Farther west, the West Central District Health Department is reporting more COVID-19 cases on a per-capita basis than almost anywhere else in the state. Meghan Travino, executive director for the six-county department based in North Platte, said a lack of vaccination is a reason for the increase in cases.
“So really, vaccine uptake for flu and COVID boosters, it’s been lower than it has been in the past couple of years,” Travino said. “And with that, we know that vaccines are really one of the greatest ways to be able to stay protected against any type of respiratory illness. So that goes along with COVID-19, RSV and flu, and so when those vaccine numbers are lower, then our opportunity for spread increases with that.”
Nationally, there are changes coming to who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The changes are specifically to who the Center of Disease Control, and their committee called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, deems eligible for the vaccine.
“Typically, the way things work is, whatever CDC and ACIP sign off on, typically, is what insurance companies will pay for,” Huse said. “So, you know, if you are a 25-year-old, perfectly healthy, no risk factors, individual who wants to get a covid shot, and that is not under the recommendation that is put out by CDC and ACIP, it’s possible insurance may not give that.”
Both Huse and Travino said the upcoming changes have created challenges for their health departments because they are unsure who will be eligible, as well as where the vaccines will be available.
They also said that the vaccine is a good way to both decrease the likelihood of community spread of the virus, and to protect those who are immunocompromised from severe illness and hospitalization.