Booster shots for Moderna and J&J on the horizon – local and state update for October 21, 2021

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[KING COUNTY, Wash.] – (MTN) New Covid-19 cases crept upward today while hospitalizations remain on a plateau. This appears to be a bump versus a new trend.

Washington State Ferries inched closer back to normal with three routes adding additional vessels today.

City of Seattle officials announced they were starting the termination process for 16 11 five employees who have refused to get vaccinated.

In Benton County, the newly appointed sheriff announced he won’t require Covid-19 vaccinations for his staff. It’s a bit of non-news because the department doesn’t have a vaccine mandate.

Instead of taking the loss and calling it a day, the anti-vaccination leader Palmer Davis has another grift protest planned for Olympia on Friday.

We have expanded our recreational travel advisory to include all the counties on the Olympic Peninsula as hospitals reach the highest occupancy levels since the Delta surge began on August 17.

The CDC approved booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccine as well as agreed with the FDA on a mix-and-match strategy. The FDA is expected to issue final authorization as soon as tomorrow.

A new Covid-19 case was reported at Fernwood Elementary in the Northshore School District while the Bellevue School District inches closer back to status “green.”

In disinformation, the Chinese government has started a new social medial campaign suggesting that Covid-19 came from Maine lobsters. Is it true? Get your drawn butter and bib because it gets messy.

Finally, we hope to provide more in-depth national coverage again starting tomorrow.

This update uses the latest data from the Washington State Department of Health (WSDOH), released on October 21, 2021.

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Washington State Update for October 21, 2021

Washington state Covid-19 update

New Covid-19 cases crept upward statewide. This is the first mid-week increase we have seen since September. The state opened several mass testing which may be pushing the numbers upward. Having access to accurate data on test positivity would help us understand if this is bump-up is an anomaly, a good trend, or a bad trend.

Percent of Total Population Fully Vaccinated	Total Population in Group	Average 14-Day New Case Rate
60.00% or above (5 counties)	2,659,450	222.5 (up)
50.00% to 59.99% (16 counties)	4,098,600	373.4 (up)
40.00% to 49.99% (10 counties)	860,525	442.4
30.30% to 39.99% (8 counties)	158,300	506.9 (up)

Through October 20, Washington’s statewide 14-day rolling increased to 333.9 Covid-19 cases per 100K.

Ferry County (1,302.2) and Garfield County (1,213.5) continue to be hot spots.

Only two counties, Chelan and Grant, have a new case rate between 600.0 to 799.9 per 100K residents, and Chelan is 600.1.

Counties between 400.0 and 599.9 include Asotin, Columbia, Cowlitz, Douglas, Franklin, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Skagit, Spokane, Stevens, and Yakima.

New cases increased for pediatric and geriatric patients. Hospitalizations for ages 65 to 79 have increased for the second day in a row.

Age Group	7-Day Case Rate	7-Day Hospitalization Rate
Ages 0-11	154.2 (up)	0.6 (down)
Ages 12-19	166.9	1.6
Ages 20-34	154.2 (up)	3.8
Ages 35-49	167.4	9.1
Ages 50-64	125.8	12.2
Ages 65-79	101.1 (up)	18.8 (up)
Ages 80+	102.9 (up)	31.5

The USA Today COVID Tracker reported 49 deaths on Wednesday.

Washington State Ferries returning to normal on several routes

Less than a week after cutting ferry schedules in anticipation of vaccine-mandate-related staffing cuts, Washington State Ferries (WSF) announced that four routes are moving closer to normal operations.

The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth went back to three boats in services while the Seattle/Bainbridge and Edmonds/Kingston route returned to two boat services.

The Mukilteo/Clinton, Point Defiance/Tahlequah, Seattle/Bremerton, and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes continue to operate with one boat each.

The Anacortes/San Juan Island route will continue to operate with three boats instead of four.

Number of Seattle firefighters facing termination drops to 5

The City of Seattle has started the termination process for five firefighters while another 74 await a decision on their exemption requests. On Monday officials reported 16 firefighters had not turned in proof of vaccination. On Tuesday the number dropped to 11.

We have a report that minutes after a small group of protesters with SFD departed Seattle City Hall on Tuesday, the boots and shoes they left behind were collected and given to the houseless.

Benton County Sheriff says he won’t require vaccinations

Tom Croskrey, the new Benton County Sheriff announced he would not require employees to get vaccinated. The announcement seems to be a recruiting attempt directed at the City of Seattle, King County, and the Washington State Patrol. The Washington state employee vaccine mandate did not include law enforcement officers at a local or county level.

Croskrey has inherited a department in disarray and short on staff after Sheriff Jerry Hatcher was recalled by almost 75% of voters in August.

Hatcher was accused of domestic violence and then a cover-up that led to command staff and employees quitting in 2019 and 2020 due to a loss of confidence in his leadership abilities and a toxic work environment.

In the 2017 domestic violence case, Hatcher was charged in 2019 with fourth-degree assault with domestic violence and witness tampering. A Spokane County prosecutor decided not to move forward with prosecution in October 2019. Additional details emerged around the case that led to four police unions calling for Hatcher to resign.

