When it comes to COVID-19, there are almost too many
dots to connect. To name a few, it is estimated that new
variants of the coronavirus disease could kill 90,000 more
Americans in the next month, as forecasted
by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – potentially
requiring double masking or upgraded masks; a more
coherent vaccine distribution plan rollout by President Joe
Biden's administration to get more shots in arms across the
U.S.; and help from the Missouri National Guard to offset
dismal vaccine rates in the state.
Since the first week of February, 52 million vaccines have
been distributed with 26 million Americans (7.8%) receiving
the first and/or second vaccine. The Biden administration
has sent one million vaccines to 6,500 pharmacies located
in hard-to-reach areas with the goal to increase more
equitable distribution. The administration promises a "larger
cadence" of vaccines by March. This injection comes as
coronavirus variants threaten to increase infection rates.
The variant trifecta
The coronavirus, like all viruses, is continually mutating and
has thousands of identified variants. With the identification
of three highly transmissible, and in some cases more
deadly, coronavirus variants from the United Kingdom
(U.K.), South Africa, and Brazil, calls to wear [a] mask have
now shifted to wear [masks].
The U.K. variant could become the dominant strain in the
U.S. by sometime in March, and has already been identified
in Marion County, Missouri. This variant appears to be more
transmissible than the more common strain, and according
to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, may be more lethal
than previous mutations. As mentioned in a Washington
Post article, England's chief scientific advisor, Patrick
Vallance, said that among 1,000 men in England age 60 or
older who have been infected, the original strain would kill
10. However, he said the new variant would kill 13 or 14 –
representing a 30% rise in mortality.
The South Africa variant has been identified in more than
two dozen countries as well as in the U.S. (confirmed
reports at the time this article was written was in South
Carolina). South Africa's health minister said the strain
seems to affect young people more than previous strains,
and like the U.K. strain, seems to be more transmissible.
The Brazilian strain has also been found in several countries
including in the U.S., specifically in Minnesota. This variant
comes with more than a dozen alterations, several of which
are found on the virus's spike protein, which is what binds
the virus to the cell. As a result, researchers believe the
strain could be more transmissible.
As for how effective the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech
vaccines are at neutralizing these variants, for the most
part, experts say the vaccines still work with a few caveats.
One study of older adults suggests that the immune
response triggered by the Pfizer vaccine was somewhat less
effective in the U.K. variant. Just recently, the U.K. variant
was detected in Kansas.
Moderna said its vaccine is still effective against the South
Africa variant – but – the vaccine-elicited antibodies were
less effective at neutralizing this mutation in a laboratory
dish. Pfizer released their own study which suggests their
vaccine effectively neutralizes the South Africa variant;
however, slightly less effective than the first strain.
Scientists have suggested the possibility that the Brazil
variant could evade antibodies which could negatively
impact the current vaccines' effectiveness. Additionally,
some reports indicate this strain has resulted in reinfection
rates in Brazil. As a result, Moderna announced it would
develop a new vaccine to address the variant in case a
booster shot is needed.
All the more reason to double-down on masking
It's no secret that America is less responsive to masking
than other countries, an issue that's grounded in
partisanship rather than good old-fashioned common sense.
Some experts warn it's time for the highest-grade N95 or
KN95 masks, while others discourage it, stating a depleted
supply would put front line health care workers at risk.
However, Asian countries are mass producing higher-grade
masks, and European countries have mandated medical-
grade masks in public settings.
"The existence of more-transmissible viruses emphasizes
the importance of us upping our game and doing not more
of the same but better of the same," said Tom Frieden,
former director of the CDC.
The CDC suggests wearing masks with two or more layers
of washable, breathable fabric, completely covering nose
and mouth, and fitting snugly against the sides of the face
without gaps. Avoiding crowds, people outside of the
bubble, social distancing at least six feet away, and good
hand hygiene continue to be strongly encouraged.
Missouri Positions to Ramp Up Vaccinations, Another
Vaccine Soon to Issue EUA
As the one-dose, 65 percent-effective Johnson and Johnson
vaccine issues its emergency use authorization (EUA) for
approval, Missouri is working to address its low rate of
vaccinations. Currently, the state is vaccinating eligible
individuals under Phase 1A, and Phase 1B – Tiers 1 and 2.
Missouri is one of the states with the lowest vaccination
rates in the country (see the latest numbers).
To be fair, vaccine supply remains extremely limited. And
like in most states, current demand for the vaccine
outweighs current supply. To ramp up vaccinations, Gov.
Mike Parson announced in late January that the Missouri
National Guard will begin assisting the Department of
Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and other state partners
with establishing COVID-19 vaccination sites across the
state – including Missouri's nine Highway Patrol regions.
"The Missouri National Guard is once again answering the
call to help Missourians in time of need," said. Gov. Parson.
"The purpose of these vaccination teams is to support our
existing vaccinators and provide an additional vaccination
source for eligible Missourians that may otherwise have a
hard time receiving the vaccine."
Missouri National Guard mass vaccination teams include 30
support personnel who provide traffic control,
administrative support, and data input. Targeted
vaccination teams consist of four-person teams with one
vaccinator and three support staff who assist providers with
paperwork and data backlog due to vaccination entry
requirements.
Mass vaccination sites were slated to be operational by the
end of January, with the capability to provide up to 2,500
doses per day, per team. Targeted vaccination sites provide
vaccines to population outside the reach of mass
vaccination sites, as designated by DHSS. These teams
support clergy and community leaders in the Kansas City
and St. Louis regions to vaccinate vulnerable populations
and provide up to 160 doses per day.
The recently launched interactive COVID-19 dashboard
contains state-specific data submitted by providers across
the state. Among several things, the dashboard tracks the
number of first and second administered doses, seven-day
averages for administered doses, demographic information
about individuals who have received at least one dose
including age, sex, race and ethnicity.
In a release issued by the Lafayette County Health
Department, located in rural Lexington, Missouri,
vaccinations "should improve by mid-February as supplies
become more available, and more vaccinator sites become
active."
To find registered vaccinators, visit
http://covidvaccine.mo.gov/map. Vaccinators include
medical clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, and health
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