Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System news conference on Friday morning discussed the new Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which was submitted to the FDA Thursday for emergency use authorization.
“The problem we have is one of vaccine supply,” Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Health System, said. “The more good vaccines we have, that can help us take care of folks, the better.”
While the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is a very good vaccine, it does not have the same high degree of efficacy as Moderna and Pfizer, he said.
The 72 percent effective rate for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is a good rate, and is better than the flu shot, he said. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is only one shot.
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is still efficacious for serious infections, Dr. Stites said.
“As we get supply up, all of these distribution problems are going to go away,” he said.
There have been distribution problems in all states, not just Kansas and Missouri. Part of it is a data reporting issue, he added.
“Everything we can do to get more quantity of vaccine into the pipeline, the better we’re going to do as a country,” Dr. Stites said.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, said the key point is the reduction in disease and death. Also important is the reduction in the hospitalization rate and the reduction in work absenteeism.
The preliminary report and data has shown that the new vaccine does prevent hospitalizations and deaths, Dr. Hawkinson said.
“If you get offered a vaccine which is EUA or approved, you should take it,” Dr. Hawkinson said.
All of the candidates look really good at preventing severe illness and death, he said.
“We were hopeful to have a vaccine that was going to be above the 50 percent threshold and we’ve got three different options out there that are above that,” Amanda Cackler, director of quality and safety, said. “If you are offered a vaccine, don’t hesitate to jump at the opportunity.”
Dr. Stites said since Johnson and Johnson is a one-dose vaccine, that may entice some people to get it..
Others may decide to wait for another vaccine, but they should remember they are more susceptible than those who got the vaccine, Dr. Stites said. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine prevented 85 to 90 percent of serious hospitalizations, he said. The new vaccine also is easier to keep refrigerated.
Dr. Stites said the FDA could ask Johnson and Johnson to do a follow-up study to determine if a two-shot regimen would have 95 percent efficiency. They would probably all have the same effectiveness with two shots, he believes.
“This level of immunity protects you against serious disease, and that is incredibly important,” he said. That will help heal as a country and stop the spread of COVID-19, he added.
Dr. Hawkinson said people who come to the hospital have a mortality rate of about 9 percent, quite a lot more than the 1 percent mortality rate among all those who get COVID-19. All of the vaccines will protect against severe disease and death, he added.
Cackler said all of the vaccines will not necessarily prevent people from contracting COVID-19, but if they do, they will have fewer symptoms. She added it is also important to keep social distancing, wearing masks and avoiding crowds.
Currently, the doctors agreed that the lower numbers of COVID-19 cases is due to people masking and social distancing. In most cases, there haven’t been enough vaccinations to make a difference in the numbers yet.
As a culture change, more people are wearing masks, according to Dr. Stites.
Dr. Stites said 75 to 80 percent of nursing home patients have been vaccinated. The nursing home vaccinations are having an effect on hospitalizations and intensive care units, he said.
There is concern that an increase in cases could occur after Super Bowl parties and celebrations.
“It’s all about personal responsibility,” Dr. Stites said. It’s all about following the rules of infection control, he added.
“Don’t get cocky because the numbers are going down,” he said. “We’re still at widespread community transmission.”
The virus is still circulating widely in the community, he said.
“This is going to be a test for us,” Dr. Stites said. “We know how to pass the test because we’ve been studying it for 10 months.
“Wear your mask, keep your numbers down, keep your distance, stay inside, don’t relax and feel like just because it’s the Super Bowl, you have permission to go out and party in a way that’s going to spread coronavirus. Follow the rules of infection control, ace this exam, and watch the Chiefs ace the Super Bowl,” Dr. Stites said.
Dr. Hawkinson encouraged people not to get together for Super Bowl parties, and don’t mix their bubbles. They wouldn’t necessarily see a spike in cases in a week or two, but it’s two or three infection cycles down the line when they would see those cases, he added.
