County health officer urges updated COVID-19 vaccination as cases rise; federal policy changes limit access at some providers

COVID-19 cases and emergency department visits are rising locally, and Jefferson County Health Officer Austin Derry urged residents on Sept. 16 to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine where available while outlining gaps in federal vaccine policy and local workarounds. "For all the rest of us, it's a good idea to go out and get the updated COVID-19 vaccines," Derry said at the Comm County Board of Health meeting.

Derry told the board the county is seeing an end-of-summer surge move into a fall surge, with transmission shifting from adults to school-age children as the school year begins. He said updated vaccines that target current circulating strains are becoming available and are appropriate for people who were not infected in the prior two weeks.

The nut graf: The local health officer said federal decisions have narrowed access at some federal providers even as state and regional actions expand availability, making it important for residents to know where they can receive the updated shots.

Derry outlined three policy developments affecting vaccine access: the U.S. Department of Health and…