Cases are up again in Easthampton this week. Easthampton is back in the yellow category of risk, as defined by the state, for both the 14-day average and 7-day average of cases per 100,000 population. The case rate in Hampshire and Hampden county continues to decrease, in contrast.
A few updates on the COVID-19 vaccine for you:
- The graphic this week on the dashboard provides an overview of the data the FDA reviewed about booster doses of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. If you received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine six or more months ago, you are eligible for a booster dose if you are over age 65, at high risk, or exposed in your occupation. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two or more months ago, you are eligible for a booster dose if you are over age 18. Which booster should you select? The "mix-and-match" data is compelling thus far, indicating that boosting with a different vaccine provides the highest level of protection. Those who received Pfizer or Moderna can boost with the same vaccine type, or boost with whichever type they did not get for a modest increase in protection. Those who received Johnson & Johnson can boost with either Pfizer or Moderna for significantly increased protection. Any booster dose will increase protection, so if you are eligible, pick whatever makes you feel most comfortable. Note that in the visual, the increased protection is compared to the protection you already have, not compared to other series. For example, the table is not saying that Johnson & Johnson followed by the Moderna booster provides more protection than Moderna followed by the Pfizer booster. And so on. And if you haven't been vaccinated yet, today is a great day to make an appointment!
- Slowly but surely the proportion of the population with zip code 01027 that is fully or partially vaccinated is increasing. Each week we see a small increase, but it adds up. At the beginning of September, 76.1% of the population in 01027 was fully or partially vaccinated. The most recent data indicates that 79.0% of the population is fully or partially vaccinated. Each additional vaccine in an arm makes a difference!
- More than 80% of 12-19 year olds and 50-64 years old are fully or partially vaccinated, and more than 90% of 30-49 years old and those 65 years and older are fully or partially vaccinated. Only 68.8% of 20-29 year olds are fully or partially vaccinated, however - an age group that has become more likely to experience severe disease during the delta variant surge compared to earlier in the pandemic. Of course, 0% of 0-11 year olds are fully or partially vaccinated.
- Disparities in vaccination rates continue by race and ethnicity in 01027. Vaccination rates are highest among those who identify as multi-racial (94.3% fully or partially vaccinated), Asian (80.9% fully or partially vaccinated), or white (73.8% fully or partially vaccinated), and lower among those who identify as Black (68.1% fully or partially vaccinated) or Hispanic (63.5% fully or partially vaccinated).
- The FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use authorization for 5-11 year olds last week. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meets Tuesday and Wednesday and will make a recommendation to the director of the CDC. Once the director confirms (or changes) the recommendation, we will start to see the pediatric vaccine roll out.
Stay well,