The Jefferson County Health Department has reported two more COVID-19-related deaths – a man in his 70s and a man in his 80s.
With those deaths, the county has had a total of 53 COVID-19-related deaths this respiratory season, which began in October and ends this month, and 622 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the Health Department.
Jefferson County’s COVID-19 Community Level is green or low on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) three-color warning system.
Today, May 5, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced COVID-19 will no longer be considered a global health emergency effective May 11, but instead the virus will be categorized as a global health threat.
The CDC now recommends an additional bivalent COVID-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older and for those who are immunocompromised. Both Pfizer and Moderna offer the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.
In addition, the CDC also recommends everyone 6 and older who has not already received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they previously completed their monovalent primary series, receive the bivalent booster, which targets the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
The original monovalent COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for use in the U.S.
People 6 and older who have already received a bivalent vaccine do not need to take any action unless they are 65 years or older or immunocompromised.
For young children, recommendations vary by age, vaccine and which vaccines were previously received.
Alternatives for people who cannot or will not receive an mRNA vaccine are still available, such as the monovalent Novavax or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccines.
Local health officials also strongly encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Anyone 6 months and older is eligible for vaccines.
Residents may go to vaccines.gov for information about where vaccine appointments are available.
Flu
A total of 3,535 flu cases have been reported since the respiratory season began in October, with three cases reported April 23-29, according to the Health Department.
The county has had six flu deaths so far this respiratory season, the Health Department reported.
