State's Chief Medical Officer: Nebraskans under 65 with comorbidities in Phase 2 of vaccination plan
Updated: 1:54 PM CST Feb 26, 2021
name is Taylor Gauge. I'm director of strategic communications for Governor Ricketts. In just a moment, Governor Ricketts will be joining us to provide some updates on the state's vaccination operation. We also have a guest joining us Carmen Tapio, who will be talking about the importance of getting vaccinated from a business perspective. And we'll follow our standard procedure of submitted questions. The questions in the room. And please remember to keep Francis in your shot. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah, right. Mhm. Yes. Right. Morning. How are you going? Good, Good. Happy Friday. Happy Friday. Okay, now they completely stolen my what? Mhm. I don't know What? Over here. Yeah, so Yeah, yeah. Oh, my guys, we gotta have the hand sanitizer. Mhm. All right. Thank you all very much for joining us for our press briefing with regard to the state's response to the pandemic. As always, we remind people were still in a pandemic. So even though we've got lots of good news, hospitalizations are down, cases are down. We got vaccines on the way. We still need people to please continue to use the tools we've given you to be able to slow the spread of the virus. That means keeping that 6 ft of distance between you and other people. When you're out in public, where a mask when you go to the store, wash your hands often for 20 seconds at a time, and one of the really important rules is If you've got that fever that cough that you've lost your sense of taste and smell, please stay home. Those are big indicators that you may have coronavirus, and we don't want you spreading it out there. And especially as we hear about some of these new variants that are more transmissible, we really want people that if you got those signs, please stay home. You can go to test Nebraska. We've delivered over 609,000 test results through Test Nebraska. We have turned those results around every day this year, except for one in 24 hours or less, and the average time is like 14 hours. So we're getting those test results of the test. Nebraska turned around very quickly. Test Nebraska dot com. Please take advantage of it, but remember again, we've got some of these variants again. We don't have our three c sign up, but avoid the three C's. We want to finish strong here as we get the vaccines out. So please continue to help us slow the spread of the virus. Of course, all the things we're doing are to be able to make sure that we provide that hospital bed that I see you better that ventilator to anybody who needs it when they need it. So, uh, please continue to follow those rules. And right now we're looking really good. We've got 31% of our hospital beds are available, 34% of our ICU beds are available, and 79% of our ventilators are available. Uh, and we've also been able to continue to administer the vaccines we've had. We've gotten 397,000 vaccines out. Uh, and so that's all good news. Also, one of the things been working on is the data reporting. So you may have noticed if you've been tracking at the New York Times that we have moved up in the ranking in several of those categories. Uh, right now we're 20 number rank number 21. As far as first dose, out to about 15% of the people uh, were 23rd with regard to second dose. Uh, is that right now, 20 million. It's in that same category. We've got a little over 7% and then we've got about 75% of our doses administered, and that puts us about number 26 which is an improvement from where we were before again. Still mill the pack. We want to move up more. We're taking steps to be able to do that. But we have seen improvements over the course of last week with regard to those rankings. And again, we've, uh I was able to visit, uh, Lincoln Lancaster and what they're doing at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Very smooth process. We had a very smooth process last weekend at Creighton in Douglas County. So we're getting vaccines in people's arms. All right, Well, speaking of vaccines and people's arms, one of the things that workplaces can do is encourage people to get the vaccines. And this is a benefit to those organizations that are encouraging him, right? Because, of course, we know, especially if you're in a small business. If you have a number of people who get sick all at once, that can be disruptive to your operations, and we've certainly seen that around the state. But even for larger organizations where you're not likely to encounter that if you have folks getting vaccinated, obviously that's going to help keep them healthy. It's gonna make all the co workers, uh, feel better about coming into the workplace. So encouraging vaccinations is an important thing to do for all of our businesses. To be able to talk about that here today. We've got the CEO of North and Teleservices, Carmen Tapio. Now, uh, Northern Teleservices does business with the state. They've been helping us out, for example, with our Department of Health and Human Services. They work with the Department of Economic Development, and, uh, Carmen's company has been named to Inc five thousands fastest growing companies in 2020. So it's a rapidly growing business. Uh, Carmen's growing her business and doing a fantastic job. She's number 6 77. She tells me she's going to continue to move up that as well. She's gonna continue improve upon that. So we're very pleased to have carbon here talk about vaccinations. So, Carmen, please come up and share with us a few words. Thank you, Governor. Good morning. My name is Carmen Tapio and I am founder, CEO and president of North End Teleservices, a company based in North Omaha. We are a for profit enterprise. I began working in the teleservices industry when I was 18 years old, making a career of it that took me around the world serving in global leadership roles. I also founded and operated a successful consulting business, and I've also been a chief diversity officer for a global company. North and Teleservices is a contact center providing services to both commercial and government entities, and we have grown