On Friday morning, October 8, Nor-Lea Hospital District CEO/Administrator David Shaw went live via Facebook to update the public about the COVID-19 situation in Lea County.
Shaw spoke in general about the current status of COVID in the county and more specifically about the coronavirus booster shot.
Current Status of COVID-19 in Lea County
“Things are getting better in Lea County, but we still have a high number of cases. The current case count per day, per 100,000 is 40, and our positivity rate is 11%,” stated Shaw. He went on to say that the numbers are coming down, which is good news. “We’re hopeful that we are on the backside of this surge.”
Although hospitalizations and emergency room visits are stable, Shaw remarked that case counts continue to be high and that Nor-Lea is “keeping a watchful eye”.
Now over 58.6% of eligible adults have received at least one vaccination countywide, and over 50% of eligible adults have received both vaccinations. These statistics are important, because as more people are vaccinated, problems will be fewer. “We want to encourage you to get vaccinated, if you haven’t gotten your first or second shot,” stated Shaw.
Nor-Lea is Reopening All Services
Nor-Lea is in the process of reopening services it was forced to suspend due to staffing limits during the height of the pandemic. Surgery is happening again, although it is not up to full capacity. The Tatum Medical Clinic is now open, and the Hobbs and Lovington “school based” clinics will open later in the month. “All of our operations will [soon] be going back to normal, as well,” said Shaw.
Booster, Third Shot, Additional Shot Clarified
Shaw next turned his attention to the booster shot. “It gets a little bit confusing because they talk about a third shot, a booster or an additional shot, and there are some subtle differences. All of those are a third shot,” he said.
Third Shot
An additional (third) shot is for anyone who has had Moderna or Pfizer and whose immune system is compromised, like for people going through chemotherapy.
Such individuals are eligible for a third shot 28 days after receiving their second shot. “That third shot is simply to boost the immune response and help the body generate sufficient antibodies to fight COVID,” said Shaw.
Booster Shot
The booster is different all together. It is the third shot a person receives six to eight months after receiving his or her second Pfizer shot. “Boosters are only available for the Pfizer vaccine,” Shaw clarified. “It helps people whose immune systems are beginning to wane” following their first two doses.
Studies suggest that the two-shot vaccine becomes less effective six to eight months after the second shot is administered.
As a caveat Shaw mentioned that a few people have breakthrough cases after the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccines. Even so, they still have good protection, few hospital visits and quick recoveries.
Who is Eligible for the Booster
Those who are 65 or older, those who are living in a long-term care facility and those who are 50 – 64 years old with an underlying health condition are eligible for the Pfizer booster vaccine. All such people should get the booster, Shaw commented.
Who “May” Get the Booster
A category has been created by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) for individuals who “may” get the booster. This group includes 18 – 49-year-olds who have an underlying health condition and 18 – 64-year-olds who work in high-risk occupations.
“Underlying health conditions include a lot of different things. Really, it’s any type of a chronic illness that somebody might have that could affect their ability to fight off a COVID infection. So for example, cancer, chronic kidney disorders, any type of chronic lung disease, dementia, diabetes, Down’s syndrome, heart conditions, HIV infections, obesity or being overweight, a BMI of 25 or greater, pregnancy, smoking, any type of stroke, neurological disease, liver disease, or substance abuse disorders. There’s a lot on that list, and a lot of individuals would qualify under those medical conditions,” said Shaw.
First responders, health care workers, educators/teachers, support staff for educators, fire fighters, police officers, daycare workers, food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, correctional workers, postal workers, grocery store staff are all considered individuals with high-risk occupations. All of these people, as long as they are 18 or older, qualify as part of the “may” category for a booster shot.
How to Get A Booster
At Nor-Lea people may register and schedule an appointment for a booster shot by calling the Lovington Medical Clinic at (575) 396-6611 and request a booster. It is also possible to go online to register and schedule an appointment.
According to its Facebook page, Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital is holding free drive through vaccine clinics. “We will be administering first, second and booster doses for any eligible for the vaccine. Individuals ages 12-17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to provide consent. Individuals wishing to receive the booster must be 65 years old or older, have an immune suppressing condition or medicine, or have an underlying medical condition”.
Private pharmacies like CVS and the pharmacies located in Albertsons and Walmart are also offering vaccinations and, in most cases, boosters. Shaw even foresees Nor-Lea going to local businesses and offering vaccinations and boosters on site.
An Important Thought to Remember
Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of coronavirus should get tested immediately. Both the Hobbs and the Lovington medical clinics in the Nor-Lea system provide this service.
