COVID-19 Vaccine Could Be Fully Approved by FDA in September, Says State Coordinator

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Gov. Ralph Northam stands behind Dr. Danny Avula, who introduces himself at a Jan. 6 press briefing.

By Stefanie Jackson – The COVID-19 vaccines may be fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and also may be available to children ages 5 to 11 as soon as September, Virginia’s State Vaccine Coordinator Dr. Danny Avula announced during a Virginia Department of Health (VDH) press briefing Aug. 10.

The COVID-19 vaccines are “back on the radar for many Virginians,” Avula said.

The number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Virginia currently is about 14,000 per day, up from about 11,000 per day earlier this summer.

“While I’d love to say that’s because of our increased outreach efforts and our really thoughtful campaigns, the reality is that it’s the impact of delta,” Avula said.

At least 80% of Virginia’s new COVID-19 cases are attributed to the delta variant, which is identified through DNA sequencing.

Vaccinated people can experience “breakthrough infections” of COVID-19, but “what we’re consistently seeing is that fully vaccinated people are protected against the severe consequences of the delta variant,” Avula said.

Those consequences have been showing up in Virginia’s COVID-19 numbers.

State Epidemiologist Lilian Peake said Virginia’s COVID-19 case rate has been increasing for more than a month, with 1,759 new cases as of Aug.10.

COVID-19-related hospitalizations also have increased, from 396 on Aug. 1 to 770 as of Aug.10.

Vaccination is “our best option to protect us against severe disease,” Avula said.

Getting vaccinated decreases the spread of COVID-19, meaning the chance of the virus mutating also decreases. The virus changes “when it’s making copies of itself. So when  it’s spreading rapidly, it has more chances to mutate,” Peake said.

Avula expected that the COVID-19 delta variant will not be the last mutation of the virus and noted that as COVID-19 continues to mutate, the vaccine’s effectiveness may be reduced.

About 64% of Virginians age 12 and older have been vaccinated for COVID-19.

VDH officials have been coordinating with pediatricians so they can begin giving children ages 5 to 11 the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is approved for that age group.

Avula expects that school divisions that offered the COVID-19 vaccine at school for older students will do the same for the younger age group.

He noted that the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine to children under age 5 may be weeks or months away.

Avula recently voiced his support for employers who mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for their employees. Some employers mandating the vaccine are giving employees the alternative of submitting to regular testing for COVID-19.

Additionally, some businesses are requiring proof of vaccination to receive services. State officials are responding with plans to provide vaccinated individuals with links to their vaccination records via quick response or QR codes, Avula said.

A QR code is a type of barcode that can be displayed on a smartphone screen and scanned by another device.

The QR code is not a “vaccine passport,” nor will the state issue guidelines on how the QR codes should be used, Avula said.

The QR code system should be functional in two to three weeks, he said.

He anticipated that more businesses will require employees and customers to produce proof of vaccination once the COVID-19 vaccines gain full FDA approval.

Avula said it is likely that a third dose of the two-dose vaccines will be recommended to individuals with suppressed immune systems, and recommending annual boosters could become the new normal.

“COVID is with us to stay in some form or another,” he said.

To find locations to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA or 877-829-4682.

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