Health officials are asking county residents to mask themselves and get their shots for the latest news

Public health officials this week pleaded with people to get a shot to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 as the proliferation of new, deadlier variants has spiked again in some cases.

Those requests to get the shot came amid news that Johnson and Johnson’s one-shot vaccine could cause one in a million, but potentially dangerous, blood clots.

Doctors and the health department have given a limited number of Johnson and Johnson vaccines in Navajo and Apache counties. Most states have heeded a federal call to stop the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, while experts are investigating reports that six women developed blood clots within three weeks of receiving the vaccine. It is unclear whether the blood clots were linked to the vaccine. However, the finding reflects reports of an equally rare problem with blood clots after receiving a similar vaccine from AstroZenica, which is not yet approved in the US.

Even if the blood clots in the six women, all under the age of 48, prove to be linked to the vaccine, COVID-19 is far more at risk. One of the women died – which is a 1 in 7 million chance of death at the time, even if it was caused by the vaccine. In contrast, COVID has a 1% or 2% death rate in people who test positive for the virus.

The reports have hampered efforts to get enough people vaccinated to contain the spread of new, deadlier variants of the COVID virus.

Janelle Linn, director of health for Navajo County, told the board this week, “We have advised our health partners to temporarily suspend this vaccine.”

She noted that the six cases out of the seven million shots administered are “a minimal number.”

Nonetheless, she said anyone who has received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine in the past three weeks and has developed signs of clotting, including a headache or abdominal pain, should see their doctor.

In the meantime, she urged people to continue receiving the Moderna vaccine, which has not been linked to serious side effects. Johnson and Johnson and AstraZenica’s vaccines use a harmless version of the virus that causes the common cold to release the characteristic spike protein of the COVID virus. Using a similar vaccine design has historically resulted in an immune system response combining blood clots and low platelet counts, which is consistent with the reported problems. However, Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines use new messenger RNA technology to deliver the spike protein in an oily molecule rather than a whole virus.

Linn found that 36% of the county’s population had been fully vaccinated and another 30% had recovered from infection. This suggests that 66% of the population is currently well protected from infection. However, she said that after an initial infection, protection wears off after about 90 days when antibody levels drop.

“We ask our community,” she said, “especially those who have been infected with COVID-19 in the past to consider vaccination.” We are at risk of a third spike. If you have any concerns, speak to your doctor. The problem of blood clots is not a problem with Pfizer and Moderna products – and they are readily available. “

Anyone in the county can now make an appointment to have a shot. Even the first shot offers approx. 80% protection against infections and strengthens the protection of the immune system, even for people who have recovered from an infection.

The rise in new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in states like Michigan has been driven by the proliferation of several new, deadlier, and more contagious varieties. States that have lifted restrictions, eased the use of masks, and noted the prevalence of the new variants have seen rapid growth in recent weeks – after two months of decline.

So far, cases in Arizona have remained relatively low compared to the highs in December and January. Apache County has the highest per capita incidence in the state. Navajo County is doing better, but could still see a new surge as the new variants spread.

The federal agencies for disease control are currently reporting that different varieties account for about half of all new infections in Arizona. This includes variant B.1.1.7, which forced England to re-lock after the surge in cases where hospitals were overwhelmed. A unique Californian variant that also spreads faster makes up more than a third of all new cases in Arizona, according to the CDC. The South African variant, which not only spreads faster and causes more serious illnesses, but can also decrease the vaccine’s protection, accounts for about 1% of new cases in Arizona, according to the CDC.

In the countries with the fastest growing number of cases, the variants account for 70 to 90% of new cases.

Public health officials say the proliferation of the variants and the lifting of most restrictions in states like Arizona make it critical that people continue to wear masks in public until 70 to 90% of the population are vaccinated.

Earlier this week, Apache County had vaccinated 43% of its population – including 70% of those over 65 – responsible for most of the deaths from the pandemic. Navajo County had 32% of its residents vaccinated – including 58% of those over 65.

Even so, according to national tracking data, Navajo County continued to be at “very high risk of infection”. New cases have decreased by 7% in the past two weeks, but hospital stays have increased by 94%. About 5% of COVID tests are still positive.

Apache County continues to be at “extremely high risk” as the number of new cases has increased by a daily average of 161% over the past two weeks. During this time, hospital stays have increased by 99%. Fortunately, Apache County’s recent surge may have already peaked. Only 1% of tests have been positive in the past two weeks, and both new cases and hospital stays have declined in the past few days.

However, the rapid spread of the variants could undo this advance if vaccination efforts stall, if people start mixing again in public places, often without a mask.

Peter Aleshire covers county government and other issues for the Independent. He is the former editor of the Payson Roundup. Reach out to him at [email protected]