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Burlington, Vt. (WCX) – Coughs and sneezes can be heard throughout Vermont’s schools and workplaces, but experts say that’s not all that’s going around with Covid. Our Alexandra Montgomery spoke with Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine about what’s happening and what’s to come in the fight against the coronavirus.
First, an update on the spread of Covid in Vermont. Levine says the community’s prevalence is low. And although there has been some upswing in the hospital, not everyone in the hospital is because of Covid, he said.
“Maybe 50% is actually the high end, maybe less than 50% are for COVID,” Levine said.
And not cleaning classrooms.
“The fact of the matter is, we’re not dealing with classroom closings, school closings,” Levine said.
Not all coughs are COVID. According to Dr. Levin, there are several upper respiratory viruses such as RSV that are currently circulating.
“In the New England region, there has been a significant increase in hospitalizations for children with respiratory viruses, and again, most of them are not COVID,” he explained.
Right now, pediatricians’ offices are busy giving kids vaccinations against things like the flu and Covid. Levin said that we are leading the country in having 20% ​​of children under the age of 5 receive at least one covid vaccine.
“It may not seem like much, but the country is under 5%,” he said.
Next on the list is a covid booster for kids 5-11. Levin said they have already ordered those shots and could have them approved by next month.
It recommends that children get the Covid vaccinations and boosters available, and pediatricians across the state want this to be included in children’s routine immunization schedules.
“We have data showing that children still get prolonged exposure to Covid and are at risk of complications from Covid, and we have a lot of data to show that the vaccine is safe,” Levine said.
Meanwhile, adults can get their dual boosters at doctors’ offices and pharmacies across the state, and get more Moderna vaccines now that the manufacturer’s issue has been fixed.
“We’re up to 27,000, so that’s actually been 1,000 doses a day since we were able to start,” Levin said.
Click here for more information about Covid-19 from the Vermont Department of Health.
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