Even though Vermont could begin receiving the first doses of a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as next week it will be at least two months before it starts to reduce the prevalence of the disease, officials said Friday.
Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said Friday that even for people in long-term care facilities who will get the vaccine first, the vaccine must be given in separate doses three weeks apart and then the people who receive them must generate an immune response that will protect them from the virus.
“I am not taking away hope here. I am just providing a reality context that the stark statistics on the TV of hospitalizations, deaths and cases aren’t going to change with the snap of a finger because there is a vaccine on the market,” Levine said. “But they are going to change, and the changes will occur after February, more dramatically we hope.”
Gov. Phil Scott said that the number of doses the state gets will determine how quickly it drives down the number of cases in Vermont.
The federal government has promised to distribute the vaccine to the states based on population. Vermont officials have said the state expects to receive about 6,000 doses in the first round, but more doses will be arriving after that on a regular basis.
“We feel we are prepared and ready to go just as soon as we receive those supplies from the federal government,” Scott said.
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THANKSGIVING SURGE
Vermont health officials have not detected a significant surge in cases of the virus after the Thanksgiving holiday, but it could be several more days before they know for sure the state avoided a surge.
Before Thanksgiving, the state urged Vermonters to avoid celebrating with people outside their immediate households due to concern that such gatherings could multiply infections.
They initially said it would be 10 days to two weeks before it became clear if there would be a surge. Thanksgiving was Nov. 26.
“The data thus far shows a positive result,” Scott said. “We just need a couple more days to make sure that it is the case.”
Scott also said it was too soon to say whether the state would make a similar call for people to celebrate within their immediate families during the holidays later this month.
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LONG TERM CARE VACCINES
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities across Vermont are preparing for the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines to protect residents from the disease.
State officials have said that pending federal approval, the first doses of the vaccine could begin arriving in the state as early as next week.
The head of the Vermont Veterans’ Home in Bennington says they are tentatively scheduling two clinics at the home on Jan. 2 and Jan. 23.
CEO Melissa Jackson says both vaccines being considered for distribution require two doses three weeks apart.
“We have a lot of general information, not as much specific yet,” said Jackson.
Dane Rank, administrator at Thompson House in Brattleboro, said the pharmacy services company contracted to administer the vaccine, will be hosting clinics on Dec. 28, Jan. 18 and Feb. 8.
Rank said staff and residents will be receiving two injections of the vaccine 21 days apart.
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NUMBERS
On Friday, the Vermont Department of Health reported 113 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19, bringing the statewide total since the pandemic began to more than 5,540.
There are currently 26 people hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state, including two in intensive care.
The 7-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Vermont has risen over the past two weeks from 1.51% on Nov. 26 to 2.09% on Dec. 10.
The state also reported four new deaths Friday from COVID-19, bringing the total to 93.
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