COVID-19 Update January 2021 - 65 and Older Sign Up Now
At this writing COVID-19 is experiencing its peak in the United States, with over 4,100 deaths yesterday.
New strains have been detected that may alter the virus in dangerous ways. Time will tell.
Fortunately we have 2 vaccines that are about 94% effective at preventing COVID-19 and perhaps even more effective at preventing severe illness! We believe this is great fortune and cause for celebration.
Delaware has moved to stage 1b of vaccination, which includes people 65 and older and front line essential workers.
Progressive Health of Delaware has signed up to be a vaccination center. We do not know when we will receive vaccines, but we have been told that it will be within the next several weeks. When we do, we will announce through this website.
We recommend that if you are 65 or older, please sign up for one of the statewide Delaware Department of Public Health vaccination events at vaccinerequest.delaware.gov.
We highly recommend that you use the online system, but if unable, you may call the Covid-19 Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-643-1715. Both the website and call center are experiencing high volume of visitors so please be patient and keep trying.
There may be light at the end of the tunnel. Largely because we have such a surprisingly effective vaccine, modeling by IHME (below) predicts that COVID cases will peak in the coming weeks, and decline significantly by May. How quickly and to what degree totally depends on how quickly we administer vaccines and also our continued social distancing efforts. It is vital that we remain vigilant and continue distancing and mask wearing. Keep away from people!
January 20, 2021 seems late in the game for the US government to take basic steps like coordinate with the World Health Organization and have a national COVID strategy but better late than never.
Who is NOT eligible to receive the vaccine? Almost everyone is a candidate. The only people who may not receive the vaccine are
people with a history of severe allergic reaction to COVID vaccine in the past. (not you because you never received it).
people with current COVID infection
people who received antibody therapy for COVID-19 infection within the past 90 days
those who received another vaccine within the past 14 days
We are also being encouraged to not give the vaccine yet within 90 days of a recent COVID infection, since you probably will have significant immunity anyway and best to save the shot for someone else.
What if I have multiple allergies or history of severe allergic reaction to other shots or severe illness or pregnancy/breastfeeding? It can be OK to give the vaccine, but caution is recommended (and a 30 minute wait after the shot). Check with your provider.