Central Shenandoah News

Augusta Health issued the following announcement on Feb. 28

Current Vaccination Dose Count at Augusta Health:

• Total doses given at Augusta Health Vaccination Clinics:                             113,346
• Community members fully-vaccinated at AH Vaccination Clinics:                  47,350
• Boosters                                                                                                          22,591
• Children age 5-11                                                                                             3,236

Current COVID Situation

We are experiencing a welcome and positive downward trend in our key indicators at Augusta Health.   

Our Augusta Health testing positivity rate for the week of February 20-26 was 14.3%.  Our current inpatient COVID-19 census is 13, with three deaths over the past week.

In the 24 hours preceding 9:00 am on Monday, February 28, 9 new positive cases of COVID were diagnosed at Augusta Health testing sites.  Over the past week, every day reported fewer than 20 new diagnoses per day. 

In addition to the significant vaccination efforts, Augusta Health is treating infected patients who meet criteria with Monoclonal Antibody infusions (MABS) when supplies are available.  MABS infusion follows a positive COVID test and a physician referral.  Less than 5% of those who receive a MABS infusion need to be admitted to the hospital later. 

Because of lower prevalence rates and a lower number of COVID inpatients, Augusta Health has eased Visitation Guidelines effective February 28, 2022 at 8 am.  All non-COVID patients admitted to Augusta Health are permitted to have two visitors at a time between 8 am and 8 pm.  There are limited and more liberal exceptions for certain patient populations and circumstances.  In general, visitors must be 18 years of age or older, be symptom-free and wear a mask while in the facility.  Complete guidelines are available at bit.ly/visitAH.

Currently, the new CDC metrics still designate the community level in Augusta County as high, so recommendations to wear a mask indoors in public remain in place.  Please wash hands frequently and stay socially distant from others when possible.  Vaccination is the most effective way to reduce spread of COVID and to protect yourself from severe COVID that requires hospitalization, so please stay current with vaccinations.  Get tested for COVID if experiencing symptoms.  Community COVID information is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

Vaccination Eligibility

Augusta Health is vaccinating everyone age 5 and older who lives, works or goes to school in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for individuals age 18 and over.  Pfizer vaccine is authorized for individuals age 5 and older; a parent or legal guardian must be present to consent to vaccination of those under the age of 18.  Additionally, booster criteria have been updated today to accommodate a fourth dose for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. Eligibility varies by vaccine, so please be aware of the criteria changes and updates for the vaccine selected.

Children Age 5-11 years old:

To ensure patient safety and in awareness of the different dosage for the 5-11 year old age group, there are separate clinics for ages 5-11 only at the on-campus location.  Again, a parent or legal guardian must be present to consent to vaccination of those under the age of 18. 

Please make appointments at vaccinate.augustahealth.com

Vaccine and Booster Eligibility Information:

• Pfizer:
  • Ages 5 and older
    • Initial series of 2 doses, at least 21 days apart/up to eight weeks.
      • Individuals moderately to severely immunocompromised are indicated to receive a 3rd dose to complete the primary series at least 28 days after 2nd dose.
• Moderna:
  • Ages 18 and older
    • Primary series of 2 doses, at least 28 days apart/up to eight weeks.
      • Individuals moderately to severely immunocompromised are indicated to receive a 3rd dose to complete the primary series at least 28 days after the 2nd dose.
• J&J:
  • Ages 18 and older
    • Primary series of 1 dose.

Boosters: 

• If primary series was Pfizer:
  • Age 12+:
    • A Booster dose is indicated 5 months from date of completing of the primary series.
  • Age 5-11:
    • No Boosters are authorized by FDA/CDC at this time.
• If primary series was Moderna:
  • A booster dose is indicated 5 months from the date of completing the primary series.
• If primary series was J&J:
  • A booster dose is indicated 2 months from the date of completing the primary series, however it is preferred that the booster dose be Pfizer or Moderna if possible.      

PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR VACCINE/BOOSTER at vaccinate.augustahealth.com. 

For patient safety concerns, vaccines will be offered on specific days.  Please be sure make an appointment for a clinic that is offering the vaccine you want.  If you are registering for a booster, and are switching vaccine, make an appointment for the type of booster you want.  For example, if you originally received a Pfizer vaccine, but would like a Moderna booster, make an appointment in a Moderna clinic. 

If you have questions about eligibility, please call Augusta Health’s Vaccination Call Center at 540.332.5122. 

Please bring your COVID Vaccination Record Card to the booster appointment.

Vaccinations in Primary Care Offices

Vaccinations for COVID-19 continue in all Augusta Medical Group primary care offices.  Patients who prefer to receive a vaccination or booster from their personal physician should contact their doctor’s office to be scheduled into the next available vaccination appointment block. 

Community-Based Clinics

This week, Augusta Health’s Community Vaccination Team will be providing vaccines at the Trinity Church Soup Kitchen in Staunton and the WARM Shelter in Verona.  To date, more than 10,500 vaccines have been administered at clinics within vulnerable communities by the Augusta Health Task Force.

Community organizations that would like to partner with Augusta Health for a Vaccination Clinic can contact VaccinationTaskForce@augustahealth.com for more information on the requirements.

Large on-campus Vaccination Clinics

Please make an appointment for on-campus clinics. 

Go to vaccinate.augustahealth.com to view the links and schedule an appointment.  Information about new clinics, the links and the criteria for each link, are posted as available.  On-campus clinics this week are:

• Wednesday, March 2:  Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Clinics from 3 pm to 6 pm for those age 18 and older.  

For first dose, second dose and booster dose available to those age 18 and older.  Please verify criteria before registration.    

• Thursday, March 3:  Pfizer Clinic from 3 pm to 6 pm for those age 12 and older.  

For first dose and second dose available to those age 12 and older, booster dose available to those age 16 and older.  A parent or guardian must be present to consent to vaccination of a child under the age of 18.  Please verify criteria before registration.   

The links are open at vaccinate.augustahealth.com

Vaccination Call Center

Not everyone has access to the internet.  Others just have questions.  For assistance, call Augusta Health’s Vaccination Call Center at 540.332.5122.  The Call Center is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm to answer questions and help to schedule vaccination appointments.

Homebound patients are being vaccinated through a pilot program with Central Shenandoah EMS.  Contact the Vaccination Call Center for more information.

We appreciate our continued partnership with CSHD as we work together to provide vaccines to all in the community who need them.

Original source can be found here.