Week 11 Respiratory Update

An additional 40 flu cases were added to our data. This brings our total number of flu cases this season 1,137. Influenza cases increased from week 10 to week 11, with 33 of the 40 cases occurring in week 11 (7 reported cases were from a previous week) and the majority were Flu type A. So far, this flu season, we have reported two flu deaths in the county.  

Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of flu. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine especially those at a higher risk of serious complications.

 

COVID-19 Summary: (Sara Wilton, Epidemiologist)

Currently, Jefferson County, MO is in the LOW COMMUNITY LEVEL (green). In the LOW level, the recommendations for individuals and households are:

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters

  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible

  • Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19

  • If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease

    • Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)

    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies

Of the 52 new cases reported in Week 11, 63.5% were unvaccinated, 26.9% were fully vaccinated, and 9.6% were fully vaccinated AND boosted.  50.51% of Jefferson County residents have completed the full series of vaccination and 20.11% have received a third dose or booster vaccine.

Jefferson County Health Department strongly encourages vaccinated individuals to get their booster dose as well. Although COVID-19 vaccines remain effective in preventing severe disease, recent data  suggest their effectiveness at preventing infection or severe illness wanes over time, especially in people ages 65 years and older.

The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19.

Data from clinical trials showed that a booster shot increased the immune response in trial participants who finished a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna primary series 6 months earlier or who received a J&J/Janssen single-dose vaccine 2 months earlier. With an increased immune response, people should have improved protection against getting infected with COVID-19. For Pfizer-BioNTech and J&J/Janssen, clinical trials also showed that a booster shot helped prevent severe disease.

 

  • Total Cases: 53,004

  • Total Deaths: 530

    • 3 additional deaths since last report

      • Female, 50’s

      • Female, 80’s

      • Male, 80’s

The Power of the Word “Yet”

How can such a simple three letter word can make such a difference in the mindset of your child (and yourself)? You all most likely know the phrase “good things take time, and good things are worth waiting for,” right? Well the word yet helps us to realize just that.

I don’t get this… Yet!

Your choice of words is an important way in which you can create a happy world view, a positive view to open yourself up to new possibilities. Using the word “yet” in negative statements indicates that something has not happened, which opens it up to the possibility that it will happen.

This doesn’t make sense… Yet!

In today’s world of instant gratification and social media, we often don’t see the hard work, practice, and failure that it took to reach the final success. So the next time your child is struggling with something, or says something doesn’t make sense, try using the word yet. You can remind them that deeper understanding takes time. You can remind them that we all need to allow ourselves some more time to ask more questions, work with others to try new strategies, or practice more to master the material or skill.

You’ll be surprised that by using that phrase consistently, changes to their mindset will begin to happen. Using ‘yet’ brings hope. It ignites a ‘can-do’ attitude and creates an encouraging environment that helps build confidence that through perseverance anything is possible.

I’m not good at this… Yet!

The use of the word “yet” when faced with adversity can be a powerful strategy that will support the love of lifelong learning. Such a simple reminder to persevere through the rough spots can be the difference between one who gives up on a problem and one who sees that the answer to a problem will come with more effort, questions, or use of additional strategies. Our lives will always be filled with different obstacles and by helping your child create this growth mindset, they can be better prepared for the future.

I can’t do this… Yet!

Give it a try today with your child (and yourself)! Reward the process, the hard work, and perseverance it takes to get to the end goal. If it helps, print off the power of yet poster and put it on the fridge or place you see it everyday. I think you’ll be surprised by the subtle changes you begin seeing in the whole family!

About the author:

Adam is the Community Engagement Team Lead/Health Educator at the Health Department. Adam has been with JCHD for over 4 years, and in the field of public health for close to 7 years! Adam enjoys working with county youth to help build strong, healthy habits they can take with them for the rest of their lives! In his free time, he enjoys woodworking and hiking with his wife Morgan

MCH Publicity Statement: This project is/was funded in part by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Maternal and Child Health Services Contract #AOC18380095, and is/was supported by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #B04MC30623, Maternal and Child Health Services for $12,107,084, of which $0 is from non-governmental sources.  This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Week 10 Respiratory Update

An additional 17 flu cases were added to our data. This brings our total number of flu cases this season 1,097. Influenza cases decreased from week 9 to week 10. We had a total of 16 cases reported in week 10 (one reported case was from a previous week) and the majority were Flu type A. So far, this flu season, we have reported two flu deaths in the county.  

Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of flu. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine especially those at a higher risk of serious complications.

 

COVID-19 Summary: (Sara Wilton, Epidemiologist)

COVID-19 Community Levels, help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Health officials and individuals should consider current information about COVID-19 hospitalizations in the community, as well as the potential for strain on the local health system and COVID-19 cases in the community, when making decisions about community prevention strategies and individual behaviors.

Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.

Currently, Jefferson County, MO is in the LOW COMMUNITY LEVEL (green). In the LOW level, the recommendations for individuals and households are:

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters

  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible

  • Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19

  • If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease

    • Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)

    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies

Of the 55 new cases reported in Week 10, 61.8% were unvaccinated, 21.8% were fully vaccinated, and 16.4% were fully vaccinated AND boosted.  50.41% of Jefferson County residents have completed the full series of vaccination and 20% have received a third dose or booster vaccine.

  • Total Cases: 52,948

  • Total Deaths: 527

    • 16 additional deaths since last report

      • Female, 40’s

      • Female, 50’s

      • Male, 50’s

      • Female, 60’s

      • 4 Males, 60’s

      • 5 Males, 70’s

      • Female, 80’s

      • 2 Males, 80’s

Week 9 Respiratory Update

An additional 28 flu cases were added to our data. This brings our total number of flu cases this season 1,080. So far, this flu season, we have reported two flu deaths in the county.  

Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of flu. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine especially those at a higher risk of serious complications.

 


COVID-19 Summary: (Sara Wilton, Epidemiologist)

COVID-19 Community Levels, help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Health officials and individuals should consider current information about COVID-19 hospitalizations in the community, as well as the potential for strain on the local health system and COVID-19 cases in the community, when making decisions about community prevention strategies and individual behaviors.

 

Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.

 

Currently, Jefferson County, MO is in the MEDIUM COMMUNITY LEVEL (yellow). In the MEDIUM level, the recommendations for individuals and households are:

  • If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease o Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions (e.g., testing)

    • Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)

    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies

  • If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease

    • consider self-testing to detect infection before contact

    • consider wearing a mask when indoors with them

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters

  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible

  • Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19


Of the 97 new cases reported in Week 9, 61.86% were unvaccinated, 20.61% were fully vaccinated, and 17.53% were fully vaccinated AND boosted.  50.24% of Jefferson County residents have completed the full series of vaccination and 19.80% have received a third dose or booster vaccine.

  • Total Cases: 52,870

  • Total Deaths: 511

    • 11 additional deaths since last report

      • Male, 50’s

      • Female, 60’s

      • Female, 70’s

      • 4 Males, 70’s

      • 3 Males, 80’s

      • Male, 90’s