Public Health seeking vaccine candidates

After a successful second mass vaccination clinic last week, Crook County Public Health has now administered a total of 1192 first doses and 918 second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The totals include both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson versions of the vaccine. Crook County Medical Services District has fully vaccinated an additional 60 members of staff and residents.

Now that Wyoming has moved on to Phase II of the vaccination program, any person over the age of 18 may sign up for their doses. Walk-in vaccinations are still not available due to the nature of the vaccine itself, which is stored in batches of approximately ten doses that must all be used within six hours of opening the vial.

However, any eligible person may now contact the Public Health office to be placed on the waiting list and will be scheduled for an appointment.

Phase II of the vaccination program is underway at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has been almost dormant in Crook County. Over the last week, just three confirmed cases of the virus have been reported, according to Crook County Public Health.

The active case count in this county stands at four, with the overall total of lab-confirmed cases at 395.

Across Wyoming, the active case count has risen by 92 over the last week, bringing the total to 440 on April 12. Laboratory-confirmed cases have increased by 369 over the same time period.

Guidance for the Vaccinated

As the medical community grows increasingly confident that the vaccine prevents people from spreading COVID-19 to others, even if they are immune themselves, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has continued to expand the possibilities for fully vaccinated people.

One of the areas in question has been travel. The CDC now maintains that fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19 and can travel safely within the U.S. without getting tested before or after travel (unless their destination requires it) or self-quarantining.

The CDC does still recommend wearing a mask, social distancing and regular washing of the hands while traveling. The recommendations are expected to evolve as more people get vaccinated, rates of the virus change and additional scientific evidence becomes available.

People who are not fully vaccinated are still asked to take a COVID-19 test between one and three days before your trip and follow all guidance on social distancing, hygiene and mask usage. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transport into, within or out of the U.S. and in transportation hubs.

After arriving at your destination, unvaccinated people are asked to get tested between three to five days following travel and self-quarantine for seven days, even if you test negative.

Aside from travel, the only activities that the CDC still cautions against once you are fully vaccinated are indoor visiting without a mask with people at increased risk from COVID-19; and attending medium or large gatherings. The CDC has given the go-ahead to visiting with other fully vaccinated people or those not at risk for severe illness.