March 12, 2024 |
Photo – Child being immunized – Courtesy istock.com
COVID is on the decline, the county public health officer told commissioners last week, but flu and measles cases are climbing.
During the Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Carbon County Health Officer Dr. Duane Ables said COVID is still a lingering threat. However, Dr. Ables said the latest Omicron strain of COVID, known as EG.5 or Eris, is not as deadly as previous strains. The county health officer said the most recent round of COVID vaccines have proven to be effective at warding off the newest variation of the virus.
Dr. Ables said flu cases are increasing, with influenza type B now surpassing the more virulent type A variant.
During his regularly scheduled meeting with Wyoming Public Health, Dr. Ables said he was informed that 15 states have reported measles cases. The county health officer said the number of measles diagnoses is higher than average.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of March 7, 2024, a total of 45 measles cases were reported by 17 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. Wyoming has not had a reported case of measles since 2010.
Dr. Ables blamed the high number of measles cases on declining vaccination rates. The county health officer said people appear to have forgotten how dangerous measles can be. Dr. Ables suggested parents continue to vaccinate their children against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Dr. Ables said parents who choose not to vaccinate their children against measles are relying on herd immunity to keep their kids safe. Dr. Ables said herd immunity requires a 95% vaccination rate to be effective. The county health officer said only 87 to 90 percent of Wyoming residents have taken the MMR vaccine.
Dr. Ables said he is concerned about certain bills under consideration by the Wyoming state legislature. The county health officer said he opposed a a bill in the House that would have prohibited mask and vaccine testing discrimination. According to the index of legislation at this year’s session, HB 59, sponsored by Representative Jeanette Ward of Casper, never made it out of the House this session. The legislation was co-sponsored by 13 other state lawmakers. Dr. Ables said children should be required to be vaccinated before entering public school.
Commissioner Garrett Irene asked Dr. Ables which vaccines children should be required to have before being enrolled in school. The county health officer said polio and pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, are still deadly diseases. Dr. Ables said kids should continue to be mandated to receive the standard eight vaccinations.
Also under consideration during the Wyoming state legislative session is Wyoming House Bill HB 0115. The bill states that blood donors must disclose whether they have received a COVID‑19 or messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine in their lifetime. If so, their blood must be “conspicuously marked.”
Dr. Ables said House Bill 0115 will increase the cost and time required to get donated blood to a patient. The Wyoming House did not consider the legislation during the session.
Commissioner John Johnson agreed. Commissioner Johnson said he thinks that vaccination is an individual choice, but in an emergency, a person cannot be picky about the type of blood they receive during a transfusion.
Again, the bill did not survive the session and never made it to the floor. However, the language of the bill did leave the decision-making power with the recipient of the blood transfusion in non-emergency situations.
Dr. Ables encouraged everyone to get vaccinated and donate blood.
