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VDH: Four more COVID deaths for 327 statewide

Submitted by tim on

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, the Vermont Department of Health reported 129 COVID-19 cases (up 38 from Tuesday) for a pandemic total of 34,632. There were four new deaths for 327 deaths. The state’s percent positive seven-day average is 2.5%. There were 34 people hospitalized with 11 in the ICU.

While COVID-19 deaths have remained relatively high in Vermont, Vermont officials maintain that hospitalizations and fatalities are a lagging result and they point out that cases are falling. They are generally falling across the US and across the region. Still, September was the second worst month for COVID-related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, with 42. December 2020 was the worst with 71 and April 2020 was third worst with 35.

Meanwhile, the state is ramping up antigen testing in schools to keep kids in school who otherwise would be sent home if there were a close contact of someone who tests positive. Children now have a higher rate of infection than adults. The FDA is expected to approve vaccines for children under 18 at some point, but that is unlikely at least until November.

Governor Scott and state officials are urging all those who are eligible to get vaccinated or get a booster shot, to do so, in order to reduce community transmission of the novel coronavirus (see clinic sites below).

Addition of Rapid Testing Tools Will Help Keep More Kids in School

The State of Vermont today distributed resources and information to all Vermont public and independent schools to enable them to establish COVID-19 response testing in every school across Vermont. The state is bolstering existing testing tools with rapid testing to help keep more kids in school.

The program, a joint effort of the Agency of Education, Department of Health and a range of other state government and public health partners, will provide schools with a robust tool set to respond to cases in their learning community. These resources are provided free of charge to Vermont schools.

“We all know how important it is to keep kids in school – doing so is a public health imperative,” said Governor Scott. “But what we have seen so far is that many students have had to quarantine after a possible exposure and then don’t ever become a case. This is valuable classroom time that is lost for the student, and challenging for parents and schools to manage. By adding these additional tools to the toolbox, we can minimize disruptions, more quickly identify cases, and above all, keep our kids in school, so they can get the education and opportunities for social interaction they deserve.”

Using a combination of PCR and rapid antigen tests, response testing allows schools to greatly reduce the time students might otherwise have to spend out of the classroom due to cases at their school. Students who are close contacts of a classmate or teacher who tests positive for COVID-19 will be able to test out of quarantine more easily and continue attending school while in quarantine as long as they have no symptoms.

“Response testing is a critical tool for Vermont schools as they work to keep students learning, and a key part of our efforts to support Vermont’s hard-working school staff and educators,” said Secretary of Education Dan French. “Right now, the most important thing we can for students’ long-term success is to keep them in the classroom as much as possible. Together with the current surveillance testing program, these new tools will help make sure that students are present, learning and engaged in the other essential pursuits that Vermont education provides.”

“When combined with surveillance testing, response testing provides a full range of tools to Vermont schools, allowing them to quickly respond to cases, and keep students at school, engaged and learning," said Agency of Human Services Secretary, Mike Smith.

The COVID-19 response testing program consists of three complementary testing tools, each used for different scenarios, giving schools flexibility to respond directly to specific cases in their learning community:

  • Test to Stay ─ allows unvaccinated students who are close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case to take a daily antigen test at the beginning of the school day, rather than remaining at home. Students who test negative go to class and in-school extracurricular activities as normal, as long as they have no symptoms. Students test until seven days have passed since they were last exposed to the case. This program is modeled after successful programs in Massachusetts and Utah and has been supported by Vermont’s pediatric community and infectious disease experts at the University of Vermont.
  • PCR Response Testing ─ allows schools to conduct a wide range of PCR testing in response to case(s) in their learning community. This includes testing unvaccinated close contacts out of quarantine, testing vaccinated close contacts three (3) to five (5) days after exposure, and testing symptomatic students who test negative with an antigen test. Schools administer the testing on site.
  • Take Home PCR Testing ─ allows schools to distribute kits to students, staff and family members who need a test. Families can follow simple instructions to register the kit using a smartphone or web browser, collect the sample, and either send back to the lab themselves with a pre-paid shipping label, or return to the school for shipping. These kits are intended for students quarantining at home, family members of COVID-19 positive students, or anyone in the learning community who needs a test.

Families will hear directly from their school about testing programs in their community. Schools will receive additional resources and information next week.

Information can be found on the Agency of Education’s COVID-19 Testing Family Resources webpage and COVID-19 Response Testing At-A-Glance.

Vaccine Booster Medical Conditions

Note: The list below does not include all potential medical conditions that could make you more likely to get severely ill. Rare medical conditions may not be included below. However, a person with a condition that is not listed may still be in more danger from COVID-19 than persons of similar age who do not have the condition and should talk with their healthcare provider.

