Tag: Update

  • Local health care systems provide update on compliance with NYS COVID-19 vaccine mandate

    Local health care systems provide update on compliance with NYS COVID-19 vaccine mandate

    BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Regional wellbeing treatment units have furnished an update on compliance with the New York State COVID-19 vaccine mandate for well being care employees.

    In August, previous New York Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all health treatment workers in the condition.

    In early October, a federal choose dominated the condition experienced to make it possible for wellbeing care staff to find exemptions as a lawsuit challenging the necessity proceeded in court docket.

    In late Oct, a federal appeals panel upheld the state’s vaccine mandate for overall health treatment workers and reversed the federal judge’s choice.

    In November, the New York State Section of Well being despatched a letter to well being care suppliers throughout the state that explained starting November 22, those who ended up previously granted religious exemptions had been necessary to have documentation of a very first dose COVID-19 vaccination or a valid health-related exemption.

    Monday evening, Catholic Wellness and Kaleida Wellbeing provided updates on compliance with the mandate.

    Catholic Wellbeing said about 185 associates, or less than 2{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the workforce, stay unvaccinated.

    “Any unvaccinated Catholic Wellness associate coated underneath the vaccine mandate who has not obtained a health-related exemption or deferral, is remaining terminated based on the needs of the condition mandate,” a launch says.

    We carried out an aggressive training marketing campaign, which include having our infectious disease specialists and other vaccine advocates go device-to-unit and office-to-section to deal with any questions or fears our personnel experienced about the COVID-19 vaccine. Dozens of men and women were being vaccinated in the previous week by yourself, and we are grateful to all those who stepped up to shield by themselves and our patients and extended-phrase care inhabitants.

    – William Pryor, Catholic Wellness Executive Vice President & Main Administrative Officer

    Kaleida Health and fitness explained it terminated 100 workers Monday who ended up earlier granted a spiritual exemption and selected not to get an initial vaccination dose by the NYS deadline of December 5. Combined with the November deadline, Kaleida Wellness stated it has terminated around 200 personnel in full because of to the mandate.

    “Kaleida Health intends to continue being open and provide entry to solutions throughout the business. We continue to increase means and submit positions so that we can go on to be there for the group,” a release claims.

    Owing to the reduction in workforce which led to a reduction of staffed beds, and a rise in COVID-19 circumstances, Kaleida Overall health is suspending non-necessary elective inpatient surgeries at Buffalo Standard Healthcare Middle and Millard Fillmore Suburban Healthcare facility.

    We keep on to consult with our doctor leadership as well as surgical leadership teams to handle the quantity of elective inpatient surgeries on a each day basis that demand an right away remain. This will guarantee that, as a well being technique, we are appropriately controlling affected individual treatment and local community need amid this current surge in COVID-19 scenarios.

    – Dr. Michael Mineo, main clinical officer for Buffalo Basic Healthcare Center and Millard Fillmore Suburban Healthcare facility

    7 Eyewitness News reached out to ECMC for remark on compliance with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, we have not listened to back. In September, ECMC declared it put around 7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of its full workforce on unpaid depart as a outcome of the vaccine mandate.

  • Update on Vaccine Mandates for Businesses, Health Workers and Federal Contractors

    Update on Vaccine Mandates for Businesses, Health Workers and Federal Contractors

    Hundreds of thousands of wellbeing care employees throughout the U.S. were meant to have their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday, Dec. 6 below a mandate issued by President Joe Biden’s administration. Thanks to legal problems, they won’t have to get worried about it, at least for now.

    Same goes for a Jan. 4 deadline established by the administration for organizations with at the very least 100 workers to make sure their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly for the virus.

    Judges responding to lawsuits brought by Republican-led states, companies and other opponents have blocked some of Biden’s most sweeping initiatives meant to travel up vaccination fees. A lot of other legal issues are pending, contesting the Democratic president’s vaccine specifications for federal employees and contractors and members of the navy, as perfectly as mask needs for people applying community transportation.

    Far more than four-fifths of grown ups nationwide previously have obtained at the very least a person dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But Biden contends his numerous workforce vaccine mandates are an essential step in curtailing the virus, which has killed more than 780,000 folks in the U.S.