Cackler said anyone planning some special food for the Super Bowl should plan extra time for shopping so they can separate themselves from other people. They may want to shop when the store is not as busy.
Flags ordered to fly at half-staff in memory of 4,101 Kansans who lost lives to COVID-19
Deaths in Kansas surpassed 4,000 on Friday, and Gov. Laura Kelly ordered flags be lowered to half-staff throughout the state Saturday, Feb. 6, from sunup until sundown. Friday’s death total was 4,101 in the state.
“It is with great sadness that I am once again ordering flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the Kansans who have lost their lives to COVID-19,” Gov. Kelly said. “My administration remains committed to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and vaccinating Kansans as quickly and efficiently as possible. In the meantime, I know Kansans will do their part to protect their loved ones by following the public health guidance.”
COVID-19 case numbers reported
The total number of COVID-19 patients at the KU Health System was down again on Friday.
The total number of COVID-19 active and recovering COVID-19 patients at the University of Kansas Health System was 89 on Friday, a decrease of two since Thursday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. There were 30 active COVID-19 patients in the hospital, a decrease of four from Thursday. Ten of those patients were in the intensive care unit, a decrease of one since Thursday, with four on ventilators, no change from Thursday. There were another 59 patients hospitalized because of COVID-19 who were out of the acute phase, an increase of two since Thursday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 31 COVID-19 cases on Friday, Feb. 5, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 17,150 cases. There was a cumulative total of 237 deaths, an additional two reported since Thursday.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 150,199 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Friday. There were 1,918 cumulative deaths, and 117 was the daily average of new hospitalizations.
The state of Kansas reported 281,562 COVID-19 cases statewide on Friday, an increase of 2,647 cases since Wednesday, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. There were an additional 206 deaths reported, with a cumulative total of 4,101.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Friday night reported 26,808,494 cumulative cases in the United States, with 459,407 total deaths nationwide.
Free COVID-19 tests Saturday
COVID-19 tests will be available Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Pierson Community Center parking lot, 1800 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Hours are subject to change depending on the weather and other factors. These tests are through WellHealth Management. Appointments are required at the Pierson Community Center. For more information and to schedule a test, visit www.GoGetTested.com/Kansas.
The Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 test site at the former Kmart building at 78th and State will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8. Appointments are not needed for COVID-19 tests. To see if there is any change to the schedule, visit https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
The Health Department is now offering saliva COVID-19 tests to the public.
Tests from the Health Department are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County.
The tests are open to asymptomatic people as well as those who have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. Check with the UG Health Department’s Facebook page to see if there have been any changes in the schedule. Bring something that shows that you live or work in Wyandotte County, such as a utility bill.
Wyandotte County residents who are interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine may fill out a survey form at the UG Health Department at https://us.openforms.com/Form/2f2bcc68-3b6a-450b-9007-d39819db6572. Residents will be contacted to make an appointment when vaccine becomes available. The Health Department currently is vaccinating high-contact critical workers, as well as residents over 85.
Testing sites are at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
Saliva testing is now offered at the UG Health Department. For more information, visit https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/02042021-ugphd-saliva-testing-available.pdf.
The KU doctors’ news conference is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/727392421254186.
For more information about how Wyandotte County residents over 85 can get a vaccine at the Health Department site, visit https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/02032021_wycovaccinationsage85.pdf.
Vaccine data for the state of Kansas is at https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data.
Cards and letters of encouragement for caregivers at KU Health System may be sent to Share Joy, care of Patient Relations, 4000 Cambridge St., Mailstop 1021, Kansas City, Kansas, 66160. Emails can be sent to [email protected].
Wyandotte County is under a mandatory mask and social distancing order.
The UG COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
The KDHE’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/.
The KC Region COVID-19 Hub dashboard is at https://marc2.org/covidhub/.
The Wyandotte County page on the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 website is at https://bao.arcgis.com/covid-19/jhu/county/20209.html.