To get a booster you must have first received both Pfizer shots at least six months ago.

Medical Conditions in Adults

  • This list is presented in alphabetical order and not in order of risk.
  • CDC completed an evidence review process for each medical condition on this list to ensure they met criteria for inclusion on this webpage.
  • We are learning more about COVID-19 every day, and this list may be updated as the science evolves.

Cancer

Having cancer can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Treatments for many types of cancer can weaken your body’s ability to fight off disease. At this time, based on available studies, having a history of cancer may increase your risk.

Get more information:

Chronic kidney disease

Having chronic kidney disease of any stage can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Chronic lung diseases, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension

Chronic lung diseases can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. These diseases may include:

  • Asthma, if it’s moderate to severe
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
  • Having damaged or scarred lung tissue such as interstitial lung disease (including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
  • Cystic fibrosis, with or without lung or other solid organ transplant
  • Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)

Get more information:

Dementia or other neurological conditions

Having neurological conditions, such as dementia, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)

Having either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Down syndrome

Having Down syndrome can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies or hypertension)

Having heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, and possibly high blood pressure (hypertension) can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

HIV infection

Having HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)

Having a weakened immune system can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Many conditions and treatments can cause a person to be immunocompromised or have a weakened immune system. Primary immunodeficiency is caused by genetic defects that can be inherited. Prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immune weakening medicines can lead to secondary or acquired immunodeficiency.

People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.

Get more information:

Liver disease

Having chronic liver disease, such as alcohol-related liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and especially cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Overweight and obesity

Overweight (defined as a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 but < 30 kg/m2), obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 but < 40 kg/m2), or severe obesity (BMI of ≥40 kg/m2), can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. The risk of severe COVID-19 illness increases sharply with elevated BMI.

Get more information:

Pregnancy

Pregnant and recently pregnant people (for at least 42 days following end of pregnancy) are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people.

Get more information:

Sickle cell disease or thalassemia

Having hemoglobin blood disorders like sickle cell disease (SCD) or thalassemia can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Smoking, current or former

Being a current or former cigarette smoker can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. If you currently smoke, quit. If you used to smoke, don’t start again. If you’ve never smoked, don’t start.

Get more information:

Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant

Having had a solid organ or blood stem cell transplant, which includes bone marrow transplants, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Stroke or cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood flow to the brain

Having cerebrovascular disease, such as having a stroke, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Substance use disorders

Having a substance use disorder (such as alcohol, opioid, or cocaine use disorder) can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Get more information:

Information on Children and Teens

While children have been less affected by COVID-19 compared with adults, children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and some children develop severe illness. Children with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness compared to children without underlying medical conditions. Current evidence on which underlying medical conditions in children are associated with increased risk is limited. Current evidence suggests that children with medical complexity, with genetic, neurologic, metabolic conditions, or with congenital heart disease can be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Similar to adults, children with obesity, diabetes, asthma or chronic lung disease, sickle cell disease, or immunosuppression can also be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. One way to protect the health of children is to ensure that all adults in a household are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

GET YOUR FIRST OR SECOND DOSE OF VACCINE!

Visit www.healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine to make an appointment. You can also call 855-722-7878.

Vermonters 70 years of age and older can make an appointment for booster shots beginning tomorrow. Those aged 65 and older can make appointments beginning on Friday.

Additionally, starting on Friday, those aged 18 to 64 with underlying medical conditions or who work in certain occupational settings will become eligible for boosters. The State is awaiting guidance from the CDC on what underlying medical conditions and/or occupational settings make individuals eligible for booster shots. That guidance is expected from the CDC later this week.

Booster shots are available at all vaccination sites listed below. They are only approved for those who received the Pfizer vaccine, and six months or more have passed since they completed their second dose. If you are eligible for a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, an appointment is required. We anticipate Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters to be recommended by the CDC in the coming weeks.

