Kansas Coronavirus Primer: Vaccine Phase Advances As Rapid-Transmission Variant Emerges

By Tim Carpenter| Sherman Smith, the Kansas Reflector

January 1, 2021

TOPEKA — Physician Lee Norman is convinced vaccine science will be able to counter the mutated, more-contagious coronavirus strain that emerged in the United Kingdom and reached the United States.

Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, can appreciate anxious questions about the new strain referred to as B.1.1.7. State officials say it has been detected in Colorado, California and Florida. Federal health officials expect this new strain is present in other states. However, the KDHE secretary said he had no evidence the variant was impervious to vaccines being rolled out to inoculate people.

“There’s no reason to think that it isn’t going to be just as effective on the B.1.1.7,” he said.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement this variant was expected to be more rapidly transmissible than other circulating strains. There was no indication it caused more severe illness or increased risk of death, the CDC said. The coronavirus’ genetic makeup changes regularly, but the majority of mutations were viewed as insignificant.

Gov. Laura Kelly said challenges of COVID-19 erupting in Kansas communities large and small since March were met by individuals, agencies, organizations and businesses dedicated to moving forward.

“Over the past year,” she said, “people across our state and nation have faced adversity and tragedy as we’ve battled this virus. Jobs have been lost, businesses closed and close to 340,000 Americans have lost their lives to this virus. But, as we enter 2021, it’s important that we do not let the events of the last year be exclusively defined by hardship.”

Why did this variant emerge in the UK?

By chance alone, the CDC said, viral variants can emerge or disappear. That may be the case here. Alternatively, it may be surfacing because it was better fit to spread in humans. Meanwhile, two other new strains of the virus have been identified in South Africa and Nigeria.

What are key demographics on Kansas fatalities so far?

KDHE reports 2,346 of 2,741 deaths tied to COVID-19 have been among people age 65 or older. Fifty-four percent of all fatalities were men. Long-term care facilities have been the epicenter of mortality. These facilities have been linked to 542 outbreaks, 11,000 cases and 1,193 deaths.

Where can I get tested?

KDHE advises people to check out GoGetTested.com for fast, easy and accurate COVID-19 testing to all Kansans.

How many people have received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine?

CDC says more than 2.5 million people have been vaccinated in the United States. In Kansas, at least 4,000 have received a shot. At least 12.4 million doses have been distributed across the country. However, it may be mid-2021 before the general public has full access to COVID-19 vaccines.

KDHE said the reported number of Kansans who have received the vaccine is not up to date because some health care providers haven’t been trained yet on the system the CDC uses to track the vaccine’s rollout.

Are there vaccine side effects?

There can be some injection-site pain. Some feel fatigue, a low-grade fever or mild headache. It should last no more than 24 to 48 hours.

If my first shot was the Moderna vaccine, can the second shot be from Pfizer?

KDHE says the required follow-up shot several weeks later should match the first vaccination.

Is the Federal Emergency Management Agency offering hazard pay to people working on front lines of the pandemic?

FEMA didn’t earmark money for hazard pay to individuals, but the agency transferred billions of dollars in August to help states with unemployment claims.

If a person had COVID-19, is there a need to get vaccinated?

CDC says vaccination is available regardless of prior infection. Anyone with active COVID-19 ought to wait to be vaccinated until after the illness has been resolved and after discontinuing isolation.

If exposed to someone with COVID-19, what are quarantine recommendations in Kansas?

According to KDHE, those exposed must monitor themselves for seven days and can exit the quarantine if there is a negative test and no signs of symptoms. Or, KDHE says, a person can quarantine for 10 days without a test if asymptomatic. During the 14-day period after exposure, continue self-monitoring and contact a health provider if symptoms develop.

What are early signs of infection?

Generally, they include fever, dry cough and tiredness. Less common symptoms are loss of taste or smell, aches and pains, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, red eyes, and skin rash.

Who are the most vulnerable to COVID-19?

The CDC says older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk. Systematic health and social inequities put people in racial and ethnic minority groups at higher risk of illness and dying from COVID-19.

Are smokers at greater peril?

Yes. Data shows that when compared to people who have never smoked, cigarette smoking increases the risk of more severe illness from COVID-19.

Which is stronger: Immunity after vaccination? Or, immunity after recovering from COVID-19?

Physicians with the University of Kansas Health System say the body’s immune response to the vaccine is stronger than it is to COVID-19 itself, especially if a person’s illness was mild.

I want to know whether Miracle Mineral Solution cures COVID-19?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, MMS combined with an activator has a chlorine dioxide content equivalent to industrial bleach and isn’t a remedy for coronavirus. In August, a U.S. District Court in Florida entered permanent injunctions prohibiting sale or distribution of unapproved or misbranded products such as MMS by Genesis II Church of Health and Healing.

Which vaccine is better — Moderna or Pfizer?

Both, according to the KU Health System, appear to be equally effective. Initially, vaccine availability will determine which vaccine people get. Based on transportation requirements as well as packaging and storage, it seems possible the Pfizer vaccine will be suited for distribution in hospital settings while Moderna vaccine will be suited for smaller practices, retail pharmacies or rural settings.

Should the speed at which the vaccines were developed be a concern?

The vaccines undergo clinical trials with tens of thousands of participants to provide confidence in safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, KU Health System says.

Does the coronavirus vaccine cause sterility in women?

The KU Health System says the virus does not have that side effect.

Can I leave home after being around someone with COVID-19 if I feel good?

People can spread the virus even if they don’t have symptoms and the CDC advises those exposed to COVID-19 ought to stay away from others.

Will the vaccine modify a person’s genetic code or allow the individual to be tracked?

KU Health System says the simple answer is: Absolutely not.

Is it necessary to wear a mask after getting vaccinated?

The CDC recommends that during the pandemic people wear a mask covering nose and mouth when in contact with others outside the home or when in a medical facility or receiving the vaccine. There are exceptions, including those with trouble breathing or unable to remove a mask without help.

Is there evidence the vaccine is less effective in people with cancer?

The KU Health System doctors say there is no existing data to support this theory. There are questions about the vaccine triggering the desired immunity in people with weakened immune systems. Cancer patients should consult with their care teams.

Remind me of COVID-19’s transmission basics?

The CDC says it spreads mainly person to person through respiratory droplets produced when a person breathes, talks, sneezes, sings and coughs. People can inhale these airborne particles. It commonly spreads among people within two arm lengths of each other.

Are there lagging symptoms of COVID-19?

Some people who endured the coronavirus reported loss of taste or smell, muscle weakness, dizziness and headache, nerve damage and problems with concentration.

What about travel rules in Kansas related to the coronavirus?

Indeed, KDHE asks that people quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Kansas. People must quarantine if attending an out-of-state mass gathering of 500 or more people if the individual didn’t socially distance and wear a mask. Mass gatherings aren’t defined as normal operations of airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and other spaces where people are in transit.

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