GEORGE — During a Southwest Utah Public Health Department meeting this week, the head of the department said COVID-19 is “on the wane” and Southern Utah is nearing herd immunity. .

This is contrary to assertions made Friday by health care providers and officials with the Utah Department of Health who say COVID-19 is at a “high plateau.” .

George Regional Hospital said Friday that overcrowding from a continued influx of COVID-19 patients cost the life of at least one heart patient whose procedure was delayed because of the lack of a bed for them.

Meanwhile, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave its final approval on Thursday night, a slew of new COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available in Southern Utah.

Expecting a demand for booster shots, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department is returning to appointment-only reservations for vaccinations.

Speaking to the Southwest Utah Board of Health during their meeting at the department’s office in Cedar City on Wednesday,  Southwest Utah Health Department Director Dr.

David Blodgett said that a combination of people who are fully vaccinated and those who have already had COVID-19 means that the area is approaching a herd immunity against the virus.

As of Friday, according to the Utah Department of Health, a minority – 43.8% of Southern Utahns – are fully immunized.

There have been 40,281 COVID-19 infections in Southern Utah since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, according to the U.S.

George Regional Hospital and Cedar City Hospital have been seeing fewer people coming in with COVID-19 symptoms to emergency rooms, giving him hope that a drop may be coming. .

After being down in the last two weeks, new COVID-19 infections are up 6.8% this week in Southern Utah according to the Utah Department of Health.

At another board meeting in June, Blodgett said that COVID-19 was becoming just “a part of the diseases we see on a regular basis” and indicated the pandemic was near its end and on a long-term plateau.  .

This week, Blodgett noted a third wave that has taken place since then starting in August, noting the number of deaths that have taken place in Southern Utah since then.

Blodgett said the amount of COVID-19 infections is heading down and added that while he expects a spike this winter, it won’t be that bad in Southern Utah – especially compared to last winter.

According to Utah Department of Health statistics, the most recent surge did not have the high amount of infections as last fall and winter but did exceed it as far as deaths and hospitalizations. .

While officials at the hospital have said they were seeing younger people “that are leaving children behind” and not retired in the most recent surge, Blodgett said, “The people who are in the hospital are younger but they’re not dying.”.

That statement is not backed up by statistics from the Utah Department of Health.

According to Utah Department of Health statistics, of the 3,128 Utahns who have died of COVID-19, 838 have been below the age of 65. .

Jenny Johnson, spokesperson with the Utah Department of Health, told St.

Blodgett said while he isn’t entirely sure of the reasons for the recent surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, in his opinion, younger people being naturally healthier are also causing them to need longer hospitalizations as their good health and better treatments are keeping them in the hospital longer. .

He said the initial lockdowns caused mistrust in public health among Utahns.

Leisha Nolen with the Utah Department of Health.

The Utah Department of Health has directed all of the state’s vaccine providers to offer the booster shots immediately.

The Southwest Utah Public Health Department has previously told St.

However, during the Southwest Utah Public Health Board meeting Wednesday, Blodgett told board members he doesn’t expect it to be easy with those who were vaccinated during the early portion of vaccinations that saw lines at vaccination clinics coming back for their boosters.

Because of the expected demand, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department is returning to online appointments for vaccinations.

David Heaton, spokesperson with the local health department, said next week’s appointments will only have Moderna available.

Both state and local health officials agree there is nothing harmful about using a different vaccine for the booster shot.

A CDC study involving 458 participants who mixed one COVID-19 vaccine with another said there were no severe adverse reactions beyond the typical, temporary vaccine side effects. .

“We’re still recommending that people get their booster shot be the same series as their first,” Stenehjem said.

“There are some data to suggest people who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are better protected if they receive a booster of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine,” Nolen said.

Differing from epidemiologist Nolen, Blodgett – whose background is in preventative medicine – said there isn’t a large consensus that boosters are needed at all and was especially frigid as far as the need for Moderna boosters.

That number is itching up, but the effectiveness against hospitalization and deaths hasn’t changed,” Blodgett said.

Blodgett is much warmer about the need for vaccines in general, which he said is not about just stopping COVID-19 in its tracks. .

“We’re not saying anyone who is vaccinated isn’t going to get sick with COVID,” Blodgett said.

Blodgett said there have been three breakthrough deaths of COVID-19 in Southern Utah among those who have been fully vaccinated.

While Blodgett touted the natural immunity of those who have already had the virus, he said that shouldn’t deter them from getting vaccinated, describing as “almost zero” the number of people who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 who had previously had it and also got immunized.

He said from the beginning of the pandemic, the hospital has made an effort not to have patients lying on gurneys in hallways or other signs of overcrowding. .

Patrick Carroll, has said previously that the hospital actually has as much staffing as it would usually have in a non-pandemic year, it isn’t enough right now. .

With that, Prince said someone seeing an empty bed in the hospital doesn’t mean one is available. .

Southern Utah coronavirus count (as of Friday, according to Utah Department of Health).

Southern Utah schools active COVID-19 infections (as of Friday, according to Utah Department of Health).

NOTE: Utah Department of Health currently providing only ranges of the number of infections in each district, rather than exact figures.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department St.

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Cedar City office, 260 DL Sargent Dr., Cedar City, 84721?

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Kanab office, 445 N!

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Panguitch office, 601 Center St., Panguitch

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Beaver Office,  75 1175 North, Beaver