to be the largest African American business in the state of Nebraska. We employ over 400 people, and I'm also very proud, as the governor said, to work with various departments, including the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, as one of our clients through our partnership with DHHS, we have helped in the vital role of contact tracing to help isolate cases and keep clusters from spreading. We appreciate the opportunity to serve and to do our part in helping to slow the spread of Covid 19 and the state of Nebraska. I have a passion for community and also for business. And it is our mission to help create jobs and change lives while continuing to make an increasing economic impact in our state. And this is one of the reasons why I was very happy to hear about Governor Ricketts actions to open up a North Omaha office field office for economic development. In addition, the Department of Administrative Services and state procurement Office has also expanded its ongoing efforts through the recently launched Procurement Contract Concierge program, which expands its outreach to minority communities and businesses and teaches them how to do business with the state of Nebraska and support their efforts in doing so. I am impressed with the leadership. I am, uh I in my business, have already experienced the benefits from both the D D and the concierge program, and we are grateful for those efforts. All of these efforts continue to help connect residents of North Omaha two more opportunity to create jobs and grow businesses. North Omaha has quality workers, exceptional leaders, and this support will expand opportunities in our community in regard to the vaccine. A lot of great things are happening in our community, and we're anxious to get back to normal in the vein of strengthening Nebraska's economy. I want to remind all citizens that one important way that they can contribute is to get the vaccine when it's available to you. Uh, in an effort to end covid 19. I know many small businesses and small business owners have been significantly impacted because of the pandemic and the challenges it brought to our state. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has helped to lessen that impact through some of the grants that were made available to businesses last year. I also understand that there are some misgivings and distress when it comes to the vaccine, but I would urge you to do your research and to educate yourself about the facts. The state's finish strong campaign has been designed to access credit to provide access to credible information so that you may be fully informed and comfortable with getting the vaccine. And I've been out to the website and it's a really tremendous sight. There's some great information available and to go to access the site, go to finish strong dot any dot gov. The vaccine is critical because it can save lives and help us get back to the business of business in our state. So thank you. And thank you, Governor Ricketts. Appreciate the opportunity. Thank you. Great. Thank you very much, Carmen. And thank you for being a great partner for the state. We appreciate all your work, especially on this contact tracing, helping us respond to the pandemic. That is a big deal. So thank you very much. All right, so that was Carmen Tapio, CEO of North and Teleservices. See? So a couple things. One one of the things that we know also is that Johnson and Johnson today, Dr. Anton correct, is going to be having in the Republic hearing with regard to the FDA. Is that right? As we're speaking right now, they're doing it. Uh, so we have seen some of the information out there from Johnson and Johnson. It's very good news again. Very effective. Uh, when we're talking about preventing disease but especially effective in making sure that you don't go to the hospital or have those severe reactions that can lead to death. So very excited to have another vaccine from Johnson and Johnson. We're being told that if we Johnson Johnson gets the emergency use authorization from the FDA, which seems likely here because the data all looks very good, that they'll be able to deliver a couple million doses across the country here as early as next week. And then by the end of March they expect to have 20 million doses out biting in June, 100 million doses out. So that will add on to the other doses that we have available from both Moderna and Pfizer. Remember, Modern is supposed to deliver 100 million by the end of March and fight or 100 and 20 million by the end of March so you can see that we've got about 240 million by the end of March that will be available. I think we're sitting at about 80 million, maybe a little bit more right now. Vaccines that have been delivered so there's there's more vaccine coming, so that's very, very exciting news. We're pleased about that. Uh, second bit of news is the stimulus package that the House is working on right now, and I just want to comment on this because, uh, this is something they're talking about that is going to be detrimental to Nebraska if they continue down, the path are going, which is to focus those dollars based on unemployment rate. So each of the states took a different response on how to respond to this pandemic here in Nebraska, which tried to balance slowing the spread of the virus with allowing people to live in more normal life. And so we've had the lowest unemployment rate in the country for the last five months in a row. If the federal government would distribute stimulus based upon unemployment rate, they're penalising Nebraska and other states like Iowa and Kansas, who have done a good job of trying to balance this off. And they're gonna be rewarding states like New York and California that have very different outcomes, shall we say? So they're basically gonna be penalizing. People have done the right thing. That's not the way you want to approach any sort of government program. The per capital way is the fair way to do it. And that's what Congress should do is look at if they're gonna do a stimulus package, do it on a per capita way that that way everybody gets treated equally. It's an equitable way to do? Do the stimulus