April 3rd, 2022 by WCBC Radio
On Wednesday, the CDC released updated COVID-19 booster guidelines, allowing additional booster doses for certain populations. The new guidelines include the following:
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a second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) for anyone age 50 and older whose last booster was at least four months ago;
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an additional mRNA booster dose for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and whose last booster was at least four months ago;
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an additional mRNA booster dose for those who received a Johnson & Johnson primary vaccine and booster at least four month ago.
The Allegany County Health Department offers booster doses during its regular COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.
ACHD now offers youth COVID vaccinations (ages 5 to 11) every Wednesday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at its clinic location on the main floor of the Willowbrook Office Complex (12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland, MD). For individuals age 12 and older, vaccinations continue to be offered in the Multipurpose Building at the Allegany County Fairgrounds (11400 Moss Avenue, Cumberland, MD) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Appointments are recommended for both clinic locations and can be scheduled by going to the health department website at https://health.maryland.gov/allegany. For assistance registering for an appointment, county residents can call the COVID-19 call center at 240-650-3999. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are also widely available at local pharmacies, urgent care clinics, and some primary care providers.
Health experts maintain that vaccination is the best defense against serious complications from COVID-19. In addition there are life-saving treatments available for those who are diagnosed with COVID. Among local treatment options are monoclonal antibody infusions and oral antiviral medications. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made protein that help fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Oral antiviral treatments are pill regimens, started as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms. These work by interfering with the virus’s ability to replicate. The regimen involves a course of pills over five days. Both monoclonal antibody treatment and oral antivirals require a prescription. Visit https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/testing/treatment-options to learn more about available treatment options.
Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing is available at the Allegany County Fairgrounds (11400 Moss Ave., Cumberland) on Mondays from 2 to 7 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ALLEGANY COUNTY COVID-19 DATA AS OF MARCH 31:
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CDC COVID-19 Community Level: Low
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New COVID Cases This Week: 38 (cumulative total 17,110)
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Additional Deaths This Week: 1 (cumulative total 357)
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Cases Per 100,000 People: 3.04 (Maryland: 5.34)
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Positivity Rate: 1.72% (Maryland: 1.6%)
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Percentage of County Population Fully Vaccinated: 55.8%