-19 Updates
Nationwide:
The U.S. vaccination drive is making headway. Over 147 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given. The CDC reports that 15.8% of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, and 28.6 % of the U.S. population has received at least one dose. And, the number of doses being distributed to states each week has tripled since January, 2021. Data also shows that the vaccines are effective. The number of U.S. deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19 has dropped significantly over the last two months. New studies reveal fully vaccinated people don’t carry or spread COVID-19 and have negligible rates of getting COVID-19 infection.
To accelerate vaccination efforts, the White House is encouraging states to make COVID-19 vaccinations available to all adults by May 1. A number of states, including Georgia, have already opened vaccination to all adults 16 years and older. Many other states pledge to do the same in the upcoming weeks.
Current COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. are only authorized for emergency use for persons 16 years (Pfizer-BioNTech) or 18 years (Moderna and Johnson& Johnson) and up. However, clinical trials are in progress for children. Moderna and Pfizer-BiotNTech have been testing their vaccines on children down to age 12 years, and both pharmaceutical companies recently started studies for children 6 months to 11 years. Johnson & Johnson also plans to study kids down to 12 years old, then down to newborns. Testing will look at dosing for different age groups, safety and tolerability, and immune response. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the White House, stated that a vaccine for older children might be available before school next fall, while a vaccine for younger children might not come out until the end of 2021 or early 2022. Pfizer says its vaccine trials show 100% efficacy for children 12 to 15 years old.
Local:
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and Governor Brian Kemp today announced the state will expand its COVID vaccine eligibility beginning March 25, 2021, to include all Georgians aged 16 and older. Increased COVID vaccine supply and significant progress in vaccinating Georgia seniors, our most vulnerable population, allows the state to move forward and to ensure all vaccine doses are being put into arms.
Gov. Kemp singed three executive order on March 31, 2021 related to COVID-19 and the pandemic.
▪ Extends current COVID-19 guidance through April 7, 2021
▪ Provides a mechanism for allowing state agency employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine without using sick leave or annual leave
▪ Extends current COVID-19 guidance through April 7, 2021
▪ Provides a mechanism for allowing state agency employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine without using sick leave or annual leave
▪ Will become effective April 8 through April 30, 2021
▪ Eliminates the Gatherings ban
▪ Eliminates Shelter-in-Place requirements
▪ Removes the critical infrastructure distinction and collapses all organization suggested measures into one main list, with a small number of additional industry-specific requirements remaining
▪ Reduces any remaining distance requirements (i.e. distance between parties at restaurants, bars, and movie theaters, and between patrons of group fitness classes)
▪ Eliminates the ability of law enforcement to close an organization for failure to comply with the Executive Order provisions
Add Comment