Do We Need Vaccine Boosters? How is the P.G. County School System Going To Handle Its Bus Shortage Problem? - Issue #5
Do We Need Vaccine Boosters? How is the P.G. County School System Going To Handle Its Bus Shortage Problem? - Issue #5
Do We Need Boosters Shots?
Michelle Medina, the associate chief of clinical operations within Cleveland Clinic Community Health, suggests that there are two reasons why vaccine boosters are offered at this point in the pandemic.
Quotes:
"...the portion of the population who will need a third dose are those who are immune-compromised or are on any medication or treatment that makes their immune responses insufficient. For those people, the two mRNA vaccine doses don’t seem to be enough. They will need a third dose to have sufficient protection."
"...when we talk about booster doses, we’re talking about an additional dose, apart from the first two messengers RNA vaccines [ Pfizzer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson] because we’re worried that over time, the protection you generated from the first two may be waning."
About a month ago, Gov. Hogan publicly supported COVID-19 booster shots. Now, the state is administering them to the elderly, 65 years and older, those living in nursing homes, and the immunocompromised people. P.G. County health officials announced that they were also administering booster shots to its elderly, as well as continuing their efforts to get teenagers vaccinated.
The FDA has rejected boosters shots for the younger population, but has approved them for 65-year-olds. Click here.
But do we need booster shots?
Earlier this week, Dr. Anna Durbin, director of the Center For Immunization, and Dr. Dan Salmon, director of The Institute of Vaccine Safety, held a virtual media press conference. Durbin said she doesn't believe we need booster shots, at least not right now. Current vaccines still show that they still provide a stable level of protection against the virus. How do vaccines provide protection? See here.
" I just want to say the data on the need for a booster shot is still coming in," said Durbin, an infectious disease expert. " At this point, it's still most important for everyone here in the United States and in the world to get their full vaccination, whether that's a one or two-shot vaccine. It is important to note that...we will not stop COVID-19 until the world is vaccinated."
Durbin adds: "What really is going to control the Delta variant is vaccinating the unvaccinated." Durbin also stood by the Biden administration's vaccine mandate. Later, she talked about the Mu variant that is in Columbia. See the video below.
Will Gov. Hogan Deploy National Guard To Fill Bus Driver Shortages?
The shortage of bus drivers in Prince George's County, and in the nation, have negatively impacted residents. Parents without cars are suffering perhaps the most. Some students are unable to get to school, and teachers may be marking them absent. This could impact whether students pass or fail classes.
To solve the bus driver shortage problem, which is a pre-pandemic problem, members within P.G. County Public School System have been working to hire more bus drivers. On Sept. 15, PGCPS held a virtual hiring seminar to hire bus drivers. To make the job more appealing, they have increased the wage from $17 to $20 per hour. If you want more information on how to become a P.G. County bus driver, and to see how to fill out an application, click here. You can also contact human resources at 301-952-6132, or email Nicole Eubanks at Nicole.Eubanks@pgcps.org.
Dr. Monica Goldson, CEO of Prince George's County Public Schools, issued a statement acknowledging the impact of the bus driver shortage on county residents. She encouraged parents to organize carpools to transport students. In addition, she said middle and high school students are now allowed to ride P.G. County's public transportation buses - also known as "TheBus"- for free if they show school ID cards. In addition, bus routes will be adjusted.
"To manage the current shortage, bus routes and assignments may be adjusted, resulting in new bus assignments, increased ride times, and more students sharing bus routes," wrote Dr. Goldson.
What if Gov. Larry Hogan deployed the National Guard to work as bus drivers? This is a possible and solution. Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker deployed the National Guard to drive buses. I reached out to the governor's office as well as The Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office to see if there were discussions about deploying the National Guard. The Governor's office has yet to reply, and The National Guard's Public Affairs informed me that that was a question for the governor. In addition, I reached out to P.G. County Board of Education council members, asking if Dr. Goldson had talked to Gov. Hogan about this possible solution. Raheela Ahmed (District 5) and Shayla Adams- Stafford (District 4) said they did not know.
P.G. County students are being infected by the virus, as are students in other counties. Not having enough bus drivers, along with crowded buses and schools, could be one of many contributing factors to the spread of the delta variant among staff and children. This is not to mention that some of these children live in homes with their elderly relatives, and with some who are immunocompromised. This helps the spread of COVID-19, putting more people at risk of contracting the virus, which could end in death, or long-Covid. A couple of parents expressed this fear at a P.G. County town hall meeting in August. However, people getting vaccinated coupled with mitigation practices (masks and social distancing) lives could be saved.