Delaware Endorses COVID-19 Booster Vaccines for All Persons 18 and Older

DOVER, DE (Nov. 19, 2021) – Following action today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) advisory committee, Delaware’s Division of Public Health (DPH) is encouraging all fully vaccinated Delawareans 18 and older to get a booster dose of Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines.

 

On Friday, the FDA expanded booster dose eligibility to all adults 18 and older, who were originally fully vaccinated with either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at least 6 months prior. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices subsequently voted to recommend expanding booster eligibility to align with the FDA’s authorization. Originally, eligibility was limited to individuals 65 and older and those 18-64 with underlying health conditions or occupational or residential risks of exposure to COVID-19. Booster doses were already approved for anyone who initially received J&J, 2 months after their original vaccine.

 

Evidence from clinical studies show that boosters do not merely top off immunity, but elevate protection well beyond peak levels from the primary series. Some experts say the elevated levels of protection can be as high as 95%. The same study showed an 85% reduction in hospitalization, 76% reduction in severe disease, and 94% reduction in deaths in those who received a booster dose. Boosters are designed to increase protection from COVID-19 in those who originally mounted a good immune response from vaccination to begin with. Boosters became recommended after some evidence of waning immunity over time, especially as the Delta variant surged.

 

“We applaud the latest federal action to make all adults eligible for a booster vaccine,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “COVID-19 cases are again rising and having this tool in our arsenal can help us in holding off another winter surge that could come with people gathering inside more often as the weather turns colder.”

 

Dr. Rattay says, ultimately, the most effective step continues to be for more people to get their first and second doses of the vaccine as over 75% of current COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are among people who have not yet been vaccinated.

 

For more information on second, third and booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, visit de.gov/boosters.

 

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the FDA’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support approval or authorization of a vaccine.

 

Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines since they were authorized for emergency use by FDA. These vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems.

 

 


Weekly COVID-19 Update- October 22, 2021 COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Continue Steady Downward Trend

DOVER (OCT. 22, 2021) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021.   

  

  • Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 141,717
  • 7-day average of new positive cases: 333.4, a decrease from 389.4 last week
  • 7-day average for the percentage of total positive tests: 7%, a decrease from 8% last week
  • Hospitalizations: 173, a decrease of 34 from last weekCritically ill: 24, a decrease of six from last week 
  • Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,045
  • Total COVID-19 deaths since last week: 24

 

COVID-19 Vaccinations:

  • Total number of doses administered in Delaware: 1,237,206
  • Percentage of Delawareans 12+ who have received at least one dose (CDC data): 79.2%
  • Percentage of Delawareans 18+ who received at least one dose (CDC data): 81%
  • Delawareans who are fully vaccinated: 528,767

  

Delawareans who are fully vaccinated have significant protection from COVID-19 infection, serious illness and death. All qualifying Delawareans should get vaccinated. For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine in Delaware, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine. Delaware’s latest COVID-19 vaccination statistics can be found under the Vaccine Tracker dashboard at de.gov/healthycommunity  

 

COVID-19 Case Vaccination Status Report:  

The following report captures a weekly breakdown of vaccination status for cases, deaths, and hospitalizations for the time frame for Oct. 11 – Oct 17. The report highlights the significant percentage of cases and hospitalized individuals in Delaware who are unvaccinated, or only partially vaccinated.

Weekly Overview
(10/11 -10/17)

Unvaccinated Cases

Total Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Cases

1898

Total Cases

2502

Percent of Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Cases

76%

Hospitalizations

Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Hospitalized  Cases

98

Total Hospitalized Cases

125

Percent of Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Hospitalized  Cases

78%

Deaths

Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated COVID-19 Deaths

7

Total COVID-19 Deaths

13

Percent of Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated COVID-19 Deaths

54%

A breakthrough case is defined as testing positive for COVID-19 after an individual has been fully vaccinated for two weeks or more – although it does not mean that the infection occurred after vaccination. 

 

COVID-19 Variant Cases in Delaware:  

In the last week, 359 test samples were sequenced through routine surveillance of test specimens. Of those test samples, 263 (73.3%) sequenced at the DPH Lab were positive for a variant strain, as were 24 additional specimens sequenced at an outside lab. Out of the 287 variant positive samples, all were identified as the Delta strain.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated the classifications of known COVID-19 variants. Currently, the Delta variant is the only variant being monitored by the CDC as a “variant of concern” and no other variants are currently classified as “variants of interest.” For more information regarding CDC variant classifications, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-surveillance/variant-info.html 

    

DPH COVID-19 Vaccine Mobile Units: 

DPH officials in partnership with medical staff from the Delaware National Guard (DNG) have launched mobile units to offer COVID-19 vaccines in underserved communities. With the official start of Flu Season, the flu vaccine will also be available and can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

The mobile units, which utilize trailers to transport the vaccine and provide vaccinations, are scheduled to visit these communities in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties next week. COVID-19 testing will be available at each location. 