    Opponents have taken a three-tiered technique to complicated Biden’s requirements. In lawsuits, they contend the vaccine mandates ended up imposed with no correct community remark, were not authorized by Congress and infringe on states’ rights to control general public overall health matters.

    “The reasoning throughout the instances is in essence the identical, which is that these statutes never give the president or the company in query the authority to situation the mandates,” mentioned Gregory Magarian, a constitutional law professor at Washington College in St. Louis.

    The Biden administration contends its rule-creating authority is agency and supersedes any point out policies prohibiting vaccine needs. The latest working experience reveals that these mandates commonly prompt individuals to get vaccinated. By the time a Biden need for federal staff to be vaccinated took influence previous month, 92{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} experienced gained at least their very first dose of the shot.

    Pursuing is a rundown of some of Biden’s most sweeping vaccine requirements and the status of the authorized fights above them.

    Significant Organization MANDATE

    What it would do: Below a rule released by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Nov. 5, organizations with 100 or additional workers are to demand workforce to be vaccinated. If they are not, they would have to have to be analyzed weekly and wear masks though operating, with exceptions for those who work alone or primarily outdoor. The rule was to go into result Jan. 4. The prerequisite would have an effect on firms with a cumulative 84 million workers, and OSHA projected it could preserve 6,500 lives and stop 250,000 hospitalizations around 6 months.

    Who’s tough it: The necessity is currently being challenged by 27 Republican-led state governments additionally conservative and business teams and some particular person companies. The states mostly filed lawsuits in groups, however Indiana challenged it on your own. Their arguments include things like that it’s the career of states, not the federal governing administration, to offer with general public wellbeing actions. The Biden administration maintains that the measure is lawful. Some labor unions also contested the rule, nevertheless not for the same causes as the Republicans and business group. They say it does not go much enough to defend personnel.

    Wherever it stands: The rule is on maintain. A working day right after states challenged the rule, a panel of 3 judges in the New Orleans-centered 5th U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals blocked it. At initial, it was a temporary suspension, then a much more permanent 1. The lawful difficulties originally ended up submitted in a variety of U.S. appeals courts. The situations subsequently had been consolidated into a courtroom that was selected at random, the Cincinnati-dependent 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

    What’s next: The Biden administration is inquiring the 6th Circuit to set apart the buy from the 5th Circuit and permit the vaccine requirement. In the meantime, OSHA has suspended implementation of the rule. Teams that are suing want the issues decided by all the judges on the 6th Circuit rather than a panel of just some of them.

    Health and fitness Worker MANDATE

    What it would do:: Beneath a rule posted by the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid on Nov. 5, a huge vary of health and fitness treatment vendors that get federal Medicare or Medicaid funding were to call for employees to acquire the to start with dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. The rule would affect much more than 17 million personnel in about 76,000 well being care facilities and household health care companies.

    Who’s hard it: The rule was challenged in 4 individual lawsuits filed by Republican-led states, generally in groups. Florida and Texas mounted their personal difficulties. The states argued that there have been no grounds for an crisis rule, that CMS experienced no very clear lawful authority to difficulty the mandate and that the rule infringes on states’ tasks.

    In which it stands: The rule is on keep. A Missouri-based federal choose issued a preliminary injunction Monday barring its enforcement in 10 states that experienced initially sued. The following day, a Louisiana-centered federal decide also issued a preliminary injunction barring enforcement in the rest of the states.

    What’s subsequent: Both equally court rulings are becoming appealed by the Biden administration. The circumstance filed in Missouri is remaining viewed as by the St. Louis-dependent 8th U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals. The case submitted in Louisiana, which was introduced by a coalition of 14 states, is currently being regarded by the 5th Circuit. So considerably, there is been no move to consolidate the problems in a solitary courtroom.

    FEDERAL CONTRACTOR MANDATE

    What would it do: Below an government purchase issued by Biden on Sept. 9, contractors and subcontractors for the federal governing administration are demanded to comply with place of work security recommendations developed by a federal undertaking drive. That task force on Sept. 24 issued suggestions requiring that new, renewed or prolonged contracts incorporate a clause necessitating workforce to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8. That deadline for full vaccination subsequently was delayed until eventually Jan. 18. There are restricted exceptions for professional medical or religions causes. The needs could apply to thousands and thousands of workforce.

