You Had Some Questions About Covid. Here Are Some Answers. 

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

I wish very much that I could tell you that the Covid pandemic was over, and that we no longer had to worry about it into the future. But that would not be true.

The good news, however, is that as a result of vaccines and improved treatments the death rates and hospital admission rates from Covid today are far lower than they were at the height of the pandemic. Further, a great deal of research is now taking place to create new and better vaccines and treatments.

The bad news is that almost 500 Americans a day are still dying from Covid, over 40,000 are in hospitals, and many thousands every day test positive. As a nation we’ve lost over one million Americans to Covid.

Throughout the pandemic, while Vermont has had its ups and downs, we have been serious about acting responsibly and taking the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and others. Today, according to some reports, we have the lowest per capita rate in the country of new cases being reported. Further, we now have only 32 COVID cases in hospitals and 8 in ICUs.

But we should not forget for a moment that Vermonters are still getting sick from COVID. My grandson’s summer camp, for example, had to be shut down last week because of the number of cases it was experiencing among campers and counsellors.

I know that Vermonters have many questions about COVID. They want to know what is being done today to combat the pandemic, and what the future might hold. That is why I recently sat down with Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator. We wanted to answer your questions – submitted by Vermonters and people across the country – on where things stand with the pandemic and where we go from here.

If you weren’t able to tune in live, I hope you’ll take a moment to watch the discussion at the link here or below.

We’ve also compiled some helpful resources for you, your friends, and loved ones below. I encourage you to regularly check the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vermont Department of Health for updates on guidelines and best practices.

As always, if you know someone who might benefit from this information, please do not hesitate to forward this note to them.

We’ve been dealing with this pandemic for years now. And that’s difficult. No way around it. But we cannot give up and let our guard down. I know that together, we will get through this.

Sincerely,

Resources

Get Your Vaccine and Booster:

The best way to protect yourself and others against Covid-19 is to get vaccinated — and that includes booster shots. I know there has been some confusion as to who is eligible for booster shots, and how many booster shots to get. See here and below for more information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

• Getting Your Vaccine: Vermonters can register for an appointment or find locations offering the vaccine, here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/getting-covid-19-vaccine
  
  
• Children Ages 5-11: Vermont parents and caregivers can see if their child is eligible and can register them for a Covid-19 vaccine, here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/KidsVaccine
  
  
• Boosters: Vermonters can find out more about their eligibility, register for a booster appointment, or find locations offering boosters, here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine
  
  

Wearing a Mask? Wear a High-Quality Mask:

The scientific community has been very clear that wearing masks helps prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. It protects both those wearing the mask and those who are nearby. But research has also been very clear that not all masks are created equal.

• You can find locations for your local Community Health Center, here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/systems/health-professionals/dental-and-primary-care
  
  
• You can find a nearby pharmacy with free N95 masks, here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/free-masks.html
  
  

Get Tested:

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of Covid-19 is to get tested frequently. Vermonters can order free, at-home, rapid tests online from the federal government, which will be delivered directly through the U.S. Postal Service.

• To make your order, just go to: https://www.covidtests.gov/
  
  
• You can find more information, here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing/where-get-tested 

Therapeutics, Treatments, and Monitoring:

Some people are more likely to get very sick from Covid-19. If you are age 50 or older or have a medical condition that may put you at risk, reach out to your health care provider to ask about treatment as soon as you get a positive test result. By getting treatment, you could have less serious symptoms and may lower the chances of your illness getting worse and needing care in the hospital.

• Learn more about Covid-19 therapeutics, treatments, and medications, here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html
  
  
• Request a FREE Pulse Oximeter to help you monitor blood oxygen levels:
  • Learn more here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-treatment
  • Call to request: 802-863-7200, toll-free 800-464-4343
  • Or fill out this online form to request: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6704528/Vermont-Department-of-Health-Pulse-Oximeter-Request