package. And remember, Nebraskans pay federal income tax just like New Yorkers do. We shouldn't be disadvantaged by their policies. So anyway, I just wanted to encourage folks to reach out to their congressman and the senator to talk about that because that's again Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas were the ones that are disadvantaged by what Congress is proposing. All right, so upcoming schedule, uh, news Conference 10 a.m. On Monday and Wednesday and then I'll have my Collins show. That's at Central time. 10 a.m. Central time. Monday Wednesday here and then, UM, two PM Next Monday Central time will be my Radio Collins show for the month March. All right, so we've got a number of questions. Uh, Jack Williams. Any t On Tuesday, Douglas County health director Audie Poor said that there were 850 unfilled appointments for covid 19 vaccinations in Douglas County. Uh, does it concern you at all that local health districts are basically having to wait for people 65 years and older to fill appointments when they could be moving on to other categories of people who are more willing to be vaccinated? Is that a flaw in the system would you consider altering to speed up? Jack, I think you're misunderstanding what Dr Poor is saying. She's saying she has opened up appointments. She's only got 850 left now through the middle of March, so appointments are filling up quickly. So if you want to get an appointment, please get registered and get signed up. I think you're misinterpreting how Dr Poor is saying that because the model appointments we have our quickly being taken up, and I'll just use the example of Saturday again. We delivered 4798 vaccines in one day at that mass vaccination clinic we had of creating university, and I want to thank all the staff and students who volunteered to help make that happen. But, uh, yeah, we only have 850 left. It's not. It's not that they're not being filled as they're being filled very quickly. Patrick Jansen News Channel, Nebraska There has been some information shared about how vaccine responds to new coronavirus variants, but what is being done to prove the effectiveness of testing for the new variants has a testing. Has the testing been tested for these new mutations. Probably a question for Dr Anton, so I'll let him come up here in a second. Um, see is a follow on Patrick ass. UMC has discovered new variants in Nebraska that are not the UK or South African variants. What is being done specifically attract those variants? Um, and others in the state? And will the state data monitor different outbreaks or lump them together? And then, uh, is the state working with Lincoln in preparation for the Nebraska State basketball tournaments? Uh, if so, what work is being done to ensure the events over the next couple of weeks? So I'll address a couple of these things. So with regard to new variants, for example, Johnson and Johnson was tested in a global environment and in places like Brazil and South Africa was still very effective. So actually the vaccines are being even now are being tested on those new variants. I will have that, Dr Anton come up and give us a bit more detail about that. With regard to the state, you may have read in the Omaha World Herald that the Nebraska Public Health Lab has a new machine to do the gene sequencing, you have to actually sequence the DNA DNA to actually know it's one of these new strains generally not universally, but generally. So, uh, for the past several weeks, the state has been taking samples to sequence to search for the new variants. So we are monitoring to see if we have the new variants here in the state, and we're also leveraging other sequences is in the state as well, so we're continuing to monitor it. But again, the indication so far is that the vaccines are still effective against all these different variants. And I'll let Dr Anton talk about that more. And then, finally, is a state working with Lincoln in preparation of, uh, for the state tournament. So the state establishes the directed health measures, which requires organizations to work with your local health department on a plan for having these types of events. So the basketball team it will have to work with Lincoln Lancaster, too, you know, put the plan in place, how they're going to socially distance and all that sort of good stuff. Um, but that's how that will be taken care of. And so that Dr Anton, you wanna come up and talk a little about the variance and vaccines? So, uh, we've all known about these variants. The first variant that was really sort of made. The news was back in December, where the United Kingdom had a variant called the B 117 variant. And that's the one that became the predominant strain over in the UK and now has been over in the United States that the last C. D. C update, the U. K variant, is now present in 45 states and territories of our country. With about 1881 cases, it's taking off a little bit slower, maybe, than what we thought it might, which is great, which is why we want everybody to still follow the three C's and the non pharmaceutical interventions. And so far, the vaccines that we have the Moderna, the Pfizer and now the Johnson and Johnson vaccine seemed to be very effective against the B 117 variant, as the governor mentioned, there's also a South African variant and a Brazil variant, not so far, not really that prevalent here in the United States and then as the governor mentioned to Dr Gold down at you, and EMC is saying maybe Nebraska might have its own variant, and that's what they're finding like. Every state's gonna have their own variant sooner or later, because the virus mutates and we're all going to have a local variant, probably. But as long as we continue to do what we're doing as far as the non pharmaceutical interventions and getting vaccine into people's arms, you know we should be fine. The thing about the sequencing and so far we have a great team leader, our lab team leaders, Dr Matthew Donahue, and he's been working with Dr Pete. I win at the Nebraska Public Health Lab so that every positive specimen that is tested at the public health lab is now being sequenced for these variants, up to 130 