    Who’s challenging it: The rules have been challenged via far more than a dozen lawsuits, which includes seven brought by Republican-led states or coalitions of states. The arguments are related to people in opposition to other vaccine mandates, asserting the Biden administration exceeded the procurement rule-earning powers granted by Congress, infringed on states’ tasks and didn’t correctly acquire public comment.

    Wherever it stands: A federal choose in Kentucky issued a preliminary injuncting Tuesday barring enforcement of the vaccine prerequisite for contractors in 3 states that collectively sued _ Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. Judges in Mississippi and Washington point out have declined to block the requirements the question is pending in advance of other courts.

    What is future: Authorized worries pending in various other states could direct to more court rulings this month on requests for injunctions. The Kentucky ruling also could be appealed. Barring a nationwide courtroom purchase, there could be a patchwork of requirements for contractors dependent on the states exactly where they do the job.

    A swift consolidation of the federal contractor lawsuits appears not likely.

    Matters
    Medical Skilled Liability
    Contractors

  • Public Health Officials update COVID-19 Recommendations to K-12 Schools

    Public Health Officials update COVID-19 Recommendations to K-12 Schools

    The Division of Public Overall health is issuing updated recommendations for this academic calendar year centered on the continued climb in COVID-19 cases and the value of the community’s health and fitness and wellness, specially that of pupils, academics and school staff members.

    As a reminder, community educational facilities are matter to observe procedures from their school board and from the Texas Education and learning Agency. Personal educational facilities also abide by principles and regulations from their governing board and take into consideration the Department of Community Wellbeing recommendations to figure out their greatest training course of action.

    “We keep on to collaborate closely with educational facilities, community and private, giving up to date tips that will allow students, lecturers and staff members to be safe and nutritious when at university,” stated City-County Well being Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza.

    “Our local community is experiencing a surge of conditions among people who are unvaccinated and rising number of people are requiring hospitalization due to COVID-19 issues. What is more regarding is that a huge share of new COVID-19 cases are uncovered in youngsters -18 decades of age. In-college transmission of the COVID-19 virus is imminent, and we require to keep on stopping the distribute by continuing to observe avoidance this sort of as employing a facial area address, working towards social distancing, and making it a pattern to regularly wash your arms.”

    Ocaranza said vaccination towards COVID-19 is the foundation of all preventative actions and strongly suggested that all eligible individuals get vaccinated or full their immunization agenda.

    For these 18 decades of age and more mature who have completed their immunization routine it is also strongly proposed to receive a booster dose of the vaccine at least 6 months just after the previous vaccine dose if you been given the Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

    Men and women who acquired the Jannsen/J&J shot can obtain their booster 2 months immediately after the vaccine dose.

    Officials strongly proposed that college students, lecturers, and workers put on deal with coverings while indoors.

    “Because an infected particular person can transmit the COVID-19 virus to many others before showing any symptoms, maintaining a person’s nose and mouth coated is needed to support gradual the unfold of the virus inside of educational facilities and all through the neighborhood,” health officials extra.

    The up to date suggestions, which are issue to revisions, can be observed at EPStrong.org under the “Orders” tab and the new current recommendations notably focuses on masks, vaccinations, and holiday break occasions.  Additional COVID-19 information can also be found at EPStrong.org.

    For a lot more details on COVID-19 vaccine or web pages, visit EPCOVIDVaccine.com.

  • An alternative medicine’s expansion beyond the Himalayas

    An alternative medicine’s expansion beyond the Himalayas

    When 51-yr-aged Bishwa Nath Oli visited Swayambhu’s department of Phende Clinic in February this yr, he wasn’t completely confident of what to hope. At the time, Oli experienced from unpleasant gout triggered by high uric acid levels, a healthcare situation that he experienced for just about ten many years. Just after seeking different treatment method strategies to stabilise his uric acid levels and failing to do so, Oli’s buddy proposed checking out Phende Clinic and consulting with Dr Tenjing Dharke Gurung, Alternative Medicine.

    “After various consultations with Dr Tenjing and having his medicines for pretty much 6 months, my uric acid stabilised, and my pain was totally absent,” mentioned Oli in the course of a single of his regular visits to the clinic a couple of months in the past. “Since the treatment method wholly worked on me, I have been suggesting close friends and family members who put up with from identical wellbeing ailments to stop by Phende Clinic and give Sowa Rigpa a check out.”