    

Monday, October 25

Philadelphia Pentecostal Holiness Church, 13724 S. Old Stage Road, Ellendale, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

 

Tuesday, October 26

Emerald City Wash World, 730 W. Division Street, Dover, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  

Wawa, 1450 Forrest Avenue, Dover, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

3007 Governor Printz Blvd, Wilmington, 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

 

Wednesday, October 27

Dover Downs, 1131 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Wilmington Farmers Market, 1000 North Market Street, Wilmington, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Adams Four Shopping Center, 800 West 3rd Street, Wilmington, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

 

Thursday, October 28

Seaford City Hall, 414 High Street, Seaford, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

 

Friday, October 29

Nylon Plaza Shopping Center, 800 Atlanta Road, Seaford, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

634 South Maryland Avenue, Wilmington, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

 

*dates may be rescheduled if there is inclement weather  

  

For a full list of community-based events statewide including those organized by vaccinating partners and community groups at de.gov/getmyvaccine 

 

Long-term Care Statistics: 

As of 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, there have been a total of 2,914 positive COVID-19 cases involving long-term care residents, and 852 residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.   

      

Resources:

Individuals with general questions about COVID-19 should call Delaware 2-1-1, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211, or email delaware211@uwde.org. Hours of operation are:  

  

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.   

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.   

  

Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.     

  

Delawareans 18 or older are encouraged to download COVID Alert DE, Delaware’s free exposure notification app to help protect your neighbors while ensuring your privacy. Download on the App Store or Google Play  

    

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.   

 

   


DPH Advises Vaccine Providers To Offer Booster Doses For All Three COVID-19 Vaccine Brands To Eligible Delawareans

DOVER (OCT. 22, 2021) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) today announced that Delaware’s vaccine providers can begin administering booster doses for vaccines made by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to certain populations that have been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine received booster authorization last month. DPH is also advising that any of the three authorized vaccines can be administered to qualifying individuals as a booster in a “mix and match” approach to the vaccine originally received.

This decision comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally gave its approval Wednesday to expand the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to allow for a booster dose for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The FDA also gave EUA approval to permit medical providers to administer boosters of any vaccine brand to individuals regardless of the brand vaccine they originally received.

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met Thursday to provide additional guidance on who should receive a booster dose under the EUA, and CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky endorsed the advisory committee’s recommendations later that evening.

Based on CDC recommendations for individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot 6 months or more after their initial series:

People 65 years and older
People aged 18 and older who live in long-term care settings
People 18 and older who have underlying medical conditions, which include but are not limited to: cancer, chronic heart, lung and kidney diseases, dementia, diabetes, down syndrome, HIV, overweight and obesity, pregnancy, organ transplants, and stroke.
People 18 and older who work or live in high-risk settings, including health care workers, teachers and daycare staff, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons, among others.

For individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

For convenience, eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

According to CDC, while data show vaccines remain effective in preventing hospitalization and severe disease, a booster shot will help provide continued protection against severe disease in these populations who are especially at risk for severe COVID-19, including those over 65, residents of long-term care facilities, and persons 18 – 64 with underlying health conditions. DPH is encouraging individuals in these most at-risk categories to seek booster vaccines first.

“Today’s announcement is great news in the fight against COVID-19. Not surprisingly, we have seen signs that the vaccine wanes over time and getting a booster is key to increasing protection against severe disease and death,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Now is not the time to take our foot off the pedal. Those who are eligible should get their booster, and those who are not yet vaccinated should make this their number one priority.”

COVID-19 vaccine providers in Delaware may begin administering booster doses immediately or as soon as they are able. Members of the public who are eligible for a booster shot are recommended to seek vaccine at existing vaccine sites, including pharmacies, health care providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers (for patients), and standing DPH Vaccine sites:

Blue Hen Corporate Center: 655 S. Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901
Georgetown Plaza: 19 Georgetown Plaza, Georgetown, DE 19947
Canby Park: 1920 Maryland Ave., Wilmington, DE 19805
University Plaza, 256 Chapman Road, Suite 100, Newark, DE 19702

As a reminder, Delawareans who have certain immunocompromising conditions, including those who have received organ or stem cell transplants, are undergoing treatment for HIV or cancer, or who are taking medication that suppresses the immune system, are currently eligible to receive an additional dose of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, if they completed their second dose at least 28 days prior.

DPH encourages providers to use their clinical judgment and to consider additional factors for their patients when determining if the person meets the qualifications for immunocompromised status and is eligible for an additional/third dose of Pfizer or Moderna. These factors may include assessing patients who reside in a long-term care facility or patients of advanced age (especially those over age 85).

For a complete list of locations where vaccines are available, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine.