U.S. health advisers endorsed a booster of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine Friday, October 15, 2021 citing concern that Americans who got the single-dose shot aren’t as protected as those given two-dose brands.

J&J told the Food and Drug Administration that an extra dose adds important protection as early as two months after initial vaccination — but that it might work better if people wait until six months later. Unable to settle the best timing, the FDA’s advisory panel voted unanimously that the booster should be offered at least two months after people got their earlier shot.

Preliminary results from an ongoing study of different ways to “mix and match” different shots showed that a booster of any sort revved up people’s levels of virus-fighting antibodies — at least for a few weeks. And the most dramatic jump came from giving a Pfizer or Moderna shot after the single-dose J&J vaccination.

FDA’s advisers didn’t vote on whether that should be recommended but told the government to allow flexibility with boosters, saying there were no safety red flags even if it’s not yet clear just how much difference, if any, mixing and matching may make in long-term protection.

The government says all three U.S. vaccines continue to offer strong protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19, and that the priority is getting first shots to the 66 million eligible but unvaccinated Americans who are most at risk. But with the spread of the extra-contagious delta variant and signs of waning immunity against milder infections, the nation is moving toward a broader booster campaign.

FULLY VACCINATED

As of Monday, 32,5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to at least 17,6 million Texans.

An estimated 63.20 % of people 12 years or older are now fully vaccinated in our state. This number comprises about 80.01 % of Texans as 65 or older.

Here are the percentages of fully vaccinated individuals in local counties:

12 years +  | 65 years +
–Freestone: 40.46% | 59.66%
–Navarro: 49.72% | 71.47%
–Limestone: 40.42% | 58.59%
–Leon: 41.09% | 64.03%
–Anderson: 41.83% | 61.63%

COVID-19 CASES

Active cases continue to surge locally, as multiple variants have been documented in Texas and the United States that may spread more easily or cause more serious illness.

The Texas Department of Health and Humans Services has updated their COVID-19 app, visit dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/ and click Case Count to view to information.

Here is a current look at cases for local counties, as of October 17, 2021:

Confirmed | Probable | Fatalities | Active cases
–Freestone: 1,614 | 1,110 | 66 | 64
–Navarro: 4,272 | 4,370| 181 | 277
–Limestone: 2,595 | 1,023 | 107 | 79
–Leon: 1,821 | 631 | 65 | 71
–Anderson: 5,035 | 2,912 | 195 | 371

LOCAL VACCINE SITES

Texas is currently allowing vaccinations for all persons 12 and over.

Visit online at https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/ to find a location near you.

Know someone who is eligible for a vaccine but doesn’t have internet access? Have them call 833-832-7067 for referral to a local vaccine provider.

Or, text your zip code to 438829 to receive a list of vaccination sites near you.