    Sowa Rigpa is a traditional clinical method that dates again more than 2,000 several years and is seriously affected by Buddhist philosophy. Sowa Rigpa healers are customarily known as amchis, but several of them these times use the title medical professional prior to their names. In certain mountainous districts of Nepal and India, the clinical technique is superior recognized as the ‘Amchi process of medicine’. Even though in several areas of the entire world, it is better recognized as traditional Tibetan medication. Aside from Nepal’s mountainous districts, Sowa Rigpa, normally translated into English as ‘the science of healing’, is broadly practised in India, Bhutan, China, and Mongolia.

    For hundreds of years, for the people residing in Nepal’s mountainous districts, this professional medical process was the only accessible health care technique. But in the very last few many years, as additional persons from the region commenced migrating to towns like Kathmandu and Pokhara in the hopes of far better employment and training opportunities, a handful of Sowa Rigpa clinics started off operating in these cities to cater to the diaspora. In the previous couple of a long time, however, the amount of Sowa Rigpa clinics in these towns has improved, but a substantial number of clients that these clinics cater to are from communities that did not traditionally rely on the professional medical technique.

    The very first registered Sowa Rigpa clinic in the region was Kunphen Ausadhalaya, established in 1973 and positioned in Chhetrapati, Kathmandu.

    “The royal palace invited renowned Amchi Kunsang Phentok to Kathmandu to treat the then King Tribhuwan who was suffering from chronic liver ailment. Amchi Kunsang productively treated the late king, and which is how the initial registered Sowa Rigpa clinic in the country came into becoming,” explained Dr Nyima Tsering Nepali, who is just one of the two Sowa Rigpa doctors at present working at Kunphen Ausadhalaya. “In these days, the the greater part of individuals who came to our clinic ended up Kathmandu’s elites and individuals linked with the royal palace and people today from Nepal’s mountainous districts who had migrated to Kathmandu. But a large amount has transformed in the very last couple a long time. These days, folks from throughout the country and foreigners residing in Nepal visit our clinic.”

    Sowa Rigpa physicians like Dr Gurung and Dr Nepali are educated to diagnose individuals employing a variety of diagnostic methods. “Some of the most widespread procedures Sowa Rigpa doctors use to analyse patients are by analyzing their pulse, tongue, and urine,” claimed Dr Gurung. “The medicines are all made employing goods that are found in character and subsequent the system’s generations-old custom.”

    It was 2012 when Dr Gurung founded Phende Clinic in Swoyambhu. For the 1st two years, most of his sufferers have been persons from the indigenous communities of Nepal’s mountainous districts. Every single the moment in a whilst, says Dr Gurung, folks from other communities would appear to the clinic searching for health care.

    “But a great deal has modified in the last handful of years. At my clinic in Swoyambhu, I see an regular of 80 clients, and all-around 70 percent of them are from communities in the hills and Tarai location of the state, each of which did not historically rely on Sowa Rigpa,” claimed Dr Gurung.

    This rising acceptance of Sowa Rigpa as a medical procedure amid individuals from across the place inspired Dr Gurung to open branches of Phende in Dharan, Jhapa, Syangja, and Pokhara.

    Section of the rationale the clinical process has been steadily getting popularity seems to be its efficacy and affordability. Saraswati Rashmi Shakya, a college student of Buddhist Studies, particulars her practical experience with Sowa Rigpa above 4 several years with The Article as “I had a harrowing issue of thyroid for which I sought treatment from a number of hospitals all over Kathmandu. The medications that I had been approved simply just exacerbated my psychological condition, as I would often experience down and dejected just after having it. Until, of course, I identified Sowa Rigpa, and it substantially enhanced my situation. While I had to be individual with the general course of action, it was unquestionably well worth it in the finish.” Shakya statements to have been introduced to this practice by 1 of her buddies finding out to grow to be an amchi in India. Her remedy, nonetheless, began at Chhetrapati’s Gentlemen-Tsee-Khang, which operates various branches of Sowa Rigpa clinics in Nepal. The main Sowa Rigpa medical doctor of Males-Tsee-Khang’s Chhetrapati branch is Dr Dhindup Tsering Tamang Lama (Daniel).

