Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
To date, Med Center Health has provided more than 105,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses across our region. We remain committed to keeping our communities safe during the pandemic. The vaccine and boosters are available at several Med Center Health locations. Please do your part to protect yourself and those you love – get vaccinated; and if you are vaccinated, get boosted. Learn more.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 6 months and older and boosters for everyone 5 years and older, if eligible. Use CDC’s COVID-19 booster tool to learn if and when your child or teen can get boosters to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.
The CDC recommends vaccination for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19. Learn more at CDC.gov.
COVID-19 Booster Shot
For most people, the CDC recommends that ages 12 and older should get a booster shot when they are 5 months after their initial Pfizer series; 18 years and older 5 months after Moderna series; or 2 months after their initial J&J vaccine. Learn more and if you are eligible at CDC.gov. Pfizer-BioNTech Booster shots are available at Med Center Health COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic by appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Additional Booster shot for immunocompromised persons
The CDC has recently updated its recommendations regarding a booster shot for moderately-to-severe immunocompromised persons. Talk to your doctor to see if a booster is appropriate for you. More information is available at CDC.gov.
I’ve gotten tested. Now what?
According to the CDC, there are three key steps to take while you are waiting for the results of your COVID test: Stay home and monitor your health; think about the people you have recently been around; and answer the phone call from the health department if you get one. See more.
Kentucky COVID-19 Hotline (800) 722-5725
The COVID-19 hotline is a service operated by the healthcare professionals at the KY Poison Control Center who can provide advice and answer questions. Please be patient as they are handling a high volume of calls and want to give everyone the time they deserve. For general information, please review this web page or the kycovid19.ky.gov website prior to calling the hotline.
CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccines for Young Children
CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that all children 6 months through 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This expands eligibility for vaccination to nearly 20 million additional children and means that all Americans ages 6 months and older are now eligible for vaccination.
See MoreSee MoreCDC Updates and Shortens Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period for General Population
Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after.
See MoreSee MoreOmicron Variant: What You Need to Know
CDC is working with state and local public health officials to monitor the spread of Omicron. As of December 20, 2021, Omicron has been detected in most states and territories and is rapidly increasing the proportion of COVID-19 cases it is causing.
See MoreSee MoreCDC Expands COVID-19 Booster Recommendations
Local COVID News
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Combat COVID
- World Health Organization
- Kentucky Department of Health/Cabinet for Health and Family Services
- Barren River District Health Department
- Barren River District Health Department COVID-19 Hotline – 270-781-8039.
- Office of Governor Andy Beshear COVID-19 Updates
- Patient Education Institute – free educational information about COVID-19 in multiple languages.
Follow us on social media for Updates on COVID-19
Connie Smith, Med Center Health President and CEO, on Twitter