a week. And so far, the public health lab hasn't had 130 positive specimens per week for the last several weeks. So we put out a Health Alert network advisory notice this week to tell providers that if they see something that they think might not be quite right, such as maybe a reinfection, a patient that had a covid infection in the past that now they think has another infection or a patient that might be fully vaccinated past 14 days or even less, and now has a reinfection. Those are the ones we want to get sequence to see if they are the variants to see if that's why they got a reinfection or why they got infected after receiving the vaccine. So that's the importance in doing those sequencing Dr Donna, who is also working with other labs in the state and in specifically in the Omaha area, where they also have these sequencing machines. So hopefully we'll be able to sequence maybe every positive specimen, or at least every specimen that we know might be suspicions for being a variant specimen. So all end it there. And, um, basically, what they do is they sequence the RNA, that RNA of that virus. So, um, that's all I have. Thank you, Dr Antoni. You're right. I said sequence the DNA. Their sequence in the RNA caught me on that one. Okay, I got it. All right. So Scott Miller, K and E b. I question the question. I guess the question would be what's being heard from the by administration on whether the application will even go forward if it does not. What would be the upshot for Heritage Health? And is there still an effort to provide expanded benefits or whatever thing, b basic coverage? So this is basically the letter that the by administration sent us, uh, with regard to our Heritage Health program. This is the Medicaid expansion, and this is a great program. It encourages wellness. We're really pleased with what we put together here. And while the Biden administration has not given us the go ahead to go forward on this, we are going to be communicating with my administration about why this is really a good thing for Nebraskans and how it's going to help people encourage that wellness and why, really it's gonna be a benefit for the federal government as well. So we're looking forward to having those, uh, robust conversations with the by administration and then Julia Anderson, Omaha World Herald. We're hearing that you will require local health departments to switch their vaccine registration or at least appointment making and record keeping to the States Vaccination website as of April 1st is that correct? Is there another date? Will this be established through D H M? If so, why require this change? Uh, late in the game is actually not late. Um, when the health departments already have developed a workable solutions, has the state's system been fully tested? Uh, and then how much will the state system costs? And why did it come online so late? Which is not late. So first of all, Julia, say a couple things. One, um, many states don't have a system yet, so, uh, this is something you know, the federal government actually had their own system. They're putting out there, which we chose not to adopt. And that's been a good thing, because my understanding is the federal system has been very unstable. So if you look around some of these other states that maybe went with that, they may be reconsidering that decision right now. Ah, it's also something that we had to work with our vendors Microsoft. So we work with Microsoft to develop this system that will be an inventory management system as well as the scheduling system. And this is so we can provide really a one stop shop for customers all across the state, right? So we can really provide a great customer service. Think about it if you got your first dose in Lincoln, but you wanted to go get your second dose in Scottsbluff, you'd want to be able to do that right. May be either because you moved or you were traveling or whatever the reason you want to be able to do that. So we have to have a statewide system so we can provide that level of customer service to be able to allow somebody to be able to do that. And we want to be able to do that. We also have to do it from an inventory tracking standpoint to make sure that we're utilizing the vaccines as quickly as possible in getting on people's arms as quickly as possible with regard to some of the other states or other health department systems, you know. For example, on Saturday we did 4798 vaccines. I talked about the great and clinic that went so well, but that was all done by paper. Douglas County was on paper for that clinic, so we want an automated system so that people can register online that it can be tracked electronically and and put into that. And we don't. We want to get away from that paper. We want to have, you know, for example, QR codes so that we can easily track that and make it such that we minimize the data entry, which is, uh, you know, been going on, for example, in Lincoln and in Lancaster County in Douglas County. So we want to get away from that. So we're putting a system and we're going to collaborate. We work with our health departments to be able to get them onto that, but we do need everybody on that. And so we're gonna ask all the pharmacies to get on that as well, right? So that we can, uh, make sure we're sharing data with them and getting that data in. We need to have a system that is going to look at, get kind of that global view of what's going on in Nebraska, and that's why we're rolling this out. And so we obviously had to create that tool. That's what were the Microsoft. Uh, but also think about the folks. We're gonna be doing this probably the rest of the year we're gonna be doing vaccines. So, yes, there's a big push right now to be able to get as many people vaccinate as quickly as possible. But we also anticipate that we're gonna be having vaccines come into the state throughout the course of the, you know, the year certainly through the middle of summer and that some people will choose different times to get vaccinated. And we want to make sure that we're, um, you know, able to accommodate all those folks. So this is something you have to think longer term. And