August 27, 2021
Getting tested for COVID-19 might feel scary to some children. As parents or guardians, we want to make it as easy as possible for them. Preparing our kids for a COVID-19 test ahead of time can help make it more comfortable.
You know your kids best and you know what works for them. Use language that your child understands. Here are some ideas:
- Make sure your kids know what COVID-19 is and why they are getting tested. Getting the test is a way to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Explain what the process will look like. For example, you can explain that they may wear protective clothing and that it may be uncomfortable, but it will be over fast.
- Make a plan with your kids about what to do during the test. Ask them what they can do to stay still like counting, hugging a stuffed animal, taking deep breaths or thinking of a favorite activity.
- Explain to them how you’ll find out the results of the test.
- Let your children know that they’ll have to quarantine if they test positive. Reassure them that you’ll make sure their needs are met while they’re at home.
What about COVID-19 testing in schools?
With the support of OHA, many schools will be testing students for COVID-19 this year. By identifying infections early, school testing helps keep COVID-19 transmission low and students in school for in-person learning, sports and extracurricular activities.
Schools can choose to participate in COVID-19 testing. OHA will offer two types of testing at schools that choose to opt in – diagnostic and screening.
- Diagnostic is the testing of students or staff who develop symptoms at school or are exposed to COVID-19 at school.
- Screening is the testing of students or staff who do not have symptoms of, or exposure to, COVID-19.
Read more about school testing in the OHA Vaccine News blog.
Remember if your child is 12 or older they qualify for COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination is still the safest way to protect your child from severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19. You can find a vaccine here.
On Thursday, Aug. 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Health Alert Network advisory warning that people should not use ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19.
While ivermectin is FDA-approved to treat certain infections caused by parasites, it has not been proven to prevent or treat COVID-19.
CDC recommendations for the public
Do not swallow ivermectin products that should be used on skin (e.g., lotions and creams) or are not meant for human use, such as veterinary ivermectin products.
Seek immediate medical attention or call the poison control center hotline (1-800-222-1222) for advice if you have taken ivermectin or a product that contains ivermectin and are having symptoms of ivermectin toxicity which include the following:
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, increased heart rate (tachycardia), low blood pressure (hypotension), visual hallucinations, altered mental status, confusion, loss of coordination and balance, central nervous system depression and seizures.
- Ivermectin may also increase the sedative effects of other medications such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates.
You can read the full version of this article on Oregon Vaccine News.
COVID-19 vaccination is approved by FDA and is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself from COVID-19. Get vaccinated against COVID-19.
There is some confusion about the new name for the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech. Here’s what the Pfizer-BioNTech company website says about the name:
“Comirnaty is the new name for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Once a drug or other intervention receives FDA approval the manufacturer typically gives it a brand name, and Comirnaty is the brand name that Pfizer has chosen for its COVID-19 vaccine. It is the exact same vaccine as the one that was first authorized for use in December 2020, which we have come to know as the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine, with the same high degree of safety and effectiveness.”
All three of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. are effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
The Oregon State Fair will be in person this year, and safety has never been more important.
All guests ages 5 and up, exhibitors, employee, and volunteers are required to wear masks while on the Oregon State Fairgrounds, in both indoor and outdoor locations.
Guests ages 12 and up will have the chance to get their COVID-19 vaccine at the Fair, which runs from Friday, Aug. 27 through Monday, Sept. 6. The opportunity is thanks to a partnership between Oregon State Fair, Salem Health, and Oregon Health Authority.
All three vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson will be available daily at Cascade Hall; medical interpreters will be on-site to assist.
Vaccinations will take place in Cascade Hall near Brickside Lounge:
- Monday - Friday, 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday - Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
According to the report, the effective reproduction rate – the expected number of secondary cases that a single case generates – was estimated at 1.21 on Aug. 11, projecting a slight decline in the estimated growth of new cases from last week’s modeling scenario.
At that level of transmission, the report estimates 1,000 cases per 100,000 people, or 3,000 daily cases and 165 hospitalizations by Sept. 7.
The modeling report also predicted a scenario based on a projected increase in facemask use among Oregonians between Aug. 11 and Aug. 31.
If the trend of Oregonians complying with the protective measure were to increase from 49% to 80%, the growth of new daily cases would be somewhat lower – an estimated 850 per 100,000 people. That translates to 2,550 new cases and 135 hospitalizations by Sept. 7.
We want to keep you informed about COVID-19 in Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently.
• Samples for 377,916 tests have been reported positive.
• Samples for 5,849,938 tests have been reported negative.
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 1,098, which is 13 more than yesterday. There are 308 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is nine more than yesterday.
There are 40 available adult ICU beds out of 663 total (6% availability) and 305 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,279 (7% availability).
The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.
Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms. Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain responding to the current surge in COVID-19. You can find a test here.
If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.
Today, OHA reported that 11,104 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 3,152 were initial doses and 1,630 were second doses administered on Aug. 26. The remaining 5,619 were administered on previous days, but were entered into the vaccine registry on Aug. 26. Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize.
The seven-day running average is now 8,194 doses per day.
Oregon has now administered 2,789,390 first and second doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 1,837,163 first and second doses of Moderna and 197,070 single doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
As of today, 2,610,916 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,389,358 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.
These data are preliminary and subject to change.
Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated today.
Today we're reporting 3,207 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 268,401. The new cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (9), Benton (33), Clackamas (187), Clatsop (29), Columbia (26), Coos (88), Crook (21), Curry (13), Deschutes (296), Douglas (216), Gilliam (1), Grant (5), Harney (11), Hood River (14), Jackson (313), Jefferson (27), Josephine (186), Klamath (41), Lake (2), Lane (298), Lincoln (58), Linn (149), Malheur (34), Marion (317), Morrow (17), Multnomah (243), Polk (104), Tillamook (52), Umatilla (74), Union (15), Wallowa (8), Wasco (26), Washington (227) and Yamhill (67).
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.
Did someone forward this to you? You can subscribe here.
|