Here are the vaccination sites available this week:

Wednesday, October 6

Agency of Transportation - Dill Building, 2178 Airport Road, Berlin

Community Health Centers of Burlington, 294 North Winooski Avenue, Burlington

Doubletree Hotel, 870 Williston Road, South Burlington

Porter Medical Center, 55 Collins Drive, Middlebury

Robert Miller Community Center, 130 Gosse Court, Burlington

Bellows Free Academy Fairfax, 75 Hunt Street, Fairfax

Brattleboro Union High School, 131 Fairground Road, Brattleboro

South Burlington High School, 550 Dorset Street, South Burlington

VFW-Morrisville, 129 VFW Drive, Hyde Park

Addison County Home Health & Hospice, 254 Ethan Allen Hwy, New Haven

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 53 Fairview Street, Brattleboro

Gifford Health Care, 44 South Main Street, Randolph

Green Mountain Mall, 2000 Memorial Drive #14, St. Johnsbury

Hardwick Area Health Center, 4 Slapp Hill Road, Hardwick

Island Pond Health and Dental Center, 82 Maple Street, Island Pond

Little Rivers Health Care - Wells River, 65 Main Street North, Wells River

Mount Ascutney Hospital, 289 County Road, Windsor

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, 1315 Hospital Drive, St. Johnsbury

Northwestern Medical Center’s Covid Resource Center at Valley Crossroad, 27 Fisher Pond Road, St. Albans

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, 982 Mansion Drive, Bennington

Springfield Medical Care Systems, 51 Pearl Street, Springfield

Thursday, October 7

Agency of Transportation - Dill Building, 2178 Airport Road, Berlin

Barre Town EMS, 4 McLaughlin Road, East Barre

Community Health Centers of Burlington, 294 North Winooski Avenue, Burlington

Diamond Run Mall, 46 Diamond Run Mall Place, Rutland

Doubletree Hotel, 870 Williston Road, South Burlington

Hartford District Office, 118 Prospect Street, White River Junction

Hartford High School, 37 Highland Ave, White River Junction

Porter Medical Center, 55 Collins Drive, Middlebury

Springfield High School, 303 South Street, Springfield

Addison County Home Health & Hospice, 254 Ethan Allen Hwy, New Haven

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 53 Fairview Street, Brattleboro

Little Rivers Health Care - Wells River, 65 Main Street North, Wells River

North Country Hospital, 189 Prouty Drive, Newport

Northwestern Medical Center’s Covid Resource Center at Valley Crossroad, 27 Fisher Pond Road, St. Albans

Northern Express Care, 1 Eastern Avenue, St. Johnsbury

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, 982 Mansion Drive, Bennington

Friday, October 8

Agency of Transportation - Dill Building, 2178 Airport Road, Berlin

Diamond Run Mall, 46 Diamond Run Mall Place, Rutland

Dunlap Hall, 102 Ice Pond Road, Arlington

Newport Waterfront Plaza, Newport

Green Mountain Mall, 2000 Memorial Drive #14, St. Johnsbury

Hartford High School, 37 Highland Ave, White River Junction

Porter Medical Center, 55 Collins Drive, Middlebury

Blue Mountain High School, 2420 U.S. Route 302, Wells River

Middlebury Union High School, 73 Charles Avenue, Middlebury

Springfield High School, 303 South Street, Springfield

Addison County Home Health & Hospice, 254 Ethan Allen Hwy, New Haven

Gifford Health Care, 44 South Main Street, Randolph

Island Pond Health and Dental Center, 82 Maple Street, Island Pond

Little Rivers Health Care - Wells River, 65 Main Street North, Wells River

Little Rivers Health Care - Newbury, 4628 Main Street North, Newbury

Mount Ascutney Hospital, 289 County Road, Windsor

North Country Hospital, 189 Prouty Drive, Newport

Northwestern Medical Center’s Covid Resource Center at Valley Crossroad, 27 Fisher Pond Road, St. Albans

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, 982 Mansion Drive, Bennington

Saturday, October 9

Agency of Transportation - Dill Building, 2178 Airport Road, Berlin

Indigenous Peoples' Day Rocks!, Mayo Events Field, 80 Weeks Hill Road, Stowe

Richford High School, 1 Corliss Heights, Richford

U32 High School, 930 Gallison Hill Road, Montpelier

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 53 Fairview Street, Brattleboro

Green Mountain Mall, 2000 Memorial Drive #14, St. Johnsbury

Northwestern Medical Center’s Covid Resource Center at Valley Crossroad, 27 Fisher Pond Road, St. Albans

Northern Express Care, 1 Eastern Avenue, St. Johnsbury

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, 982 Mansion Drive, Bennington

Sunday, October 10

Agency of Transportation - Dill Building, 2178 Airport Road, Berlin

More ways to get your free vaccine:

Make an appointment for a free vaccine

You can also walk-in at CVS, Hannaford Food and Drug, Walmart, Walgreens, Price Chopper/Market 32, Rite Aid, Shaw’s Supermarket, or Costco or get an appointment with Kinney Drugs, CVS, Walgreens, Northfield Pharmacy, or UVMMC Outpatient Pharmacies.