just like the next month or the last two months, this is something we're gonna be doing for a while and again why? We need to have a tool that everybody's on so that we can make sure that we're providing a high level of customer service and, uh, you know, getting vaccines of people's arms and and be able to do a good job with that. So, um, anyway, so we're gonna be working to get that rolled out as quickly as possible with the different local health departments. Um, once we've got that tool up and running, okay, And how much of the state system cost, Dr. Anton, I don't recall. Right off top my head, Julie, we can follow up with you with regard to the cost of that. I don't know if I've got that on top of my head, but you don't happen to know, uh, we'll follow up with you with regard to how much that state system costs. And obviously, that was paid for with Kazakh money. All right, Matt. Old burning from the Lincoln Journal Star. Once the J and J Vaccine is approved and Nebraska is getting shots, will it be prioritized for 65 plus crowd, even though it has a slightly lower effectiveness? And again, I would say that while you're looking at the effectiveness of getting the symptoms disease, it's very effective in keeping you out of the hospital. And 100% effective is my understanding on preventing you from dying. So again, one of the reasons we're providing uh, prioritizing the 65 years or older crowd is that we want to get to people who are most at risk. Remember, 83% of our deaths in Nebraska, them from folks who are 65 years and older. 94% are from people who are 55 years and older. So we want to prioritize that group. So we're gonna use the Johnson and Johnson to continue to work through phase one B and again prioritizing those folks who are 65 years and older. Yeah, and Dr Antone is saying that Johnson and Johnson vaccine is just as effective, if not more effective in the elder in the 65 year old or crowder. The older for our seniors. So again, something that's gonna be good and encourage your folks soon as your turn comes up, get the vaccine. Please. Get the vaccine. Man. Also asked, I've been told that the state has taken over control of scheduling for shots for the retail pharmacy plan. Is that true? Also have more locations in Nebraska been added to the program in the last couple of weeks. So with regard to the federal retail pharmacy program, remember, this is the program the federal government is running there. They have not coordinated with the states on this. Uh, maybe I'll talk about that just in in a minute. But with regard to, uh, I don't believe There's been additional pharmacies added, though there may be pharmacies that were originally part of it that are now receiving vaccine. And with regard to the state, uh, we again don't have our overall program software program implemented yet, but we will be working with those pharmacies to make sure we're interfacing with them. And what, in the meantime, we're doing is asking local health departments to work with those pharmacies on the scheduling. So, for example, some health departments are providing lists to those pharmacies of who they should call up and get vaccinated again following our guidelines around 65 years and older Or, you know, again just getting the data back from so that we can again know that we can provide a great customer service. And remember that some people will sign up in multiple different locations so they may sign up at the local pharmacy. They might sign up for the local health department, and we want to make sure that, uh, we're getting to everybody and who wants that vaccine and do it in the most customer friendly way. So we will be working with those pharmacies to get them on that same system for the state. So we have that global view of what's going on the state and for the same sorts of reasons, right? Say you get your vaccine in Omaha, you want to be able to go to Scotts Bluff and get the second dose. We have to be able to have a system that allows us to manage that. So we will be doing that once we get that system up and running. And then also, I just want to highlight a little bit also about the pharmacy program, because I'm going to have a conversation with the White House about this. The goal, One of the goals for the federal pharmacy program is to target folks who are homeless and public housing, limited English and, um, also migrant workers. But they didn't really do it in consultation with us. And so, for example, some of the locations are in long term care facilities that aren't public facing, so that doesn't really help you accomplish your goals. If you have those four categories, Uh, one of the locations was in a wealthy part of Omaha, for example. It's not near those locations and so forth. So what we wanna do is work with the federal program and the White House to be able to help guide them to accomplish the goals. We think the goals are great goals to accomplish. We think they can better and be more successful at this if they work with the states to help target which pharmacies are actually going to be, uh, more in line with the types of pharmacies or the populations they want to serve for this. So that's what that's what you know. I'll be having conversations the White House about is see if we can get a little bit more closer cooperation for that. All right, so I know Carmen has to leave here in about five minutes at the latest. So if anybody's got any questions for Carmen, this would be a good time to ask questions for Carmen. If not, we'll just open up and you get your Was that your hand going up? Come on, you wanna come up here real quick and Andrew ask you some questions before you have to leave. Mhm. Some of the things that we're doing to encourage our employees to get the shot is we're making all of the information that's available through the state of Nebraska available to them as well. And we have, since the start of the pandemic really been intentional about having a consistent communication plan around, um, ways to stop the spread, but also as new information, public health information is coming available pointing them to those resources. And so we are posting this information to our employees, um, and talking to them about where they can find credible information hungry here either. All right, work a lot. I think that, um you know, businesses, uh, should take whatever steps they feel are right for their business. So, in terms of offering sticks or incentives, um, different environments, different employee bases are going to, um, need different types of encouragement. Um, and an incentive. If that's what a business decides to do and they see that it works for them, then you know, by all means alright. Questions for coming. All right. