The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reinstated its mask recommendation even for those who received the COVID-19 shot writing that the agency, “Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission” Tuesday, July 27.
Riverside County Public Health released the following a day later: “Following the updated face mask guidance issued by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health, and in light of the recent increase in local COVID-19 cases, Riverside County Public Health recommends residents follow the new state and federal guidance for face coverings.
The current state and federal masking guidance recommend that vaccinated individuals wear face masks in public indoor settings. The state still requires unvaccinated individuals to wear masks indoors.
“As the impact on the Delta variant increases transmissibility, Riverside County health officials continue to stress that getting vaccinated is the best protection against the virus and its variants.”
The CDC defines vaccine as “A product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease. Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but can also be administered by mouth or sprayed into the nose.”
President Joe Biden tweeted May 13, “The rule is now simple: get vaccinated or wear a mask until you do. The choice is yours.” The White House refused to release the number of “breakthrough” cases Friday, July 23 after White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki responded to a reporter, “Why do you need to have that information?” The reporter responded, “It’s a case of transparency, in the interest of the public, knowing — having a better understanding of how breakthrough cases work here in the White House.”
People who received the shot are expressing frustration by the new mask guidance. Some told the newspaper they got the shot to not have to wear a mask.
CDC study
In a report published by the CDC, almost three-quarters (74%) of those who contracted COVID-19 in a Massachusetts outbreak had received the full dose of the COVID-19 shot.
CNBC reported the following, “The new data, published in the U.S. agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, also found that fully vaccinated people who get infected carry as much of the virus in their nose as unvaccinated people, and could spread it to other individuals.
“‘This finding is concerning and was a pivotal discovery leading to CDC’s updated mask recommendation,’ CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. ‘The masking recommendation was updated to ensure the vaccinated public would not unknowingly transmit virus to others, including their unvaccinated or immunocompromised loved ones.’”
Biden announced Thursday federal employees, regardless of location, will be required to get the COVID-19 shot or submit to weekly or twice-weekly tests. Also, employees who do not receive the COVID-19 shot will be required to wear a mask and physically distance. This also applies to on-site contractors. The administration is using this to push an increase in the number of people getting the COVID-19 shot. The administration also wants states and local governments to pay people $100 (from the American Rescue Plan) for getting the shot. Biden wanted 70% of those eligible to receive the emergency use authorized shot by July 4. As of July 29, 49.8% of those of eligible age have received the full dose of the COVID-19 shot.
This follows the state of California’s announcement it is requiring public employees to get the shot or submit to weekly testing.
Natural immunity and the COVID-19 shot
Israel started giving the third booster of the COVID-19 shot. Sixty-one percent of its population received the first COVID-19 shot and 56% of its population received both doses as of July 4, according to Haaretz. Israel National News reported July 13, “Nearly 40% of new COVID patients were vaccinated — compared to just 1% who had been infected previously.”
“More than 7,700 new cases of the virus have been detected during the most recent wave starting in May, but just 72 of the confirmed cases were reported in people who were known to have been infected previously — that is, less than 1% of the new cases.
“Roughly 40% of new cases — or more than 3,000 patients — involved people who had been infected despite being vaccinated.”
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) published “Lasting immunity found after recovery from COVID-19” (https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lasting-immunity-found-after-recovery-covid-19) Jan. 26: “The research was funded in part by NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and National Cancer Institute (NCI).
“The researchers found durable immune responses in the majority of people studied. Antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which the virus uses to get inside cells, were found in 98% of participants one month after symptom onset. As seen in previous studies, the number of antibodies ranged widely between individuals. But, promisingly, their levels remained fairly stable over time, declining only modestly at 6 to 8 months after infection.
“Virus-specific B cells increased over time. People had more memory B cells six months after symptom onset than at one month afterwards. Although the number of these cells appeared to reach a plateau after a few months, levels didn’t decline over the period studied.
“Levels of T cells for the virus also remained high after infection. Six months after symptom onset, 92% of participants had CD4+ T cells that recognized the virus. These cells help coordinate the immune response. About half the participants had CD8+ T cells, which kill cells that are infected by the virus.
“As with antibodies, the numbers of different immune cell types varied substantially between individuals. Neither gender nor differences in disease severity could account for this variability. However, 95% of the people had at least 3 out of 5 immune-system components that could recognize SARS-CoV-2 up to 8 months after infection.
“‘Several months ago, our studies showed that natural infection induced a strong response, and this study now shows that the responses last,’ Dr. Daniela Weiskopf says. ‘We are hopeful that a similar pattern of responses lasting over time will also emerge for the vaccine-induced responses.’”
Reuters reported July 13 (https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-health-official-says-covid-19-boosters-could-risk-more-serious-side-effects-2021-07-13/), “The official said the second dose for two-shot COVID-19 vaccine regimens was associated with higher rates of side effects, suggesting a third dose could potentially come with even greater risks.
“’We’re keenly interested in knowing whether or not a third dose may be associated with any higher risk of adverse reactions, particularly some of those more severe — although very rare — side effects,’ said Jay Butler, deputy director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a media briefing.”
Riverside County data
The area of Idyllwild-Pine Cove has a total of 120 reported COVID-19 cases since the outbreak and two deaths reported, according to the Riverside University Health System – Public Health website. One hundred and sixteen of the 120 people have recovered.
As of Aug. 3, Riverside County had 309,217 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 4,667 deaths related to COVID-19 and 300,387 people had recovered. Two hundred and eighty-eight individuals were being hospitalized, and of those, 73 were in the ICU. The current case rate per 100,000 is 16.9 and 8.9% positivity. As of Aug. 2, 49.9% of the county population received the full dose of the COVID-19 shot. County Public Health outlines variants and the number in Riverside County on its website: Alpha (149), Beta (0), Gamma (11) and Delta (26). The newspaper still has not received a response to its inquiry regarding how the tests differentiate from each other.
As of July 27, Riverside County had 305,589 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 4,658 deaths related to COVID-19 and 298,029 people had recovered. One hundred and ninety individuals were being hospitalized, and of those, 47 were in the ICU. As of July 26, 49.1% of the county population received the full dose of the COVID-19 shot.
As of July 14, Riverside County had 302,069 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 4,647 deaths related to COVID-19 and 295,921 people had recovered. Ninety-four individuals were being hospitalized, and of those, 14 were in the ICU. As of July 19, 48.4% of the county population received the full dose of the COVID-19 shot.
For more information on the COVID-19 shot, visit www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine or call 2-1-1. Seniors can call the Riverside County Office on Aging at 800-510-2020.
