COVID-19 infections increasing; city of El Paso offers Pfizer vaccine booster to children
COVID-19 infections are on the rise, Deputy City Manager Tracey Jerome said during a City Council work session meeting Monday.
"Although community levels remain low since the beginning of May, we have seen a rise in new cases and the positivity rate and to a lesser extent hospitalizations," Jerome said, adding that people should stay up-to-date with boosters. "Our positivity rate has followed a similar trend. It currently sits at 29.6%, more than five times higher than what it was at the start of the month."
Officials reported 434 new breakthrough COVID-19 cases last week.
El Paso County also recorded five new COVID-19 deaths last week.
The death toll in the county since the pandemic began stood at 3,463 people Monday.
Of the five new deaths, three were breakthrough cases, meaning 40% of the patients who died were not fully vaccinated.
The deaths did not occur during the same week. One was in December, one in January, one in February and two in May. All five had underlying health conditions. They were three women in their 60s, one woman in her 70s and one man in his 90s.
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The cumulative total of breakthrough deaths now is 226 .
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On May 2, the city reported 139 new breakthrough cases alongside 189 new infections.
Last week, health officials reported 758 new COVID-19 cases, as well as 31 additional cases that were part of the delayed local results issued by the state to the city of El Paso’s Department of Public Health.
On Monday, 104 more COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the total to 245,467. No new deaths were reported. Officials said there were 1,081 active cases, with 240,738 people having recovered. On Monday, 38 patients were hospitalized, including 10 in intensive care and three on ventilators.
As of Monday, there were 44,679 breakthrough cases reported, including 1,334 people who required hospitalization, with 299 patients being placed in ICU and 128 on ventilators.
Health officials urge continued vaccinations, social distancing and frequent hand-washing.
The database on EPStrong.org continues to be updated daily.
City of El Paso administers Pfizer COVID-19 booster to children 5 and older
The city of El Paso began administering COVID-19 Pfizer boosters to children 5 years old and older Monday.
Boosters can be received through walk-up or appointments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday at the following city clinics:
220 S. Stanton St. (corner of First and Stanton streets)
7380 Remcon Circle
9566 Railroad Drive
9341 Alameda Ave.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that children ages 5 through 11 years old receive a booster shot five months after their initial Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination series.
In addition, the CDC strengthened its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least four months after their first.
“This is another positive step in our battle against the COVID-19 virus to protect our children and the entire community. We look forward to providing additional protection to more members of our community, with this approval,” City-County Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza said in a news release Monday.
“COVID-19 boosters are another extra layer of protection that parents can provide their children. Vaccinating our children not only benefits the child, but also the child’s loved ones who can be infected with the virus and spread infection in their homes and our community.”
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters do not require an appointment but are recommended to avoid long wait times. Parents can schedule an appointment at EPCovidVaccine.com or walk up to any of the COVID-19 clinics to get their child the free COVID-19 vaccine or recommended booster.
Officials advise that parental or guardian consent is required for the vaccination of minors.
For additional information about vaccination sites, visit EPCovidVaccine.com. For more COVID-19 information, visit EPStrong.org.
Anthony Jackson may be reached at ADJackson@elpasotimes.com and @TonyAnjackson on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: City of El Paso offers Pfizer vaccine booster to children