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thank you again. Carmen. I know you've got to leave, so thanks very much for making the time to be here this morning. We appreciate it. Alright. Other questions. All right. Potatoes got several questions. Texting in Christmas. These parts you're mhm specifically those no longer actually. So I'm sorry. So Christmas TV is asking about people disabilities being moved off of phase one B. So and not being able to get access through it through Medicaid. So I'm not sure where you're getting that information from because, well, first of all, this vaccine is free to everybody. So there are some providers who are charging an administrative fee to your insurance if you have insurance. But if you don't have insurance, that's not a problem. You won't be charged, so you don't have to worry about from that standpoint. And Medicaid, of course, is covering this to out of pocket. So I'm not sure where that information is coming from, because again, this shot is free for everybody. And then with regard to phase one B, uh, you know, we've got all those. I actually think a lot of those folks who have been taken care of and our congregate settings that we've got if they haven't been taken care of already. So, uh, we haven't changed any. We haven't changed any of the status with regard to folks who are disabled with regard to any of these rankings, so none of that's changed. So I'm not quite sure what that's about, Doctor. And so do you have any done? You wanna come up here? Do you mean capabilities? If it means comorbidities again, we've talked about that. That age being is the single biggest factor with regard to the fatalities we've had in our state. And that's why we have been prioritising folks who are 65 years and older. So maybe you can take you back in and get a little bit more clarification, right? Well, right. Oh, So Brent from Channel eight, um, is saying that or as asking if there's more vaccines being produced Well, Nebraskans get their choice with regard to which vaccine I would say that we will have more information with regard to that down the road. But for the time being, I'd encourage all Nebraskans when your term becomes available. Please take the vaccine that is available to you at that time. Obviously, you all have the opportunity that if you want to wait, you can certainly wait. Not everybody is gonna want to get the vaccine at the same time, but we certainly encourage you as the vaccines are available to please take the vaccine that's available to you when your turn comes up, then run. Also right? Mhm. Right. So, Brent, asking if age is such a big consideration. Uh, why direct health departments to do 90% were not directed to do 100%. And again, the rationale there is really to be able to give health department some flexibility with regard to that, uh, doing that vaccine understanding. So, for example, if you look at health care workers keeping our healthcare workers important to keeping other people healthy, right, Uh, if you look at our first responders, we talked about this for first responders, utility workers, staff at homeless shelters, um, and so forth. You know, those folks are public safety issues, so we had some public safety issue concerns around that. So again, we wanted to be able to have some flexibility with regard to our health departments on doing the vaccines while making sure the vast majority of vaccines were targeted. Those folks 65 years and older. Yeah. Dr Yeah, Yes, virus currently set up for you're on. So now you're saying that, uh, folks with dancing or 10 times more likely than the general population. Is that right? Natalie from MTV. Is that what she said? 10 times more likely. Um, so, uh, and so obviously there's great risk than just the general population. And as I said, when it comes to some of those other underlying conditions will have more information that on that going down, uh, you know, coming down the road. But again, if you look at our data here in Nebraska with regard to age being the single biggest factor for the folks, that's the one that is, uh, why we're driving the 65 years and older. And for other folks, we will be looking at data with regard to and having more information about how we're gonna address that world trouble. Mhm. You know, we're Yeah. Do I? Do we have any word on workplace vaccination clinics? Uh, so some local health directors, for example, have been working with specific businesses that would be in the categories we talked about. So, like healthcare. So to the extent that they are related to the things like law enforcement or health care, you could be you could see some workplace things from that standpoint. But right now we're focused on phase one B, which is primarily folks who are going to be 65 years and older. So that's where the focus right now is. And that really doesn't fit into a workplace. It's gonna be more like what you see in Omaha Lincoln, where you have clinics like it, um, creating we had on Saturday or the Pinnacle Bank Arena here in Lincoln. I will note that when I was at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, one of the things that Lincoln Lancaster have been doing is some of their law enforcement office were coming in for their second shot. So they were managing to catch some of the folks who would be more employment race employment based in that mass vaccination clinic, along with the folks who are 65 years and older. Yes, car. Do I know how many doses have come into the state specifically for the federal pharmacy program again from Julie Anderson? I don't know that number off the top of my head, Doctor Antone, you don't happen to know that at the top, your head too long term care. And I think right. 