WA health officials call for boosters ‘immediately,’ give update on dominant variant
As Omicron has swiftly become the dominant variant of new cases nationwide, in the state of Washington, there’s more of a mixed picture so far. And now influenza is part of the mix.
Statewide, 400 Omicron cases have been detected since the initial three cases were reported in Washington earlier this month, according to Tuesday’s update from state Department of Health officials.
While “leading edge” examples of sampling involving high-risk patients and high-risk counties with lower vaccination rates have shown upwards of 70 percent of cases as Omicron, state health officials made clear that was not yet representational of the state.
“Statewide, we are not seeing the Omicron prevalence take over Delta yet,” said Dr. Umair Shah, state Secretary of Health.
The state is shifting to “more representative sampling across the entire state so we can get a better picture of how and where it’s spreading.”
Dr. Scott Lindquist, state epidemiologist for communicable diseases with DOH, said Tuesday that flu also is starting to take off in the state, in contrast to last year when COVID protocols essentially shut down any detected flu transmission.
“I am just being alerted by staff that we’re starting to see the first cases of influenza A in the state, and so this is going to be a really unfortunate season where we have a new variant, Omicron and we have a flu variant at this time.”
Testing and vaccines
With tests now a priority before any holiday gatherings or end-of-year parties, anecdotal reports of having to try multiple drugstores before finding home tests have become the norm.
State health officials welcomed the news of free tests being made available on the federal level, but cautioned even that process will take time.
“We’ve already been doing what we can to help support the at-home test capabilities across the state. But it’s been tough you know, when you don’t have the supply.” Shah said.
For now, he noted the state is making as many available as possible, prioritizing schools, health centers and clinics.
“Now that said, we don’t have enough of them to go around,” he added.
More information on the federal testing program is expected in the coming days or next week, he said.
Just within the Pierce County Library system, among its 18 libraries distributing free COVID-19 test kits, 680 were distributed last week, according to Mary Getchell, media representative for the system.
“Between Nov. 22 through Dec. 20, we’ve given out 2,753 kits,” she noted.
Since March 29, when the program began, 10,153 kits have been picked up by patrons.
Puyallup and Tacoma public libraries also participate in the program.
In the meantime, Shah added that Gov. Jay Inslee has tasked state DOH officials to “take aggressive steps” to increase vaccine capacity to accelerate booster distribution.
While 11.6 million doses of vaccine have been distributed over the past year to more than 5.5 million people, just 1.7 million booster or third doses have been administered.
“The governor and his team and our team are working together and he has directed us to improve the vaccine appointment process in terms of availability of those appointments for people,” Shah said, with more information to come on that issue in the coming days.
More than 350 COVID-19 cases have now been tied to outbreaks involving South Sound wrestling tournaments made public last week, including some Omicron cases. The outbreaks led the state on Friday to adjust its guidance for indoor high-contact sports, calling for ramped-up testing among other rules.
Shah reiterated the importance of not only the vaccines, but booster doses, in the state’s race against Omicron amid the current Delta wave.
“Please get your booster immediately, as quickly as you can,” Shah said.
This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 1:15 PM with the headline "WA health officials call for boosters ‘immediately,’ give update on dominant variant."
