Coronavirus: Information & Preparedness

What We Know

Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants persist. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic.

Viruses constantly change and become more diverse. Scientists monitor these changes, including changes to the spikes on the surface of the virus. By carefully studying viruses, scientists can learn how changes to the virus might affect how it spreads and how sick people will get from it.

If you think about a virus like a tree growing and branching out; each branch on the tree is slightly different than the others. By comparing the branches, scientists can label them according to the differences. These small differences, or variants, have been studied and identified since the beginning of the pandemic.

Some variations allow the virus to spread more easily or make it resistant to treatments or vaccines. Those variants must be monitored more carefully.

B.1.617.2 (Delta): This variant was first detected in the United States in March 2021.  It was initially identified in India in December 2020.

These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on healthcare resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.

So far, studies suggest that the current authorized vaccines work on the circulating variants. Scientists will continue to study these and other variants.

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COVID-19 vaccinations are now available to everyone 16 years and older in Utah. While information about the vaccines has been spreading rapidly, not all of the information is correct. Here are seven facts you should know about the vaccines:

1. COVID-19 vaccines don’t give you COVID-19

2. Although they were developed quickly,
the COVID-19 vaccines are safe

3. The COVID-19 vaccines may protect you against more than one strain of the virus

4. COVID-19 vaccines don’t change your DNA

5. COVID-19 vaccines have not been linked to infertility or miscarriage

6. COVID-19 vaccines don’t contain microchips or tracking devices

7. If you have a chronic disease or condition, you should get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

8. COVID-19 vaccines are now available to individuals with medical conditions or disabilities that make leaving home to be vaccinated an impossible challenge. Click here to fill out an at-home vaccination form.

Learn more here.

How Utah gets vaccines

“The state orders vaccine doses through the CDC each week against an allotment that is determined by our state’s percentage of the adult U.S. population.

The federal government has a separate contract with CVS and Walgreen’s to administer vaccines in long-term care facilities.”

Where vaccines are going

“Our highest priority has always been to save lives, so vaccines are going to those at highest risk first. That includes hospital and healthcare workers, first responders, teachers, people in long-term care facilities and people over the age of 70.

Local health departments are using their doses much faster than some of our other partners. Local health departments have had practice with mass vaccinations and are consistently administering all of their doses within 7 days of receiving them.”

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The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) is offering free rapid antigen testing at many locations throughout the state of Utah. Sites are chosen based on high positivity rates, fewer tests conducted, untreated wastewater sampling, and other surveillance data. Some locations will be drive-through while others will be conducted in buildings. We encourage everyone to continue to wear masks and social distance while waiting in lines.

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It is common to have mild or moderate symptoms or side effects after they get a vaccination. Symptoms you may have after getting the COVID-19 vaccine include:

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“The Utah Department of Health organized a workgroup made up of health professionals throughout the state (called the Utah Prioritization Workgroup) to develop recommendations for how to prioritize vaccination groups on the state and local level. Their final recommendations, called Utah’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, are based on current information about COVID-19 vaccines, state and local data, vaccine storage capability of facilities, and guidance from the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The Strategic Vaccination Coalition is also providing feedback to the Utah Department of Health on how to prioritize limited supplies of the vaccine.”

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“Following weeks of continued stress on Utah’s hospital networks due to a rise in cases of COVID-19, Gov. Gary R. Herbert has declared a new State of Emergency to address hospital overcrowding.”

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