76 Yes. Yeah. So uh, So Dr Anton thinks it's been 5700 doses a week for the last two weeks. Maybe a little bit higher than that, but we can follow up. Julian, get you the exact numbers. All right, Andrew. Dr. Antone, you've got a question, remember? Please repeat it. Just Yes. Yeah, it'll it'll be Phase two to A for people that are less than age 65 with comorbidities. And as the governor has been saying, you know, we're working on that plan right now about how to work that in. So stay tuned on that, but we are going to take into consideration patients with comorbidities. All right? You know, I can't give you the exact timeline, but I'll estimate within the next two weeks. Yeah, we should. We should. We should have a plan in place for how to deal with patients under age 65 with comorbidities within the next two weeks. The plan, not that will start on vaccinations, I think in our discussions. And we discussed this all the time amongst our our team is that the main ones are people that are immuno suppressed. So the main comorbidities would be patients that might have cancer that are on chemotherapy are on medications for immuno suppression, such as transplant patients. Then the another group would be patients that are on dialysis. So chronic renal failure patients and then the third group would be, uh, you know, patients that might have pulmonary issues that would have difficulty if they did need to go on a ventilator getting off a ventilator. So those are the top three that we're considering right now. Obviously, there's a lot more and in that, but those are the ones we'd probably focus on it first. Very yeah, mhm worry. Mhm. Yeah, the Andrew asked. Why? Why will the plan take a couple of weeks? Because we need to set the logistics in motion on how we'll get to those groups of patients on how that will be prioritized and how they'll be notified and where they'll go to get vaccinated. Yeah, when I don't know when they'll be able to get their vaccination because we want to get the the one be done first, the age 65 older and you know whenever that's done, then that's when they'll probably be able to get their vaccinations course so and Andrew asked why our hospitalizations going down? Is it a combination of maybe, you know, patients being vaccinated? We started to see our hospitalizations go down even before the vaccine came out. So it probably had something to do. What? Just what the whole Midwest saw during this time and mid in late December, where hospitalization started going down. Right now, we have tested almost 50% of the Nebraska population. Of those 50% that have been tested our population, we have about 11% of our population testing positive. We show up here on the on the screen that we have about 9% of the population has received their second dose. So if you add those numbers up people that have been infected and people that have been fully vaccinated we have about 20% of our population now, uh, with immunity, which is a good number, and that's only going to go up with time. We also get data from the C. D. C and from the Red Cross on people that donate blood or give blood for other purposes like a lab work on what their antibody prevalence is. And we're seeing right around a 20%. 25% Cyril Prevalence in the population of Nebraska. So and actually, the Red Cross shows about a 35% of healthy donors that go into to donate blood that never thought they had an infection having antibodies for covid. Now, that's not a scientific study, but it sort of gives you idea about what the serial prevalence is here in our state. So we're getting there. You know, most people think we need about 60 or 70% immunity, maybe a little higher 75% in order to reach that herd immunity threshold. But we're slowly getting there. Alright. Other questions. Andrew. Mm. Well, you know, Andrew, you get when you show up, you get to ask the questions. So it's fair. Four? Yeah. Excuse me. Do I have concerns about banning conversion therapy again? I presume there's a bill that you're talking about that is, is in there Lincoln passengers banning conversion therapy? Well, I think again when you're talking about conversion therapy, you have to talk about. It's like one of those broad categories there are. I'm very concerned when we start restricting the ability of health care providers to, uh, provide the type of treatment that they think is important. I think in general, though, you have to look at specifically. What are you talking about? So are there things that may be not be appropriate? Well, there may be things not appropriate, but I don't know the details what Lincoln did. So I can't speak to what Lincoln did, or I haven't looked at any of the bills that we've got here. Are these health care? Well again, I'm also concerned if you're going to be trying to infringe upon religious freedoms as well. Yeah, for us relations were he said, Yeah, yes, for our use. So the question was, Do I think it's a matter of time if, uh, if, uh when, uh, marijuana be legalized here in Nebraska. And I think that if we educate Nebraskans about the dangers of marijuana that a I don't think the legislation will get passed this year. Certainly, I'm going to pose it. But if it were to be put on the ballot, I think Nebraska's would vote it down. I think once people know that you are risking people's lives by legalizing marijuana on a number of different fronts, you're you're risking people's lives when you legalize marijuana. If you have in the workplace, data shows that that you've got more workplace accidents. We see that you really put people's lives when Children get ahold of, say, edible marijuana. We've seen this in Colorado. We see the psychotic or psychiatric effects of this Levi Punggye, 19 year old in Colorado. Marijuana cooking jumped off a ledge, killed him. So and that's not and he's not alone. There are other people that have that psychotic reaction that ends up leading to their death. So this is marijuana is actually killing people. We see it killing people on the highways. We see when states that legalized marijuana there, highway