Eastern Jackson County schools grapple with virus and vaccines
By Mike Genet mike.genet@examiner.net
The Examiner
Federal regulators extending vaccine availability to older teenagers comes at a time local health officials say they’re seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases in young adults, and some schools have been dealing with small case clusters and have offered vaccine clinics for students as the school year winds down.
People age 16-19 have been eligible for the Pfizer vaccine for a couple of weeks – those age 16 and 17 need parental consent – and soon that vaccine could be available for children ages 12-15.
By The Examiner staff
New COVID-19 cases continue to inch higher in Eastern Jackson County, and new hospitalizations due have generally remained steady for a month after a steady drop over the first three months of the year.
According to the Jackson County Health Department, which covers the county outside Kansas City, the rolling 14-day positive test percentage in Eastern Jackson rose again to 6.6 percent last of Sunday, up from 5.7 percent last week after dropping as low as 3.3 percent several weeks ago. At the end of January, the rolling positive test percentage in EJC was at 25 percent.
The rolling seven-day average of new cases again rose slightly, from 38 last week to 40 as of Sunday. Three weeks ago, that average was 24. As of Sunday, the county Health Department had confirmed 31,284 cases (up 253 from last week) and 465 deaths (four more this week) across Eastern Jackson County since the pandemic began. The county’s dashboard includes Independence.
Young father needs a kidney, prom offers sense of normalcy: Jackson headlines May 1-6
Posted May 07, 2021
Nick Tompkins holds his son, Levi for a picture. Tompkins is seeking a kidney donor as his kidneys are functioning at 10%. Photo courtesy of his wife, Kelsey Tompkins.
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Here is that headline and some more you might have missed this week.
After getting COVID-19 last fall, Nick Tompkins’ kidney function plummeted to 10%.
Tompkins, 24, of Blackman Township has IgA nephropathy, a kidney disease that causes a lack of filtration and a weaker immune system. He’s battled it since he was about 10 years old, but when he got COVID-19 in November, his kidneys went from functioning at 25% to about 16% in January, and then to 10% shortly thereafter.
SIU and the Jackson County Health Department have teamed up for Operation Graduation Vaccination.
Anyone can come to the Banterra Center to get vaccinated before or during SIU s graduation ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. No appointment is necessary.
Health Department Administrator Bart Hagston says the demand for vaccines has slowed so it is important for local health leaders to find new ways to get COVID-19 vaccines into people s arms. I think as long as we keep the wheels turning and keep forward progress keep people coming in slowly, but surely that is going to help.
Operation Graduation Vaccination runs from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.Friday and Saturday at the Banterra Center.
Jackson Co. Health Dept. reports 21 more COVID-19 cases The Jackson County Health Department reported 21 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, May 4. (Source: Storyblocks) By Jessica Ladd | May 4, 2021 at 4:01 PM CDT - Updated May 4 at 4:01 PM
JACKSON COUNTY, Ill. (KFVS) - The Jackson County Health Department reported 21 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, May 4.
Female: one under ten, one teen, two in their twenties, three in their thirties, two in their forties, two in their fifties, and one in her sixties
Male: one under ten, two teens, one in his twenties, two in their thirties, one in his forties, and two in their fifties