Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Safe Holiday Gathering Guidance

1. Be up-to-date on your vaccines, including getting the most recent bivalent booster which research shows is highly effective against severe illness and death against COVID-19 and the B4 and B5 variants, the currently dominant strains. 
   
   
2. Think about protecting the vulnerable such as grandparents and the elderly, very young infants and children, and those with underlying health conditions.

WATCH TODAY'S VIDEO UPDATE

Local Pediatricians Warn of RSV & Influenza Cases 

 Last week, local pediatricians issued a public letter to inform the community of the rapidly evolving RSV and influenza situation affecting children in Dubuque County.  Portions of the letter include:

• "As you know, over the last 2 months, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) has been sweeping through the country, infecting large numbers of our most vulnerable population such as children under the age of 2."
• "The influenza virus in particular causes more severe symptoms, and by all accounts, we are in for an early and severe flu season." 
• "This perfect storm of influenza AND RSV infections in the community has led already to a large number of children requiring hospitalization and critical care up to and including the use of ventilators to assist breathing. Currently, Pediatric ICU beds are full across all Children’s Hospitals in the Midwest."
• "Please get your influenza vaccine as quickly as possible and keep your children’s immunizations up-to-date. Infants 6 months and older should receive flu shots, as young children in particular are at high risk of severe illness from this virus. If you or your children are ill, strongly consider isolating until symptoms are improved. Families with very young infants (less than 3 months) should limit visitors and avoid contact with sick friends or family."

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

New Cases

https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Reporting

• 121* new positive cases reported since Nov. 9. This is the highest seven-day increase since August.
• Total positive cases/individuals reported to date = 29,724

* Due to the wide availability of at-home rapid tests, the results of which are usually not reported/recorded, new COVID cases are underreported. The number reported in this update is the number of new cases reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Hospitalizations

• 6 County Hospitalizations:  Today, MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center has 4 inpatients with COVID-19 and UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital has 2 inpatient hospitalized with COVID for a total of 6 persons hospitalized with COVID in Dubuque County.

Deaths

• 2 additional death was reported since Nov. 9, bringing Dubuque County's total to 318.

Current COVID-19 Community Level = MEDIUM

COVID-19 Integrated County View

• View the CDC's latest information on Dubuque County, including Community Level, Transmission Level, Vaccination Rates, and more,

VNA Offering Walk-In Vaccination/Booster Clinics

For more information on vaccines, including age recommendations, eligibility, and more, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/overview-COVID-19-vaccines.html

The CDC now recommends that everyone ages 5 years and older get an updated bivalent COVID-19 booster if it has been at least 2 months since your last booster or final primary. The updated booster provides broader protection against newer BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants

The VNA is hosting walk in COVID-19 vaccination clinics for primary series and bivalent booster doses, including pediatric bivalent boosters, at its clinic at 660 Iowa Street in Dubuque. Primary series refers to the initial COVID-19 vaccine doses and the bivalent booster dose is a version of the COVID-19 vaccine that offers protection against the original strain of COVID-19 as well as the Omicron strain, which is now the predominant variant of the virus around the world. Appointments are not required. .

Clinics are scheduled for:

• Friday, Nov. 18, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  
• Monday, Nov. 21, 3 - 6 p.m.

Get information on other vaccine providers.

Please do not reply to this message.  If you have general questions about COVID-19, please call 563-556-6200.  
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