COVID-19 stats, vaccine suspension alert updates

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) in McCook issued a health alert yesterday (Tuesday) for the COVID-19 Johnson and Johnson/Janssen one-dose vaccine.
The news release stated that out of an abundance of caution, all states and sites should pause the distribution of the Janssen vaccine due to the potential for an extremely rare type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia).
Treatment for this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered.
Usually an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots.
In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous and alternative treatments need to be given.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating these few cases, and even though adverse events appear to be extremely rare, vaccine safety and the health of Nebraskans is top priority.
As noted in their joint press release, individuals who have received the Janssen vaccine and who develop the following symptoms within three weeks of receiving the vaccine should immediately contact their health care provider:
Severe headache
Abdominal pain
Leg pain
Shortness of breath
    A health alert conveys the highest level of importance and warrants immediate action or attention.
    There are currently no recommendations to pause the use of the other two vaccines—Pfizer and Moderna.
    It is recommended that these two vaccines be used in place of Johnson and Johnson/Janssen until further notice.
COVID stats update
    After weeks of decline, the number of cases are rising in the U.S.
    In Nebraska, the number of newly reported cases have also risen from a daily average of 344 the end of March to a daily average of 491 new positive cases.
    As of last Wednesday, hospitalizations in Nebraska due to COVID-19 have increased from 134 COVID patients hospitalized to 151.
    The ages of those hospitalized are trending younger than the average age in January of 61 with March averaging 51 years of age.
    The number of COVID variants in Nebraska are increasing, which are more infectious and cause more serious illness to younger people, according to DHHS.
    The state has confirmed the presence of four COVID-19 variant strains.
    They are a California variant (B1.427) which is similar to the original one, a United Kingdom variant (B.1.1.7), the P1 variant from Brazil and most recently, a New York variant known as B1.526.
    All available vaccines appear to be effective against these variants.
    Nebraskans are reminded that precaution is the best defense against COVID-19 until vaccinated, said DHHS spokesmen.
Vaccination & non-vaccination facts
    The CDC considers a person to be fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their final second dose, or Janssen single dose.
    Officials also said people who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine if exposed to someone with COVID-19  and may opt out of COVID-19 testing if they do not experience any symptoms.
    Exposed vaccinated individuals should self-monitor for 14 days and wear a mask in public until no symptoms develop.
    If symptoms do present, they must quarantine at home.
    Those who have recovered from coronavirus longer than three months ago are required to quarantine two weeks if exposed to someone with COVID-19.
    COVID-19 information can be found at swhealth.ne.gov.
    Information can also be found at SWNPHD on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
    SWNPHD serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins and Red Willow counties.
    It can be reached by phone by calling 308-345-4223.