On August 17 security cameras showed Hatcher had packed his office and left the department.

Palmer Davis inspired by her mentor Joey Gibson discovers another reason to protest

Despite vaccination rates rising significantly in the last month and minimal impact from the October 18 vaccine mandate, grifters need to make money Waking Up Washington is planning another protest. The protest will be against vaccine passports in Olympia at the capitol on Friday.

The number of people attending anti-vaccination, anti-mask, and anti-mandate protests has dwindled over the last month with a couple of exceptions.

Davis had called for a school walkout on October 18 which never materialized. Earlier in the month, she called for protests at Swedish Hospital and Harborview Medical Center and no one showed up.

Travel Advisories

Due to a continued high level of hospitalizations, we’re maintaining our recreational travel advisory to the East Hospital Region, including Adams, Asotin, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Whitman counties. Acute care and ICU capacity remain limited, and the ratio of Covid-19 patients to other hospital patients is exceptionally high. Additionally, we are adding the Northwest Region, which includes Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, and Mason counties. We are making this change because hospitals are at or just under capacity across this region.

Please reconsider nonessential travel plans to these counties.

We are walking back that our travel advisory for the East Hospital Region will likely last through the remainder of 2021. Current data is somewhat encouraging, and we believe the situation could improve significantly in the next four weeks.

We strongly advise against all nonessential travel to Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Hospital resources in these regions are constrained, and you may receive inadequate care in Alaska, Idaho, and Montana if you experience a serious medical emergency.

Thank you

Thank you to our new subscribers and those of you who have made one-time contributions. On behalf of the entire team, thank you for helping us keep the lights on!

In August, King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin mentioned the N95 Project as a trusted source for N95 masks. A check on the website showed that a 50 count box of United States manufactured N95 masks are available for $40.00. We recommend wearing N95 masks indoors as they provide the best protection against COVID when properly fitted.

No promotional consideration has been given, or requested from the n95 project or any manufacturer of masks

Vaccination

Booster shots for Moderna vaccine approved by the CDC

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) unanimously approved a third booster shot of the Moderna vaccine a day after a Food and Drug Administration panel recommended the new protocol. A booster is recommended for anyone who received their final dose of the Moderna vaccine at least six months ago.

The CDC left the same limits set by the FDA to persons over 64-years old, 18 to 64 years old and immunocompromised, and persons who work in occupations where they are frequently exposed to Covid-19.

The FDA is expected to update the Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna vaccine as soon as tomorrow.

Booster shots for Jassen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine approved by the CDC

The CDC also authorized a second “booster” shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two months after receiving the first dose. Anyone who received the J&J vaccine is eligible for a booster regardless of age. The approval comes a day after an FDA panel made the same recommendation.

Unlike the Moderna vaccine, the CDC did not specify a protocol for which vaccine to get as a booster.

A final authorization could from the FDA as soon as tomorrow.

Mix and Match of Covid-19 booster shots approved by the CDC

In a third decision, the CDC approved mix and match Covid-19 booster shots a day after the FDA approved the recommendation.

The mix and match authorization will help innoculate vulnerable communities such as nursing home residents faster while enabling individual choice.

As an example, a woman who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and is currently taking birth control could get a Pfizer or Moderna booster as an alternative.

The FDA is also expected to authorize this measure quickly.

Respected epidimiologist recommends Moderna as the booster of choice for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina made a series of recommendations in her newsletter day, that outlines in detail the pros and cons of each mix-and-match vaccine scenario.

According to a study reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the Moderna vaccine as a booster triggered the best immune response.

However, Dr. Jetelina indicated that the choice may not be that simple for everyone, and mixing and matching the different vaccines come with different benefits and the possibility of adverse reactions.

King County, Washington is reporting over 87.6% of age eligible residents are vaccinated with at least one dose. The highest rates of positivity are in areas with low vaccination rates statewide. The FDA has provided full approval of the Pfizer vaccine for anyone 16 and over and EUA approval for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

COVID vaccines are free for anyone over 12 years old, and no appointment is necessary at most locations. Lyft and Hopelink provide free transportation, and KinderCare, the Learning Care Group, and the YMCA offer free childcare during vaccination appointments or recuperation.

For information on getting a vaccination in King County, you can visit the King County Department of Public Health website.

Malcontent News

Hospital Status

According to the DoH COVID Dashboard, 91% of all staffed acute care beds are occupied, and 15.4% of patients have Covid-19. Statewide, hospitals have the staff to support approximately 619 additional acute care patients.

ICUs are at 85.5% of capacity statewide, with 25.0% of ICU patients fighting Covid-19 – an estimated 291 patients with 51% on ventilators. The state has the staff to support approximately 171 additional ICU patients.

On Monday, the 7-day rolling average hospital admission rate for new COVID patients was 106. The Department of Health reported 1,101 Covid-19 patients statewide on October 19, with 149 requiring ventilators. The patient count is between 1,080 and 1,160 for the 11th day in a row.