    Dr Daniel started out his exercise in 2018 right after graduating from Gentlemen-Tsee-Khang (Sowa-Rigpa) Tibetan Medical and Astro School in Himachal Pradesh, India. All a few doctors the Article talked to for the tale analyzed Sowa Rigpa in India.

    Until eventually 2016, Nepal did not have a focused university-affiliated Sowa Rigpa university and that’s the purpose why, say Sowa Rigpa medical professionals the Post talked to, several went to examine at Sowa Rigpa institutes in India.

    “We knew that if we had been to protect and advertise Sowa Rigpa in Nepal, it is essential to have a focused federal government-recognised instructional institute in the country so Nepal can generate experienced and very well-experienced Sowa Rigpa health professionals proper here in the region. Right after yrs of really hard work, Sowa Rigpa Worldwide College, an affiliate of Lumbini Buddhist University, opened in February 2016. It is the only institute in Nepal to supply a Bachelor’s degree in Sowa Rigpa Medication [BSM],” claimed Dr Gurung, who also serves as the college’s director.

    In accordance to Dr Nepali, who serves as the higher education principal, the institute has been ready to bring in worldwide pupils from Bhutan, Finland, India, Spain, and England. “In the past, only persons from Himalayan communities would research to turn into Sowa Rigpa health professionals, but this is no for a longer time the case. We not only have worldwide students but also nearby college students from non-Himalayan neighborhood backgrounds. This is an encouraging sign,” explained Dr Nepali. “The university is a not-for-earnings organisation and the most important purpose is to present excellent instruction to our college students. We also deliver attractive scholarships to deserving pupils. For the first 4 and a 50 percent several years, our learners go through arduous academic coaching, and in the remaining calendar year, they intern at recognised Sowa Rigpa clinics.”

    Even so, the term-of-mouth publicity that served proliferate Sowa Rigpa, as properly as its usefulness, has actually bolstered its believability and overall reputation.

    Even though Sowa Rigpa has permeated further than the Himalayan communities of Nepal only in the very last couple many years, it is nicely worthy of noting that this custom had taken root in the Western environment a long time before. This procedure of medication has also pervaded many sections of India above the past two decades. With the Indian federal government bolstering the infrastructures by incorporating Sowa Rigpa in just educational establishments and hospitals, this practice has steadily been making its way into the mainstream.

    Stewart Mushet, a Scottish based mostly in Malaysia, who sought Sowa Rigpa procedure through a friend’s referral, urges absolutely everyone to strategy it with an open up head. “People normally tend to understand organic treatment as becoming like an antithesis to Western medicines. I would strongly recommend anybody in search of Sowa Rigpa to break out of that binary contemplating. You can follow your clinically recommended medicines when at the same time getting Sowa Rigpa medicines as properly,” explained Mushet. “Sowa Rigpa is not a competitiveness towards Western medications, but rather a complementary treatment method.”

    At his clinic in Chhetrapati, Dr Nepali sees dozens of people daily. “The greater part of the people who appear to our clinic are all those with persistent non-communicable disorders this sort of as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, arthritis, etcetera. Supplied that Sowa Rigpa clinics have never promoted their services, it surprises me to see people from these varied components of the state come and seek professional medical treatment method at our clinic. Those from economically marginalised backgrounds can also get free-of-value medical care at our clinic if they furnish a letter from the area authorities stating their circumstance,” mentioned Dr Nepali. “As Sowa Rigpa medical professionals, we are experienced to look at our occupation as an altruistic endeavour exactly where the most important objective is to relieve people’s sufferings, which is the main of Buddha’s teachings. As the folks of the land the place Buddha was born, we ought to shield and market this one of a kind professional medical technique.”

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  • EP Public Health Officials update COVID-19 recommendations for K-12 Schools

    EP Public Health Officials update COVID-19 recommendations for K-12 Schools

    Universities, Neighborhood Urged to Proceed Wellness Protocols

    Posted:
    Current:

    AP Photo/LM Otero

    EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Friday afternoon, officials with the El Paso Department of General public Well being issued updated recommendations for this educational year.

