A Message from IMAR

It’s been some time since our last COVID update, and while we all hoped it would be in the rearview mirror by now, the situation continues to raise concerns. This email addresses some of the questions we’re hearing most frequently, using the most current research available…but as has been true in the past, COVID knowledge and recommendations are ever-changing. Please continue to check the local health department website and look for email updates from us when there is additional news of importance to share.

If I am vaccinated, can I still catch COVID-19?

Yes, and the delta variant is likely responsible for the cases of COVID among the vaccinated. This variant is highly contagious, and is spread more easily than other strains of COVID. The vaccines significantly reduce the severity of your illness and the risk of dying from COVID, but do not block infection. Please take additional precautions if you are in a high-risk group or in regular contact with high-risk family members and friends. Current data shows 95% of hospitalized COVID patients are unvaccinated and breakthrough cases in the vaccinated are primarily immunocompromised individuals.

What is the impact of being unvaccinated?

The delta variant appears to be more dangerous than the prior strains and even if you are healthy, catching this variant if unvaccinated is not a risk you should take. Currently, the national average age of those who are hospitalized is 42 years old. Consider that without enough people vaccinated, the virus will continue to circulate, evolve and create new mutations, and eventually reach almost every person without immunity. A largely unvaccinated population is similar to having an infection in your body and only taking a half dose of antibiotic. Not only will the infection persist, but it will become resistant to treatment. The fear is that new strains may be produced that can prove deadly to vulnerable populations, including children. We strongly recommend you get one of the available vaccines as soon as possible for yourself, and for the community. Until you do, please continue to practice social distancing and masking in high-risk situations.

Are booster shots recommended? 

At this time, the FDA and CDC are investigating the safety and groups that should be targeted, with recommendations expected by early September. We know that the vaccines administered in the US are doing a good job against severe illness and hospitalizations. You can protect yourself MORE by convincing an unvaccinated person to get vaccinated than by getting a booster. Vaccinating everyone is the way to decrease the spread and mutation of this dangerous virus, and it’s why the World Health Organization has just requested a moratorium on booster shots – to allow for sufficient quantities of vaccines to reach other nations where the majority of people have not yet received a first dose.

Should children get the COVID vaccine? 

While it’s understandable that parents may be hesitant to give their child a new vaccine, evidence continues to point to the benefits outweighing the risks. Although children may not get sick as often as adults from COVID, hospitals across the country are reporting serious illness and prolonged recoveries in thousands of young COVID patients, including some who did not have underlying medical conditions. The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that all children and adolescents 12 and over get vaccinated who do not have contraindications for the vaccine. Side effects will occur in some children, but these are expected to be rare and most will be temporary. For children under 12, vaccine trials are still in progress to determine the safest dosage; approval will likely come toward the end of 2021.

If I’m vaccinated, do I still need to get tested for COVID?

According to current CDC guidelines, vaccinated people experiencing COVID symptoms should be tested 3 to 5 days after exposure if they have had close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has suspected or confirmed COVID-19; and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after exposure or until a negative test result is received.

Where do we go from here? 

Continue to go to work, pursue your daily activities and travel with a prudent approach. Wearing masks when indicated (N95 providing more protection than cloth or surgical masks), social distancing, staying outdoors, and frequent handwashing remain highly effective measures.
Stay safe and well,

Milly Shah, MD
Sue Sindhwani, MD
Fred Taweel, MD
John Valenti, MD

Additional reading:
NY Times_COVID delta variant safety 8.4.21
New England Journal of Medicine COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Center