Since the Thanksgiving Holiday, almost a week ago, the daily average of new cases reported in Mississippi has topped 1,000. Medical experts say holiday gatherings are driving transmission and there’s an increase in younger people, who are asymptomatic, infecting their parents and elderly loved ones.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says they’re anticipating more hospitalizations and more deaths. He says hopefully the release of COVID-19 vaccines could turn things around.
"If everything looks good, and if the FDA review and the advisory committee on immunization practices review goes well, we may have the availability of a limited number of vaccines of the Pfizer product at the mid part of December," said Dobbs.
Dobbs says healthcare workers and long term care facilities will be the first recipients of the vaccines.
Dobbs says studies show the injections are safe, but he says there are a few mild side effects such as temporary pain at the injection site, aches or fatigue. He says that is consistent with existing vaccines.
Dobbs acknowledges there is some skepticism about the vaccine’s safety, especially in communities of color. But, he believes there’s more demand for a vaccine than most people realize.
"People want to be protected coronavirus. People want to protect their families. I want to be protected and I want to protect my family, so, I think there's a lot more demand out there than people think. Even within the black community, I've gotten a lot of call from leaders in the Black community, political or otherwise," said Dobbs.
The state health department is putting together focus groups to help them create educational campaigns about COVID-19 vaccines.
