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Thursday, February 24, 2022
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“I appreciate the help of every Kansan who worked to mitigate the COVID-19 virus through masking and vaccinations”
- Governor Laura Kelly
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Cases continue to decline across Kansas, hitting the lowest 7-day average (as of February 21st, 2022) since July 2021. Additionally, death rates and hospitalizations continue to decline from the record highs we saw in January of this year (see below for more details). As we transition from pandemic response to steady state, an increased focus on secondary public health impacts of COVID-19, such as mental health, is critical for keeping Kansas communities safe and healthy. As a reminder, anyone who tests positive or suspects they are infected should follow KDHE’s isolation and quarantine guidelines and let their close contacts know about their potential exposure. Please click here to track COVID-19 trends and here to find KDHE’s weekly summary of local vaccine and testing events.
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The Associated Press
The prevalence of COVID-19 continues to decline in Kansas, with case rates, death rates, and hospitalizations from the virus reaching the lowest numbers seen since the start of the year. According to data from KDHE, as of February 21st, 2022:
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Daily case rate (7-day average): 476 cases per day
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Daily death rate (7-day average): 4 deaths per day
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Total hospitalizations (adults 18+): 562 hospitalizations
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Total hospitalizations (pediatric patients): 30 hospitalizations
This decline is also seen nationally. As of February 19th, total confirmed cases reported across the US just exceeds 100,000, which represents a significant decline from a peak of over 800,000 on Jan. 16, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Additionally, COVID-19 hospitalizations were down from a national seven-day average of over 145,000 on Jan. 20 to just over 80,000 the week ending in Feb 13, according to the CDC COVID data tracker.
While case rates are declining, we are also seeing a decline in the number of COVID-19 tests administered across the State. In Kansas, as of February 21, 2022, the daily testing rate (7-day average) was ~5,100 tests, representing the lowest rate seen in 2022, compared to ~20,000 tests on January 14th, which was the highest rate seen in 2022.
Why this matters: COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations were at record highs in January and the first half of February 2022, largely caused by the Omicron variant. Declining COVID-19 case rates suggest lower prevalence of the Omicron variant, however, continuous monitoring of COVID-19 data and trends is needed to identify future spikes in COVID-19 positivity and new and emerging variants.
What this means: While it is a positive sign that COVID-19 case rates are at year-to-date lows, it will remain important for all Kansans to continue to test for COVID-19 if they are symptomatic or have had contact with someone who has COVID-19, to prevent ongoing spread of the COVID-19 in Kansas. As we’ve previously published, “testing remains an important tool to identify the virus and protect Kansan communities against its spread.”
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 Image from NPR
Over the past 2 weeks, there have been 2 major updates regarding COVID-19 vaccines. This week we are providing a summary of these updates below.
The CDC updated vaccination guidance for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised
- Since the immune response following COVID-19 vaccination may differ in people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, the CDC now recommends:
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Children ages 5-11, who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, should receive a primary series of 3 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
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People ages 12 and older, who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, should receive a total of 4 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, made up of a primary series of 3 doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), and an additional booster of an mRNA vaccine
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People ages 18 and older, who are moderately or severely immunocompromised and received the J&J vaccine, should receive a second dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) and should also receive a booster of an mRNA vaccine
For more information and to make the best choice for you, KDHE recommends you talk to a doctor or trusted healthcare professional or visit the CDC’s website.
The FDA delayed its review of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of 5
- As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, the FDA has paused its review of Pfizer BioNTech’s vaccine for children under 5 as it waits for more data on efficacy. Given this delay, below we’ve outlined the roadmap for vaccine authorization for children under 5:
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Clinical trials: Pfizer and BioNTech will compile safety and efficacy data from their clinical trial, and should the vaccine prove both safe and effective, will ask the FDA to extend the emergency use authorization for the vaccine to this age group
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FDA advisory panel vote: The panel votes on whether the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks, based on data from the clinical trial and presentations from federal scientists
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FDA authorization: The agency considers the advisory panel’s vote and decides whether to extend emergency use authorization to this age group
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CDC advisory panel vote: The panel votes on whether the newly FDA-authorized vaccine should be recommended for all children in this age group or only certain subgroups of children
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CDC recommendation: CDC Director Rochelle Walensky will then decide whether to endorse the advisory panel’s decision
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Available to the public: Only after all of the above steps are finished will pediatric vaccines begin
FDA authorization, originally slated for February, will now not be considered until at least April, when the clinical data on the efficacy of a three-dose vaccine for children under 5 is ready for review. We will keep you updated on the timing of this vaccine as we receive more information.
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Image from NY Times
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues across the nation. According to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, during the first few months of the pandemic, the share of US adults who said COVID-19 had a negative impact on their mental health increased from ~32% in March 2020 to ~53% in July 2020. A year later, in March 2021, this number remained elevated with ~47% of U.S. adults saying COVID-19 negatively impacted their mental health.
Furthermore, according to research from Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, an epidemiologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, those who are infected with COVID-19 are 60% more likely to suffer lingering mental health issues in the year following infection. Additionally, those who are infected:
- are 35% more likely to suffer from anxiety
- are 40% more likely to suffer from depression or stress related disorders
- saw a 55% increase in the use of antidepressants
Why this matters: Mental health resources are limited for many Americans nationwide, primarily due to 1) a shortage of mental health care professionals, with shortages more prominent in rural or partially rural parts of the country, including many parts of Kansas (47.5% of Kansans live in areas with a shortage of mental health professionals) and 2) high costs of receiving mental health services. As we learn to live with COVID-19, the mental health impacts of the pandemic will likely linger due to increased need and barriers to resources for many who need them.
What this means: The exacerbation of mental health issues from the pandemic represents a long-term impact of COVID-19 that will challenge our overworked healthcare systems. Given the abundant need, it is important to recognize the free services and helpful resources available to Kansans to support them in managing mental health issues resulting from COVID-19.
Free mental health resources:
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SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (more information here)
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En español 1-888-628-9454
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Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741
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Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1 or text to 838255
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Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990
For more information on the resources above, visit the National Institute of Mental Health.
What to do: Here are some tips for taking care of your mental health:
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Keep your regular routine: Maintaining a regular daily schedule is important to mental health
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Limit exposure to news media: Constant news about COVID-19 from all types of media can heighten fears about the disease
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Stay busy: Healthy distractions can help avoid a cycle of negative thoughts that feed anxiety and depression
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Focus on positive thoughts: Choose to focus on the positive things in life rather than dwelling on negative thoughts
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Use your moral compass for support: If you draw strength from a belief system, it can bring you comfort during difficult and uncertain times
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Set priorities: Don't become overwhelmed by creating a life-changing list of things to achieve while at home. Set reasonable goals each day and outline steps to take to reach those goals
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Thank you for all you do to keep Kansas safe. For more information, check out the COVID-19 County Rankings, KS vaccine data dashboard, and Kansas’s FAQ link. Please share this information with your networks; and again, if I can be of service, please contact me (matthew.lara@ks.gov).
Ad Astra per Aspera,
Matt Lara
Communications Director at Kansas Department of Health and Environment
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