Here are the latest numbers reported to Marsha Hardy on August 9th per the Department of State Health Services [DSHS] for San Saba County:
1. New Confirmed and Probable Cases entered on 8-5-21: 0
2. Confirmed Cases Reported since 7-22-21: 13
3. Confirmed Cases Reported since 7-6-21: 17
So, in the last 30 days, San Saba County has reported 17 cases of Active COVID, with 13 of them being reported in the last 15 days.
Message by Dr. Craig Whiting -
This week, Dr. Whiting addressed the following question/ concern presented by a reader:
Why don’t you mention that if vaccinated, the virus very rarely causes hospitalization or death?
The delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 (ie COVID) virus is multiple times more contagious than the original vaccine. It is almost inescapable that all of us will be exposed to the virus. And because this variant is more virulent (more likely to cause disease) then it is very likely that we will be sick with COVID. The risk of severe illness always exists and increases with age as well as for those with some medical conditions (diabetes, lung disease, obesity, immune deficiency, and others). Most of us can name someone we know who has had COVID and likely some who have been hospitalized or even died with this infection.
The risk of infection with COVID is greatly reduced by receiving one of the available vaccines. The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) offer somewhat better protection than the DNA (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, though all are effective. The evidence of their protection is overwhelming, almost all the hospitalizations and deaths with COVID are among the unvaccinated.
No vaccine is 100% effective in preventing infection, but Pfizer and Moderna have shown greater than 94% effectiveness. While “breakthrough” infections can occur after being vaccinated, these infections tend to be milder and only rarely require hospitalization or lead to death.
Those who have survived a COVID infection have a natural immunity to COVID, but even they can be reinfected. These folks can significantly reduce their risk of a reinfection by receiving one of the COVID vaccines after they have fully recovered from the infection.
Message by Editor -
To help our community come to grips with this surge of the virus and to answer questions that you may have, you can submit your questions via email to: editor. sansabanews@centex.net, or online at the San Saba News & Star Facebook page. Questions can cover the virus and vaccine, as well as treatments that may be available.
Each week, Dr. Whiting will address a focal point of submitted questions covering the topic with pertinent information. As the Local Health Authority with Texas Department of Health Services for San Saba County, Dr. Whiting has access to resources to help find answers for the community’s concerns and inquiries.
Please limit your submissions to questions only. No opinions or criticisms will be addressed in these articles. San Saba News & Star encourages and appreciates your questions for this new series by Dr. Whiting.