Sheridan COVID numbers, WDH joins CDC to recommend booster for compromised individuals

In the last 24 hours Sheridan County added another 19 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, the total number of cases since the pandemic began is now at 2,746. 

According to Sheridan County COVID-19 Public Information Officer Jennifer Graves, there are now 75 active confirmed cases in the community and an additional 43 active probable cases. In the last 24 hours, there have been no recoveries from the virus to report. 

Currently, in Sheridan County there are seven patients hospitalized suffering from the virus. Sheridan County has experienced 33 deaths resulting from COVID-19. 

On Aug. 16, the CDC announced that the Food and Drug Administration amended the Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to allow an additional dose to be administered to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems after an initial two-dose series.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met on Friday, Aug. 13, to discuss a recommendation on additional doses for the immunocompromised population.

“At a time when the Delta variant is surging, an additional vaccine dose for some people with weakened immune systems could help prevent serious and possibly life-threatening COVID-19 cases within this population,” CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH said in a statement.

 On Aug. 18, the Cowboy State Daily reported that Wyoming State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist said those who should consider an additional vaccine dose at this time include people who have:

–Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood

–Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

–Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

–Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)

–Advanced or untreated HIV infection

–Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress immune response

More COVID-19 data and information is available at www.sheridancounty.com/covid-19/.