Health Dept. repeats message urging vaccinations

WAYNE — Julie Rother acknowledges that she sounds like a broken record.

The director of the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department and her staff have been repeating the same message for nearly a year: The COVID-19 vaccine works.

Last week, the CDC announced COVID vaccination boosters were available to all adults. A few weeks before that, news came that children as young as 5 years old can also get a COVID vaccine. Yet the health department has not been fielding many questions or concerns from residents about either one.

“Honestly, unfortunately, it’s been pretty quiet,” Rother said.

Most people who want to receive the COVID vaccination have received the two-dose series, while others remain indifferent and some against the vaccine. Overall, vaccination rates in the district and in Cedar County have plateaued.

“It’s something that we struggle with and talk about every day,” she said. “What kind of information can we provide so people can make an informed decision? But we’ve really run up against the wall.”

Adult booster shots for the COVID-19 vaccines are available at any pharmacy or clinic offering adult vaccinations but those interested should call ahead first, Rother said. “A lot of data is showing that they really do help in doing exactly what they say - boosting your protection,” Rother said. “Even though the primary series is still showing very high effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death, we are starting to see some breakthrough infections right around the six to eight-month timeframe from the primary series and that played into the decision to offer the boosters.”

There’s no need for individuals to stick with the same vaccine manufacturer they had for the primary series when receiving a booster, she said.

“Scientists are still doing a lot of research on it for the best combination but there may be some benefit from mixing two different kinds,” Rother said.

The COVID-19 booster will reach its full effectiveness two weeks after the shot is administered.

Along with the news about COVID boosters, the CDC gave the green light to vaccinate children ages 5-11 with Pfizer formulating a COVID vaccination for that age group. RECOGNI

Data is not yet available on how many children in the county or in the health district have received the COVID vaccine. WHAT WE

The health department does not currently have any pediatric WHAT WE vaccination clinics but another agency - Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership - does offer the children’s COVID vaccination. The pediatric doses are available at most large RE pharmacies as well.

Data has shown that children aren’t getting COVID-19 as often as adults and are less likely to get WH severely sick enough to require hospitalization.

“It shows up as asymptomatic when they do get COVID,” Rother said. “There’s a lot going on out there that is not detected.”

Asymptomatic children can pass on the virus to others and that’s why it’s important to get them vaccinated, too.

So, Rother will continue playing the broken record, even if only one more person hears the message.

“The vaccine has been shown to be safe and shown to be effective,” she said. “Vaccination is the No. 1 way to protect yourself and protect others.”