COVID-19 Information

• 18+yrs old, 2 dose primary series. 28 days (4 weeks) between doses.
• People ages 18 years and older who received a Moderna primary series should get a booster shot at least 5 months after completing their primary series.
• A booster dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) is recommended in most situations.

• 18+ yrs old, 1 dose primary series.
• 18+ yrs old, booster recommended 2 months following the initial dose.
• Pfizer or Moderna are recommended for booster shots.

• First responders
  (healthcare workers, firefighters, police, congregate care staff)
• Education staff
  (teachers, support staff, daycare workers)
• Food and agriculture workers
• Manufactureing workers
• Corrections workers
• US Postal Service workers
• Public transit workers
• Grocery store workers

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood.
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection.
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress the immune response.
• Individuals should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic lung diseases
  (moderate-severe asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, COPD, damaged or scarred lung tissue such as interstitial lung disease *including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis*, cystic fibrosis with or without lung or other solid organ transplants, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension)
• Dementia or other neurological conditions
• Diabetes
  (type 1 or type 2)
• Down syndrome
• Heart conditions
  (heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, and possibly high blood pressure)
• HIV infection
• Immunocompromised state
• Mental health conditions
  (mood disorders including depression and schizophrenia spectrum disorders)
• Overweight and obesity
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
• Smoking, current or former
• Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
• Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
• Substance use disorders
• Tuberculosis

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Get Vaccinated

• Authorized COVID-19 vaccines can help protect you.
• Vaccines continue to reduce a person’s risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19, including this variant.
• Vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death, including against this variant.
• Fully vaccinated people with breakthrough infections from this variant appear to be infectious for a shorter period.
• Get vaccinated and wear masks indoors in public spaces to reduce the spread of this variant.

Wear a mask

• If you are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older, you should wear a mask in indoor public places. 
• In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings.
  • Unless you are in a crowded area and for activities with close contact with others. 
• People who have a weakened immune system.
• If you are fully vaccinated, in areas of substantial or high transmission.

Avoid crowds & poorly ventilated spaces

• Being in crowds like in restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters puts you at higher risk for COVID-19.
• Avoid indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors as much as possible.
• If indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible.

Wash your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• It’s especially important to wash:
  • Before eating or preparing food
  • Before touching your face
  • After using the restroom
  • After leaving a public place
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After handling your mask
  • After changing a diaper
  • After caring for someone sick
  • After touching animals or pets
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Use hand sanitizer when you can not wash your hands.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

Cover your coughs and sneezes
If you are wearing a mask: You can cough or sneeze into your mask. Put on a new, clean mask as soon as possible and wash your hands.

• If you are not wearing a mask:
  • Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
  • Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect your home and office

• Clean high-touch surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

Monitor your health for symptoms

• Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms.
• Take your temperature if symptoms develop.

COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouth. In some circumstances, they may contaminate surfaces they touch. People who are closer than 6 feet from the infected person are most likely to get infected.

COVID-19 is spread in three main ways:

• Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and particles that contain the virus.
• Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze.
• Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them.

Yes.

Masks are required in our facilities, whether you are a patient or visiting a loved one. You will also be screened upon arrival and we ask that you follow preventative protocols to keep from contracting and possibly spreading illness. We work safely to keep our staff and guests safe and your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

If you are sick and need testing, please call ahead and let our staff know. They will provide directions for you to follow upon arrival.

Mask- it’s the new four-letter word for some. While they are a bit of a nuisance, they can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 (and other illnesses) when used correctly.

For those concerned about masks and a little more about how they work: Cloth and surgical masks do not fit tightly across the face, so CO2 can escape into the air through the mask when you breathe out or talk. CO2 molecules are small enough to pass easily through mask material. However, the respiratory droplets that carry the virus that causes COVID-19 are much larger than CO2, so they cannot pass as easily through a properly designed and properly worn mask

The Delta variant causes more infections and spreads faster than earlier forms of the virus that causes COVID-19. It might cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated people. Vaccines are highly effective against severe illness, but the Delta variant causes more infections and spreads faster than earlier forms of the virus that causes COVID-19. 

