Uptick in COVID cases reported

North Central District Health Department has been made aware of 59 new COVID-19 cases in the district since last reporting period on Aug. 16.

Case count update as of 3 p.m., Monday, Aug. 23, includes: 4,723 total cases, 4,500 recoveries and 76 deaths, to date; and 101 total cases reported in the last 14 days.

NCDHD is no longer ableto release county-based data in our districts due to HIPAA standards. Previously, the health depaprtment was granted special privileges to release the county- based information. Those special privileges expired July 31. If interested in county-based data is still available on the CDC's website at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view.

The data tracker is updated once weekly and it does not keep count of any type of antigen or rapid test. It only has data based on PCR tests.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine now has full Federal Drug Administration approval for use for individuals 16 years of age and older. It remains EUA-approved for those 12 to 15 years old and third-dose recipients. Learn more at: https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-covid-19-vaccine.

New EUAs for all types of COVID-19 vaccines are available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/eua/index.html.

Regarding NCDHD COVID vaccine clinics, insurance card information will be required prior to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. A photocopy of the front and back of insurance cards is needed.

Individuals who do not have insurance are still eligible to get a COVID vaccine. Call the NCDHD office with any questions.

The CDC signed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' recommendation that endorsed the use of an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems, after an initial two-dose vaccine series. CDC's recommendation is people with a range of conditions, such as recipients of organ or stem cell transplants, people with advance or untreated HIV infection, active recipients of treatment for cancer, people who are taking some medications that weaken the immune system, and others. A full list of conditions can be found on CDC's website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html.

The additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should be the same vaccine as the initial series and administered at least four weeks after completing a primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population currently.

NCDHD is awaiting updated orders to begin administering the booster shot timely. Monitor media for the quickest update on order approvals.

NCDHD has the following clinic times available for walk-ins during the noted times below.

If you already have a scheduled appointment time for a clinic on this list, arrive at that scheduled time. Note any location updates. These clinics will be dispensing Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and/or Moderna vaccine.

Aug. 27: Niobrara High School parking lot, 10 to 11 a.m., all vaccines; NCDHD office, 422 E Douglas Street, O'Neill, 1 to 3:30 p.m., all vaccines; O'Neill Armory, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., all vaccines; West Holt Memorial Hospital, 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., all vaccines; Aug. 31: Greater Sandhills Family Healthcare - Atkinson, 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m., Moderna and Pfizer vaccines; Avera Creighton Hospital, 1 to 3 p.m., Moderna.