With the advent of the Delta variant, we had not yet recuperated from the mental and emotional exhaustion felt from the pandemic.
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Category: Blog
COVID-19 Vaccine Gets Full Federal Approval
By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP, Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health
If you’ve been waiting for full federal approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, the wait is over!
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine received full approval on August 23, 2021, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for persons 16+ years of age. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older.
The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.
According to Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research: “Our scientific and medical experts conducted an incredibly thorough and thoughtful evaluation of this vaccine. We evaluated scientific data and information included in hundreds of thousands of pages, conducted our own analyses of Comirnaty’s safety and effectiveness, and performed a detailed assessment of the manufacturing processes, including inspections of the manufacturing facilities. We have not lost sight that the COVID-19 public health crisis continues in the U.S. and that the public is counting on safe and effective vaccines. The public and medical community can be confident that although we approved this vaccine expeditiously, it was fully in keeping with our existing high standards for vaccines in the U.S.”
FDA-approved vaccines undergo the agency’s standard process for reviewing the quality, safety and effectiveness of medical products.
Santa Barbara County, please get vaccinated today! Visit https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/ to find a clinic near you.
Will the vaccination protect from getting the Delta variant?
If you have been fully vaccinated, you have taken the best step possible to protect yourself, your friends, family and co-workers from getting the virus and the Delta variant.
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MASKING INDOORS IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE
Everyone regardless of vaccination status will be better protected from the Delta variant when wearing a well-fitting mask in indoor settings. Unfortunately, the Delta variant can infect even vaccinated persons, however, they may not get severely ill or need hospital care.
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Here’s what we know about the Delta Variant and the new surge
The Delta Variant, the latest virus strain of COVID-19 is of great concern as cases are increasing locally in Santa Barbara County, throughout California and across the U.S.
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COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY AMONG UNVACCINATED RESIDENTS
Highly Contagious Delta Variant Continues to Circulate in Santa Barbara County (SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) - COVID-19 cases have reached critically high levels in Santa Barbara County as the local case rate has reached 9.8 cases per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of 6.9%. With these metrics, Santa Barbara County would be in the purple…
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Increase in COVID-19 cases are very concerning
By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP, Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health Santa Barbara County is seeing an alarming increase in new case rates for COVID-19, with active cases up 90% over two weeks ago. With the current uptick, it is expected that the daily case rates will continue to increase and cause…
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We still must be vigilant with COVID-19
By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP, Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health
If you and your family are fully vaccinated, congratulations! You have taken a huge step in protecting yourselves from serious COVID-19 illness.
Breakthrough cases, which refers to those who have contracted the virus despite being fully vaccinated, are happening now with the Delta variant.
Fortunately, vaccinated persons do not get more serious disease and do not require hospitalization. Whereas virtually every hospitalized person with COVID is unvaccinated and most of them state they regret not getting vaccinated and urge their families and friends to do so as soon as possible.
What should you do to protect yourself?
If you are vaccinated or not, don’t let your guard down. If you are indoors in public places, wear a mask. Avoid crowds and sick people. Remember to wash your hands frequently.
COVID is a preventable disease. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting seriously ill from the delta variant.
Everyone 12 years of age and older are approved to receive the vaccine.
Santa Barbara County, offers many locations to obtain the free vaccine. Walk-ins are welcome.
Please visit: www.myturn.ca.gov/ to make an appointment, or visit: https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/ for more information.
What do I need to know right now about the Delta Variant?
You may have heard or read about a new strain of the coronavirus called the Delta Variant and you may be wondering if this variant impacts you and your family. The Delta Variant has been reported in neighboring counties. If you have been vaccinated, you have taken a big step in protecting yourself, your friends, and your family.
Things you need to know about the Delta variant:
- The Delta variant infects almost exclusively unvaccinated persons.
- Delta is more contagious than the previous virus strains and right now, more than 30% of all new cases in the U.S. are Delta.
- Vaccination is the best protection against Delta. Optimal protection is only achieved if you had both doses of the vaccine.
How prevalent is the Delta Variant?
As of June 29, the Delta variant represents over 23% of all new Covid infections in California. It is spreading fast and will likely become the dominant variant in the United States by end of August.
Are booster shots needed?
No booster shots necessary since our available vaccines are highly protective after the complete series.
Is masking recommended?
In Los Angeles County, a new recommendation to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status has been made. At this time, Santa Barbara County Public Health is not adding this recommendation, however masking is required by the State of California while using public transportation, indoors at K-12 schools, in jails and other state/local detention facilities, homeless shelters, emergency and cooling centers, and in medical settings. If Santa Barbara were to experience a significant increase in case rates, this guidance could change.
How do I get a vaccination to protect myself?
Most vaccination sites do accept walk-ups. Vaccination appointments for individuals aged 12+ can be made by visiting myturn.ca.gov. The consent of a parent or legal guardian is needed for those between the ages of 12 and 17 to receive a vaccination. The consent form and other important information is available on our website https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/
By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP, Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health
Delta Variant- not a risk for fully vaccinated people!
By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP, Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health
The highly transmissible COVID-19 delta variant, also known as B1617.2, was found in India in December 2020. It’s now the dominant strain in Europe and many parts of Africa and Asia.
As of June 14, 2021, the delta variant has reached 74 countries. Experts believe delta is anywhere from 30% to 100% more infectious than alpha.
The delta variant seems to affect younger people more often. In the United Kingdom, studies showed that children and adults under 50 were 2.5 times more likely to become infected.
In addition, the symptoms related to the delta variant appear to be more severe. People may be more likely to end up in the hospital if they have the delta variant. Studies suggest it might have almost double the risk of hospitalization than the alpha variant.
The delta variant is gaining momentum and will be the dominant strain in California within weeks. Already 5% of new infections are due to delta, as compared with 2% last week. Nationally currently 20% of new infections are due to the delta version of the virus.
Fortunately, our vaccines are very effective, however optimal protection is only achieved after the second dose of Moderna or Pfizer.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that the more the delta variant spreads, the greater the chance even more dangerous mutants could evolve.
“We know our vaccines work against this variant. However, this variant represents a set of mutations that could lead to future mutations that evade our vaccines,” she said.
“And that’s why it’s more important than ever to get vaccinated now to stop the chain of infection, the chain of mutations that could lead to a more dangerous variant,” Walensky said.
Those 12 years of age and older have been approved to receive the vaccine. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting the delta variant and in Santa Barbara County, there are many locations to obtain the free vaccine, often without an appointment. Please visit: www.myturn.ca.gov/ to make an appointment, or visit: https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/ for more information.