• Vaccines continue to reduce a person’s risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19, including this variant.
• Vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death, including against this variant.
• Fully vaccinated people with breakthrough infections from this variant appear to be infectious for a shorter period.
• Get vaccinated and wear masks indoors in public spaces to reduce the spread of this variant.

Doctor’s Note | Dr. Avery Jeffers

The Delta variant has surpassed the Alpha variant as the dominant pathogen in the United States. Our vaccines were created against the Alpha variant and showed excellent efficacy. The numbers for the Delta Variant are not as well established, and the studies that have been performed are generally real-world studies which make it harder to control. 

From what we have seen, the Pfizer vaccine is about 80% effective, give or take 5%, depending on the study. However, that is not the whole story. The vaccines remain very good at preventing hospitalization and death. 

Multiple reports from the CDC and various health departments indicate hospitalizations among COVID infected patients are composed overwhelmingly of unvaccinated patients. 99% of covid deaths are amongst unvaccinated patients. Unvaccinated persons in the US represent less than 50% of the population. 

Vaccinations still work, but they do not work as well against variants. It is still possible to contract covid, especially the Delta variant, but it is doubtful that the disease process will be severe. Furthermore, the reason we have variants is the unchecked transmission among the unvaccinated. We believe the Delta variant started in India’s recent outbreak, which saw millions of people infected. Viral replication is not precision engineering; its mass production aims to create trillions of copies as fast as possible. Genomic errors will occur, some will be inviable, and some will be capable of out-competing the dominant strain. Vaccinations massively impede viral replication and the possibility of a new variant and unequivocally decrease the likelihood of death from COVID.

Boosters have been approved for all COVID-19 vaccine options. You can read more in the “Vaccine + Booster Option” drop down.

There is no universal answer for this.

Everyone is different from how severe their symptoms are to how they react to the vaccine. What works for one person is not guaranteed to work for you. Talk to your trusted primary care physician to discuss your options. They know the most about you, your health, and your health history to give you the best information that is best for you.

Who Should NOT Get Vaccinated

• If you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction, even if it was not severe, to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (such as polyethylene glycol), you should not get either of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
• If you had a severe or immediate allergic reaction after getting the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get a second dose of either of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
• A severe allergic reaction is one that needs to be treated with epinephrine or EpiPen or with medical care. 
• An immediate allergic reaction means a reaction within 4 hours of exposure, including symptoms such as hives, swelling, or wheezing (respiratory distress)

Adverse Effects as reported by CDC:

Anaphylaxis after COVID-19 vaccination is rare and has occurred in approximately 2 to 5 people per million vaccinated in the United States. Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can occur after any vaccination. If this occurs, vaccination providers can effectively and immediately treat the reaction. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.

Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccination is rare. As of July 6, 2021, more than 12.6 million doses of the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine have been given in the United States. CDC and FDA identified 38 confirmed reports of people who got the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine and later developed TTS. Women younger than 50 years old especially should be aware of the rare but increased risk of this adverse event. There are other COVID-19 vaccine options available for which this risk has not been seen. 

To date, two confirmed cases of TTS following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Moderna) have been reported to VAERS after more than 318 million doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines administered in the United States. Based on available data, there is not an increased risk for TTS after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

Myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination are rare. As of July 6, 2021, VAERS has received 971 reports of myocarditis or pericarditis among people ages 30 and younger who received COVID-19 vaccine. Most cases have been reported after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), particularly in male adolescents and young adults. Through follow-up, including medical record reviews, CDC and FDA have confirmed 594 reports of myocarditis or pericarditis. CDC and its partners are investigating these reports to assess whether there is a relationship to COVID-19 vaccination.

Reports of death after COVID-19 vaccination are rare. More than 331 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through July 6, 2021. During this time, VAERS received 5,946 reports of death (0.0018%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. FDA requires healthcare providers to report any death after COVID-19 vaccination to VAERS, even if it’s unclear whether the vaccine was the cause. Reports of adverse events to VAERS following vaccination, including deaths, do not necessarily mean that a vaccine caused a health problem. A review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established a causal link to COVID-19 vaccines. However, recent reports indicate a plausible causal relationship between the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine and TTS, a rare and serious adverse event—blood clots with low platelets—which has caused deaths.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics may be an option for you.

