MORGANTOWN — Public Health Commissioner Ayne Amjad said her office is receiving many questions about the omicron-selective vaccines coming to West Virginia.
She fielded questions about that and other issues during Thursday’s COVID briefing from the governor’s office.
On the omicron-selective vaccines, Amjad said they don’t yet know when they will get a supply or who will be eligible to receive it — whether it might be for everyone or restricted to the same people now eligible for the second booster, meaning those age 50 and up.
It’s expected sometime in the fall — September or October — she said, but that’s all they know at this point.
“We are encouraging people not to wait for that specific one to come out,” she said. If you’re eligible for the second booster now, get it.
Gov. Jim Justice also delivered his regular encouragement to get vaccinated and boosted, addressing the still-lingering fears of some. “I don’t see anybody growing antlers that are taking the vaccine.”
Amjad took a question on monkeypox. She said there is one confirmed case in the state and four probable cases awaiting CDC confirmation.
The state has 700 monkeypox vaccine doses in hand, she said, but the CDC has updated its guidance to say one vial may now be used for five doses. “We’re working on that vaccine strategy right now.”
They have given several health departments some vaccines to use, she said.
Amjad also offered a clarifying update on the arrival of 16 mobile COVID testing vans that was announced on Monday. They were ordered back in August 2020 but because of manufacturing delays they only just received them. The vans were paid for through a CDC grant.
Thursday’s COVID numbers: 7,230 deaths; 2,842 active cases, continuing the steady decline; 918 new cases; 350 hospitalizations with 53 in ICUs; and 15 on ventilators.
TWEET David Beard @dbeardtdp
EMAIL dbeard@dominionpost.com
