SACRAMENTO
Covered California launches the national 2022 open-enrollment period from the Golden State
Covered California welcomed Secretary Xavier Becerra of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to officially launch open enrollment across the nation for the 2022 coverage year. Open enrollment is a time when Americans can sign up for or renew their coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. This year, they could benefit from more financial help than ever before.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is investing in the most robust open-enrollment campaign to date — with record-low prices, more choices and 30 more days to pick a plan than last season,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Health care should be a right and in reach for everyone. This open-enrollment season, we will get closer to achieving that goal.”
The open-enrollment period begins with a record-high 12.2 million people enrolled in the federal and state marketplaces, including 1.6 million in Covered California. The increased enrollment has been driven by the new and expanded financial help available through the American Rescue Plan, as part of the landmark federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recession it sparked.
“Secretary Becerra and the Biden administration have shown that by building on the Affordable Care Act, we can go a long way toward achieving our goal of true universal coverage,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Health and Human Services secretary and chair of the Covered California Board of Directors. “Californians need to see what their coverage options are and find out how affordable insurance can be at CoveredCA.com.”
A recent report found that California had reduced the rate of the uninsured to a record-low 6 percent of the population. For those who are still uninsured, the increased financial help is good news for the estimated 1.1 million Californians eligible for financial help. More than 85 percent of that group (about 940,000 people) could get comprehensive quality care with no monthly premium. Over a Million of California’s Uninsured Could Get Quality Coverage for 2022 at a Very Low Cost.
“The Affordable Care Act is working both nationally and here in California, serving as a critical safety net for those who need coverage, and now is the time to sign up,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “The amount of financial help available through 2022, and for many years to come if the Build Back Better plan is enacted into law, will cover the entire cost of many people’s monthly premiums.”
—Submitted
LAKE COUNTY
COVID-19 Update: Vaccination and boosters now available to more people
FDA Grants emergency use authorization for Two-10mcg-Dose Pfizer-BioNTech Course for Children 5-11
Overall, we continue to see some modest improvements in Lake County’s COVID statistics. However, our Case Rate of 19.6/100,000 remains greater than 1.5 times the statewide average (12.2/100,000). This is higher than any period of the pandemic outside of the 2020-21 winter surge and our summer surge resulting from the Delta Variant. Our test positivity is at 6.1%, more than twice the statewide rate (2.8%). 106 Lake County residents have died due to COVID-related illness, 40.6% of those (43) since July 1.
Despite the relative prevalence of COVID-19 in Lake County’s communities, and greater risks faced by those that are unprotected, our vaccination rates trail statewide numbers. Sixty two percent of Lake County residents are fully vaccinated, and 8% are partially vaccinated. Seventy three percent of all Californians are fully vaccinated, and 80.7% have received at least one dose:
http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/COVID-19_Data.htm
https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccination-progress-data/
COVID-19 vaccination remains highly protective against severe illness, hospitalization and death
August CDC vaccine effectiveness data showed unvaccinated U.S. residents were 6.1 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, and 11.3 times more likely to die of COVID-related illness. State data from late September-mid October shows unvaccinated Californians have recently been 6.9 times more likely to contract the virus, 9.9 times more likely to be hospitalized and 15 times more likely to die of COVID-related illness:
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#rates-by-vaccine-status
https://covid19.ca.gov/state-dashboard/
COVID-19 vaccination and testing are readily available in Lake County, visit: http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/Vaccines.htm; and http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/Testing.htm.
How concerned should I be about vaccine side effects and adverse events?
Some people have specific contra-indications to getting vaccinated, and we encourage people to talk to their treating doctors if they have concerns. However, most documented side effects and adverse effects have been minor. Current data show health risks associated with COVID infection are much greater than risks of adverse vaccine events.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html
What about breakthrough cases?
No vaccine is 100% effective at preventing illness. Getting vaccinated reduces risks for you and those you come into contact with. Vaccines approved in the U.S. have performed similarly in terms of protection. The rate of vaccinated people getting COVID is similar across all age groups. Death rates are much higher in older or immune compromised people than younger and healthier individuals, even though infection rates are similar.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html
Am I eligible to get a booster shot?
Eligibility and guidance differ based on which vaccine you initially received.
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna:
People Age 65+; and
Individuals 18+, that
o Reside in a long-term care setting;
o Have qualifying underlying medical conditions; and/or
o Work or live in a high-risk setting.
NOTE: the CDC currently recommends waiting at least 6 months following your second shot.
Johnson & Johnson (Janssen):
- 18+; and
- At least 2 months following your one-shot dose.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html
Do I have to Get the Same Vaccine I Did Before?
No, those eligible to receive a booster can get “any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States.”
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html#choosing-booster
Children ages 5-11 now eligible to receive two 10mcg doses of Pfizer vaccine
The United States Food and Drug Administration announced on October 29 they had authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use in children ages 5-11. The approved two-dose course employs 10mcg injections, one-third the Pfizer dose administered to individuals 12 or older. A Study is currently underway, and vaccination could be available to children under age 5 as soon as late 2021 or early 2022.
—Submitted
—Compiled by Ariel Carmona Jr.
