Managing Director of Health, Jason Chessher, provided a COVID-19 update at the Monday, Dec. 6, Garland City Council work session.
According to Chessher, 20,774 Garland residents have received their first dose vaccine; 18,863 have received the second dose; 3,587 have received the third. The number of pediatric first doses given is 1,015. The number of pediatric second doses given is 395.
The vaccine numbers have increased over the last week. Chessher believes that it was because of the Omicron variant as well as boosters becoming available to everyone over 18-years-old. He also said that vaccine events at GISD campuses have been “fairly successful.”
The number of new cases from Nov. 28 – Dec. 4 was 211 and there was one additional death. The number of cases doubled over the previous week, but Chessher noted that it was likely because it was Thanksgiving week.
Garland has now surpassed 40,000 total cases. Of those, 315 are currently active. Chessher added that the number of deaths is decreasing week by week.
Omicron variant
As of Dec. 6, the number of states with confirmed cases of the variant was 18. Chessher said that early indications are that it might be more contagious than the Delta variant. However, it may be less severe. It’s early, though, and a few more weeks are needed to gather definite information.
Vaccinated versus non-vaccinated
Since February 2021, when people could be fully vaccinated, the total number of confirmed cases is 14,933. 94% of those occurred in unvaccinated residents. 6% were fully vaccinated – which equals 920 breakthrough cases. 15% of hospitalizations were fully vaccinated residents. Of 284 fatalities since Feb. 2021, 7% were vaccine breakthrough cases. Of the breakthrough fatalities, 21 of 23 were in people with underlying conditions. Two people who were in good health and had been fully vaccinated died.
Chesher said that is a good indication of how the vaccine is working. He added that it protects from the disease in general and helps cases to be less severe for vaccinated people.
“It’s extremely rare for a person in good health and fully vaccinated to succumb to COVID-19,” he said.