There were four new cases of covid-19 reported in Wahkiakum County this week, with three on Thursday and one on Tuesday, for a cumulative total of 249 cases since the pandemic began. On Friday, Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services WHHS) announced confirmation of two more cases, bringing the total to 251.

Of those, 12 are considered potentially active. So far, at least 14 people have been hospitalized, and five deaths have been attributed to the virus.

According to the Washington Department of Health, 30 more doses of the vaccine have been administered to Wahkiakum County residents in the last week, for a total of 3,821 doses. It is a running total, and it is not clear whether those are first, second, or booster shots.

There are currently 22 patients with covid-19 at St. John Hospital in Longview.

WHHS began offering Pfizer covid-19 vaccine boosters to qualifying individuals starting yesterday (Wednesday). The boosters will be offered at their regularly scheduled clinics to people who originally had the Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

WHHS will continue to offer third doses of the Pfizer vaccine to people who have compromised immune systems and have had both doses of either Pfizer or Moderna previously. WHHS will also offer the Pfizer vaccine as a booster for those who originally had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Boosters are available for certain individuals following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup and DOH:

1. It must be six months since the second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and the individual must also meet at least one of the following conditions:

a. Age 65 or older;

b. Long-term care facility resident;

c. Underlying conditions for 18 and over;

d. No one under 18 may yet have a booster shot;

e. High risk worker – This is not well defined, but should be people who have an increased risk of contracting covid due to their occupation.

2. It must be two months since an initial dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is recommended that everyone 18 and over that had the J&J originally should get a booster.

WHHS is hosting covid vaccine clinics Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. The clinic is in the Health Department located in the lowest floor of the county building; no appointment is necessary.

Vaccines are available to anyone 12 or older in Wahkiakum County. Getting vaccinated is the best possible protection from covid-19. WHHS encourages everyone who hasn’t already been vaccinated to contact the Health Department or their personal medical provider and get scheduled.