Hospital readiness is starting to show signs of real improvement in the East Region. The North Region includes some of the highest vaccinated counties and is approaching normalcy.

The new trouble spot is the Olympic Peninsula where hospital resources are reaching full capacity.

Hospital Region	Counties	ICU Occupancy	ICU COVID Patients	Acute Care Occupancy	Acute Care COVID Patients
East	Adams, Asotin, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Whitman	87.2%	33.7%	90.1%	22.8%
North	Island, San Juan, Skagit, Whatcom	75.4%	32.2%	84.4%	10.1%
North Central	Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan	92.8%	46.2%	80.8%	23.6%
Northwest	Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason	93.9%	40.5%	97.6%	20.1%
Puget Sound	King, Pierce, Snohomish	88.5%	20.7%	95.0%	13.0%
South Central	Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Kittitas, Walla Walla, Yakima	85.5%	25.7%	87.9%	17.8%
Southwest	Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania	61.1%	23.6%	86.6%	15.5%
West	Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific, Thurston	86.2%	26.5%	87.9%	18.1%

School and Education

School District	Status	Less than 10 Active Cases	10 or More Active Cases
Bellevue	YELLOW	– ESC East (1*) – Ardmore (1*) – Bennett (1*) – Interlake (1*) – Lake Hills (1*) – Newport (1*) – Newport Heights (1*) – Puesta del Sol (1*) – Sherwood Forest (1*) – Spiritridge (3*)	None
Lake Washington	YELLOW	– Bell Elementary (3*) – Blackwell Elementary (2*) – Carson Elementary (3*) – Einstein (1*) – Eastlake High (3*) – Finn Hill Middle School (3*) – Inglewood Middle School (1*) – Juanita Elementary (5*) – Juanita High School (4*) – Kamiakin Middle School (3* see notes) – Kirk Elementary (1*) – Kirkland Middle School (1*) – Lakeview Elementary (5*) – Lake Washington High School (4*) – Mead Elementary (2*) – Northstar Middle (1*) – Redmond Elementary (1*) – Redmond Middle School (2*) – Redmond High School (2*) – Rosa Parks Elementary (2*) – Rose Hill Middle School (1*) – Timberline Middle School (6*) – Twain Elementary (2*)	None
Northshore	YELLOW	– Arrowhead Elementary (2) – Bothell High School (34**) – Canyon Creek Elementary (9) – Canyon Park Middle School (22) – Cottage Lake Elementary (4) – Crystal Springs Elementary (27) – East Ridge Elementary (3) – Fernwood Elementary (3) – Frank Love Elementary (44) – Hollywood Hills Elementary (43) – Inglemoor High School (6) – Kenmore Elementary (3) – Kenmore Middle School (37**) – Kokanee Elementary (9) – Lockwood Elementary (11**) – Maywood Hills Elementary (1) – Moorlands Elementary (2) – North Creek High School (6) – Northshore Middle School (25) – Ruby Bridge Elementary (7) – Secondary Academy for Success (3) – Shelton View Elementary (1) – Skyview Middle School (2) – Sunrise Elementary (3) – Timbercrest Middle School (15) – Wellington Elementary (13) – Westhill Elementary (5) – Woodin Elementary (5) – Woodinville High School (3) – Woodmoor Elementary (3)

We redefined the school district statuses. Information for classroom and building closures has been a challenge to obtain, both for closures and reopening. We are adopting moving any school with more than ten active COVID cases reported into the red, and we’ve adjusted the third column to reflect this change.

No new cases were reported in the Bellevue or Lake Washington School Districts.

We received a parent confirmed report of three new Covid-19 cases at Kamiakin Middle School with 14 additional quarantines on Monday.

Fernwood Elementary in the Northshore School District reported a confirmed Covid-19 case and the number of staff and students who are Covid-19 positive at Lockwood Elementary increased to five.

Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville

No update

National Round-Up

Johns Hopkins University Cumulative Case Tracker reports 86,759 new cases and 3,071 deaths nationwide on Thursday. The death number is inflated after Oregon officials added 550 Covid-19 related deaths today due to a computer error.

Misinformation

Did Covid-19 cross over to humans from Maine lobsters?

As absolutely insane as that sounds, a disinformation campaign emerging out of China is claiming just that.

Zha Liyou, the Chinese consul general in Kolkata, India, tweeted an unfounded claim that Covid-19 could have been imported to China from the United States through a batch of Maine lobsters shipped to a seafood market in Wuhan in November 2019. It marks the latest in a series of theories that have been pushed by pro-China accounts since the start of the pandemic, according to a report in NBC News.

With some further digging, Schliebs uncovered a network of more than 550 Twitter accounts, which he shared with NBC News, spreading a nearly identical message, translated into multiple languages — including English, Spanish, French, Polish, Korean, and even Latin — at similar times each day between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. China Standard Time.

Some of the accounts were “unsophisticated sock puppets” with “very few or zero followers,” Schliebs said, while others appeared to be accounts that were once authentic but had been hijacked and repurposed to spread disinformation.

For whatever it is worth, the Maine CDC said the claims have no scientific basis.