As one vaccine is paused nationwide, another is set to be available in the Panhandle before the end of the month.
On Tuesday morning, the Department of Health and Human Services announced they are pausing the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, following the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration. Last week, according to a press release from the DHHS, officials consulted with the CDC and FDA regarding a Nebraska resident who was diagnosed with a rare blood clot. As a result, officials are pausing the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine while an investigation is underway.
Officials note that there have only been six instances of severe clotting out of the 6.8 million people nationwide who have received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.
The Moderna vaccine will remain available to Panhandle residents. Another option is on its way to the Panhandle, COVID-19 Unified Command noted in a press release Monday. They explained that the Pfizer vaccine is expected to be available by the end of the month. The Pfizer vaccine, like the Moderna vaccine, requires two doses, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only required one shot.
Teens who are 16 and 17 may register to receive the vaccine. People who are 18 and older can self-schedule to receive the vaccine. First, they must register at www.vaccinate.ne.gov, then, for people in Box Butte or Grant Counties may go to either https://tinyurl.com/25waapu or safeway.com to schedule an appointment.
Governor Pete Ricketts, according to COVID-19 Unified Command, is expected to update the Directed Health Measures soon to allow unvaccinated people who have tested antibody positive within three months before or immediately following an exposure to someone expected or confirmed to have COVID-19 and who have remained asymptomatic to not be required to quarantine in low-risk situations, which include settings where contact with persons at high risk of severe COVID illness, is not anticipated.
However, those who have been exposed to COVID are still expected to monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the exposure. If symptoms develop, they are encouraged to self-isolate and to get tested for the virus.
On Monday, DHHS officials confirmed the identification of another COVID variant in the state: the B1.526, or New York variant. Officials confirmed one person in Douglas County to have the variant. Officials expect that vaccines will be effective against the variants.
“We have continued to stress that Nebraskans cannot let up on our mitigation efforts and testing remains critical against not only the spread, but preventing another major surge of COVID-19 cases,” said Nebraska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Anthone. “As these variants continue to be discovered in the state, vaccinations, testing, masking, and distancing remain the best defenses we have in this fight. I strongly encourage that individuals continue to get tested, especially if they have symptoms and have not yet been vaccinated.”
As of Monday, 24,458 Panhandle residents have received the vaccine. Since the outbreak began, Box Butte County has had 920 positive cases, nine of which have resulted in death. No new cases have been reported in the past 14 days.