    Officials “strongly advised that learners, lecturers, and team put on deal with coverings whilst indoors.” They extra that their tips were being dependent on the “continued climb in COVID-19 conditions and the relevance of the community’s wellness and wellness, especially that of college students, academics and school workers.”

    Wellbeing officers shared that, mainly because an infected man or woman can transmit the COVID-19 virus to many others in advance of demonstrating any signs, maintaining a person’s nose and mouth covered is important to help gradual the spread of the virus inside of faculties and during the local community.

    For a specific list of tips for elementary, center university and significant college students see “Orders” posted at EPStrong.org.

    Officers did position out, even so, that general public schools are topic to follow policies from their faculty board and from the Texas Instruction Company.

    Personal colleges also abide by policies and rules from their governing board and take into consideration the Section of General public Well being recommendations to ascertain their very best system of motion.

    “We continue to collaborate intently with schools, public and personal, giving current tips that will make it possible for pupils, instructors and staff to be safe and sound and nutritious while at school,” mentioned Town-County Wellness Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza.

    “Our local community is dealing with a surge of circumstances between these who are unvaccinated and raising quantity of persons are demanding hospitalization owing to COVID-19 troubles.

    What is a lot more regarding is that a large share of new COVID-19 scenarios are found in little ones -18 several years of age. In-faculty transmission of the COVID-19 virus is imminent, and we want to carry on blocking the spread by continuing to observe prevention these as employing a encounter protect, training social distancing, and building it a pattern to frequently wash your palms.”

    Town-County Health and fitness Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza.

    Ocaranza explained vaccination in opposition to COVID-19 is the basis of all preventative actions and strongly advisable that all qualified persons get vaccinated or comprehensive their immunization timetable.

    For individuals 18 yrs of age and older who have finished their immunization timetable, officials say it is also strongly proposed to obtain a booster dose of the vaccine at least 6 months just after the previous vaccine dose if they been given the Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

    Folks who obtained the Jannsen/J&J shot can obtain their booster 2 months just after the vaccine dose.

    The up to date suggestions, which officers say are subject to revisions, can be found at EPStrong.org under the “Orders” tab and the new updated recommendations specifically focuses on masks, vaccinations, and vacation functions.

    For far more facts on COVID-19 vaccine or web sites, go to EPCOVIDVaccine.com

    For local and breaking information, sports activities, climate alerts, video clip and additional, download the Absolutely free KTSM 9 Information Application from the Apple Application Shop or the Google Participate in Retail outlet.

  • Indiana Department of Health COVID-19 update

    Indiana Department of Health COVID-19 update

    Posted:
    Updated:

    Indiana COVID-19 update

    (File/Getty)

    INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Health reported 5,653 new positive coronavirus cases Thursday.

    The health department also reported 27 additional deaths in its latest update.

    The agency’s dashboard puts the state’s 7-day all-test positivity rate at 12.7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} with a rate of 23.6{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} positive for unique individuals. The delta variant was responsible for 90.9{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of samples tested this month, according to state data.

    Dashboard data represents cases and deaths that occurred over a range of dates but were reported to the state in the last 24 hours, according to the Indiana Department of Health.

    The agency said 4,982 additional Hoosiers are now fully vaccinated. To date, 3,496,948 first doses of the two-dose vaccine have been administered and 3,446,898 individuals are fully vaccinated.

    The health department said the fully vaccinated number includes individuals who have received a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

    Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is now available for kids 5-11 after getting final approval from the CDC. Hoosiers 18 and over are eligible for a booster shot.

    • Indiana COVID update

    The County Metric map shows 67 in Orange, 7 in Yellow, 18 in Red and zero in Blue. The map is updated each Wednesday.

    The weekly score is determined by each county’s Weekly Cases Per 100,000 residents and its 7-Day All Test Positivity Rate.

    Since the start of the pandemic, the state has reported 1,107,189 total positive cases and 17,033 total deaths. There are also 588 probable COVID-19 deaths.

    The latest hospitalization numbers show 2,317 total COVID-19 patients: 2,080 confirmed and 237 under investigation.

    The department says 19{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of ICU beds and 70.3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of ventilators are available across the state.

    To schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, visit Ourshot.In.Gov or call 211 if you do not have access to a computer or require assistance.