traffic deaths go up due to marijuana. So I think when you educate Nebraskans about the dangers here and also remind them that big marijuana is owned by tobacco, these are big corporations that are trying to not be regulated. That's what this is about. Don't be fooled by what is being put out there by these big corporations who don't want to be regulated. This is an industry that does not want to be regulated. We have a way for drugs to be used in a way that it's safe, legal, effective, and that's called go Through the FDA. And as Dr Anton pointed out previously, I think one of your, uh, Facebook live events that you look at, how quickly these vaccines have been approved, right, going through the FDA process quickly, they were developed and approved. The FDA can move quickly if it's necessary, and that's the process. Every thing should go through every drug. If you want to take something like marijuana and turn into a drug that is going to be medically beneficial, it has to go through the FDA process. One more question, Andrew. So the questions with regard about the timing of regulators moving on the the ethanol plant and meat and again as a state, we have a follow process. We have, uh, you know, the laws that we have to go in place. So the state moved as quickly as the process would allow to be able to address the issues with regard to the media ethanol plant, and we are continuing to work with, um, you know, the EPA, uh, the plant and so forth on getting them into compliance. Obviously, they issued the letters about shutting them down. So we are taking steps and it was done in an appropriate way in an appropriate timeframe based upon, you know, the laws and the the way that we manage the process. Mhm. Alright, folks. Thank you all very much again. Reminder 10 a.m. On Monday back here in this room 2 p.m. On Monday Central time. Be the radio call in show. Thanks very much. Everybody have a great weekend. Please remember to continue to keep that 6 ft of distance. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay home. If you've got that fever of that cough or lost sense of taste and smell and avoid the three C's sign up for vaccine, you can also sign up. Vaccinate dot dot gov If you have difficulty with the computer side of it, you can also call into the 8339982275 number and get help that way. Thanks a lot, folks. Have a great weekend. Mm hmm.
State's Chief Medical Officer: Nebraskans under 65 with comorbidities in Phase 2 of vaccination plan
Updated: 1:54 PM CST Feb 26, 2021
During a news conference hosted by Gov. Pete Ricketts Friday morning, Dr. Gary Anthone confirmed that Nebraskans with comorbidities under the age of 65 will be in Phase Two of the state's vaccination plans."It'll be phase two for people that are less than age 65 with comorbidities as the governor has been saying," Anthone said.The Chief Medical Officer for the state of Nebraska said that a plan is being developed and that an exact timeline has not been set just yet."You know, we're working on that plan right now about how to work that in, so stay tuned on that but we are going to take into consideration patients with comorbidities. You know, I can't give you the exact timeline, but I'll estimate within the next two weeks," Anthone explained.He added that while a plan could be in place within the next two weeks, vaccinations for this group would not start until later. According to Anthone, the plan will have people with comorbidities under 65-years-old in multiple groups."I think in our discussions and we discussed this all the time amongst our team is that the main ones are people that are immunosuppressed. So the main comorbidities would be patients that might have cancer that are on chemotherapy or on medications for immunosuppression, such as transplant patients," Anthone said.He added that another group would include people that are on dialysis and a third group would be of people who have pulmonary issues."Another group would be patients that are on dialysis, so chronic renal, and then the third group would be, you know, patients that might have pulmonary issues that would have difficulty, if they didn't need to go on a ventilator getting off the ventilator," he explained.Anthone also said that there are more comorbidities that they are considering, but these are "the ones probably focus on first."
During a news conference hosted by Gov. Pete Ricketts Friday morning, Dr. Gary Anthone confirmed that Nebraskans with comorbidities under the age of 65 will be in Phase Two of the state's vaccination plans.
"It'll be phase two for people that are less than age 65 with comorbidities as the governor has been saying," Anthone said.
The Chief Medical Officer for the state of Nebraska said that a plan is being developed and that an exact timeline has not been set just yet.
"You know, we're working on that plan right now about how to work that in, so stay tuned on that but we are going to take into consideration patients with comorbidities. You know, I can't give you the exact timeline, but I'll estimate within the next two weeks," Anthone explained.
He added that while a plan could be in place within the next two weeks, vaccinations for this group would not start until later.
According to Anthone, the plan will have people with comorbidities under 65-years-old in multiple groups.
"I think in our discussions and we discussed this all the time amongst our team is that the main ones are people that are immunosuppressed. So the main comorbidities would be patients that might have cancer that are on chemotherapy or on medications for immunosuppression, such as transplant patients," Anthone said.
He added that another group would include people that are on dialysis and a third group would be of people who have pulmonary issues.
"Another group would be patients that are on dialysis, so chronic renal, and then the third group would be, you know, patients that might have pulmonary issues that would have difficulty, if they didn't need to go on a ventilator getting off the ventilator," he explained.
Anthone also said that there are more comorbidities that they are considering, but these are "the ones [they] probably focus on first."