Talk to your trusted primary care physician to find out if this treatment is best for you.

• This FDA-authorized treatment can help boost immune response, keeping the high-risk (Chronic conditions include heart disease, lung disease, obesity, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, etc.) individuals out of the hospital. 
• Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off antigens, such as the COVID-19 virus. 
• These treatments have been proven to reduce the need for hospitalization by 70%. 
• This treatment is more effective within the first week of infection. So, if your test comes back positive, you can coordinate with your physician to schedule this outpatient IV infusion.

Stay at home and take care of yourself

• If you test positive, you and your household should stay home for ten days from the onset of symptoms. Make sure you rest!
• Drink plenty of fluids to replace those you have lost from fever. Fluids also help ease a scratchy throat. Water, soup, fruit juice, and hot tea with lemon are good options.
• Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) to reduce fever and muscle aches. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• Sponge your body with lukewarm water to reduce a fever– don’t use cold water or ice.
• Use petroleum jelly on sore skin, specifically around the nose and mouth.
• Stay away from others as much as possible. If you must be around people, wear a cloth face cover and stay 6 feet away from others.
• Avoid contact with pets and other animals.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands well afterward. Use soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

If you experience more severe symptoms like:

• moderate trouble breathing (you can’t speak a complete sentence),
• coughing up blood (more than about one teaspoon),
• signs of low blood pressure. (lightheaded, too weak to stand, or cold, pale, clammy skin),
• or if your symptoms do not get better as expected;

Contact your Willow Valley Medical Clinic Primary Care Physician at 208-852-2900.

If you experience extreme symptoms like:

• severe trouble breathing (you can’t talk at all),
• constant chest pain or pressure,
• severely dizzy or lightheaded,
• confused or can’t think clearly,
• face and lips are blue in color,
• loss of consciousness or have a hard time waking up;

Seek emergency medical attention immediately by calling FCMC Emergency Services at 208-852-0137 or Emergency Response at 911.

There are several places to find out how many cases we have in our community, southeastern Idaho, and across the state.

1. Franklin County Medical Center Facebook page posts positive cases each week for Franklin County.
2. Southeast Idaho Health Department’s website reports the numbers for our surrounding area.
3. Idaho Department of Health & Welfare website has state-wide information and updates.

Here are three types of exposure and what you should do for each.

PRIMARY

1. Definition:

• Person “A” that is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

2. What to do:

• Isolate from others (this includes people in your household) for ten days AND no fever for 24 hours & other symptoms are improving.
• Take all precautions not to infect others.
• Talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you.

3. Notify:

• You should let everyone know you have been in contact with for 48 hours before the onset of symptoms or positive test, whichever came first.

SECOND-HAND EXPOSURE

1. Definition:

• Person “B” that has had close* or direct** contact with Person “A.”

2. What to do:

• Talk to your employer (manager or HR representative) and follow the guidelines and policies set by your company.
• Self-monitor for symptoms.
• Get tested 5 – 7 days after direct contact with person “A”
  If you test positive, you are now considered person “A” and it is recommended that you follow those protocols.

3. Notify:

• You do not need to notify anyone unless you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.
  If you test positive, you are now considered person “A” and it is recommended that you follow those protocols.

THIRD-HAND EXPOSURE

1. Definition:

• Person “C” that has had close* or direct** contact with Person “B”

2. What to do:

• Self-monitor for symptoms.
• Keep in contact with person “B” as they monitor their symptoms.
  If they experience symptoms or test positive, you are now considered person “B” and it is recommended that you follow those protocols.

3. Notify:

• You don’t need to notify anyone unless person “B” becomes symptomatic or tests positive.
  If they experience symptoms or test positive, you are now considered person “B” and it is recommended that you follow those protocols.

*Close contact means you were within 6 feet for more than 15 (cumulative) minutes over 24 hours. 

**Direct contact means you had physical contact, you shared food or drinks, or they sneezed or coughed close enough to get respiratory droplets on you.