The number of active COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System is back up above 100 today. 101 people with the active virus are hospitalized, up from 93 yesterday. The record is 102 patients on November 30. 45 patients are in the ICU, down from 47 yesterday. 27 of those ICU patients are on ventilators today, down from 28 yesterday. 66 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 62 yesterday. That’s a total of 167 patients, a jump from 156 yesterday. In addition, HaysMed has a total of 32 COVID-19 inpatients, down from 33 yesterday, with 29 of those active patients and 3 in the recovery phase.
Doctors say they are excited and optimistic after reading the FDA’s briefing paper on the Pfizer vaccine. They feel it will be an historic game-changer but warn we can’t let our guard down on masking and social distancing, especially with the Christmas holiday approaching.
On the Morning Media Update today, David Wild, MD, vice president of performance improvement, joined Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control and Tim Williamson, MD, vice president of quality and safety to update the COVID-19 numbers and answer community and media questions.
Dr. Wild began with graphics showing the 7-day average of patients is up across the country. He attributes the dip in cases around Thanksgiving to a drop in the number of tests given. He says we are not yet at our peak of patients from Thanksgiving gatherings. He also showed Kansas has the highest hospitalization rate in the Midwest, higher than Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.
Here are the media and community questions in the order the panel addressed them, followed by the short answer. See the video for their full answers and comments.
- When do we expect the first vaccines to arrive in Kansas? Sometime between Monday and Wednesday next week.
- Will your employees and physicians be required to get the vaccine? They will be encouraged, but not required to get the vaccine as long as it’s under emergency use authorization.
- When will your patients and the general public be able to receive the vaccine? Will there be a cost? Patients with chronic illness and those in nursing homes will be first. The best estimate for the general public is late spring or early summer. There is no cost for the vaccine, but some providers may charge a fee for administering, which is usually covered by insurance. Nobody will be turned down for inability to pay.
- How do we really know if COVID-19 vaccines are safe? The safety profile after being given to 44,000 people shows no concerns. The safety was reviewed by scientists not affiliated with the drug companies.
- It makes me nervous that vaccine manufacturers have a no liability clause. The vaccine would not have been developed, especially so quickly, unless the manufacturers had this protection. Safety is separate from liability. The FDA does not allow distribution without independent proof of safety.
- Do we know how long it takes the vaccine, once given, to be effective against COVID-19 and how long that protection will last? Six to eight weeks from the first dose to be effective. Not sure yet how long protection will last, but it’s expected to be an annual vaccination, like the flu shot.
- These early vaccines require two shots. What happens if I miss the second dose due date or skip it all together? It’s not as important to worry about the exact date of the second dose as it is to get it. You only have full protection with two doses.
- Besides storage requirements, what are the differences in the vaccines, and which one is best? All appear to be equal, though eventually it may be shown that some vaccines are better suited for certain people than others.
- I've heard you say the risk associated with the vaccine is lower than the risk associated with COVID-19. Doesn't that depend on the health of the person? Vaccines are considered low-risk, not no-risk. Regardless of health, you take it to protect both yourself and those you come in contact with.
- What if instead of giving people two doses, we used that second dose to vaccinate more people sooner? One dose would not offer full immunity.
- Will the Pfizer vaccine keep you from spreading the virus? The expectation is if you don’t have severe disease, your ability to transmit will be lower after vaccination. It’s crucial we all still wear masks and keep socially distant after vaccination.
- How does the health system distribute their share of the vaccine to the community after giving to workers and patients? The KDHE is deciding that and will coordinate distribution outside of the health system.
- How long do you shed the virus while in the hospital? 1-2 days before symptoms and 1-2 days after symptoms begin. After 8-9 days, you’re not as infectious.
- What is the average age of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and the average of age of death? 57 for both.
- How many people must take the vaccine in order to slow or stop the spread of the virus? Is SARS-CoV-2 with us forever? A minimum of 70% of the population must be vaccinated to approach herd immunity, depending on how effective the vaccine is.
- I am nine weeks post-COVID-19 and continue to have shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations. Is there hope for a full recovery for me? How should I handle the anxiety of not knowing long-term outcomes? Symptoms can last weeks, sometimes months, even if not hospitalized.
Monday, December 14 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. We will get some expert advice on how to have crucial conversations around COVID-19 mask wearing and vaccinations. Our experts are from KU in Lawrence. Professor Donna Ginther offers a research perspective while Communications Professor and nationally ranked debater Brett Bricker coaches us on how to talk to those who refuse science over personal or political convictions.
ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:
The meeting is available by Zoom, both video and by phone. To join the Zoom Meeting by video, click https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
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For those without Zoom, call 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628.
The feed is also available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all.
Feel free to send questions in advance to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.