First COVID vaccines received

On Monday, Dr. Vernon Miller and Dr. Susan Bright received the first COVID-19 vaccinations in Hot Springs County.

Originally, the county was to receive the Pfizer vaccine, however that was changed to the Moderna vaccine, leaving the Pfizer one for the large city hospitals across the country.

We have received 200 doses and the Wyoming Department of Health has created a priority list for who will be able to get the vaccine as more doses become available.

Topping the list is hospital staff, doctors and nurses, who are in direct contact with patients. EMS personnel, EMT's and fire department personnel are next on the priority list, followed by long term care facilities, assisted living facilities and other healthcare providers.

While all of the doses are coming directly from the federal government, Walgreens has made an agreement with the feds to schedule vaccines for places like the Pioneer Home and Thermop Rehab, so those doses will not come out of Hot Springs County's supply.

The vaccines are given in two doses, 28 days apart. There is some strategy in giving the vaccine as well, according to Public Health Nurse Director Tricia McPhie.

"Once we open a vial to start giving the vaccine we only have a few hours to use that vial," she said, "so we have to have around 10 people to vaccinate at one time or it becomes ineffective."

There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you are planning on getting the vaccine.

The first is it will not help once you're hospitalized with COVID.

The second is if you have already had COVID you carry the antibodies and must wait to get vaccinated, otherwise the antibodies just fight the vaccine, making it useless.

"I appreciate the willingness of our health care personnel to take the vaccine for their own protection and the protection of our patients and others in our community," Dr. Miller said. "I also understand that some have concern for immediate or long term side effects or complications which cause them to want to avoid taking the vaccine.

"The rapid development of the vaccine without years of testing has fueled some of those feelings. Some feel that simply taking our chances with getting COVID is a better option."

"Its obviously too early to know about the possible long-term side effects of the vaccine," he said. "However, for me personally, it seems to me that injecting a small portion of the viral mRNA to stimulate my immune response is less likely to cause long term side effects than letting the virus make me sick while stimulating my immune response."

If you think you have come in contact with someone with COVID or you are having symptoms and want to be tested, you have a few options in town.

Currently, Hot Springs County Public Health is limited to surveillance testing for those without symptoms. You may call ahead to schedule an appointment, Tuesdays only, using the saliva method, from the safety of your vehicle.

Red Rock Family Practice is also doing testing using the PCR test, the one that goes up your nose, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You should call them once you have arrived in their parking area and they will come to your car and administer the test.

The PCR test can be rapid, but it is becoming harder to keep the supplies in stock.

In addition, you may now order the saliva test online from the Wyoming Department of Health, for free. You take the test from home and mail it back for your results. Simply go to health.wyo.gov to get more information and order your at-home testing kit.

It is best to test for COVID between three and five days after exposure, with the fifth day being the prime time.