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Long discussion Tuesday between health department, commissioners about COVID pandemic in El Paso County

EL PASO COUNTY, COLO. (KRDO) -- The increase in COVID cases because of the Delta variant led health officials to resume appearing at a Board of Commissioners meeting to provide an update on how the viruses are affecting the county.

El Paso County

The county's Department of Public Health had ended the in-meeting briefings earlier this year after COVID cases decreased significantly, but health officials decided to continue them given the current pandemic trend.

Commissioners and health officials spent most of Tuesday's two-hour meeting participating in a mix of discussion and question-and answer is exchange, with commissioners asking many questions about increasing cases, hospital capacity, vaccinations and a decline in health care workers that is worsening the situation.

El Paso County

Health officials also expressed concern about the upcoming flu season, and how it could make people more vulnerable to COVID; they revealed that they are seeing the early onset of a respiratory virus that largely affects children.

Commissioners were supportive of health officials and praised them for the work they're doing in the pandemic.

El Paso County

But the toughest questions came from Commissioner Carrie Geitner.

In response to recent studies from Israel and Kentucky focusing on natural immunity in combating COVID, she said, "It is contradicting some of the science that we have seen before about the effectiveness of natural immunity compared to the vaccine. We'd like to know more about that."

El Paso County

Dr. Robin Johnson, the health department's medical director, said that more research on those studies is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.

The health department also expressed concern about a premature spike in RSV, a respiratory virus that primarily affects children, and the approaching flu season that could make people more vulnerable to COVID.

""I'm very concerned about the rise in these other things with children," Geitner said. "There are just a lot of people who are getting sick from other things related to some sort of lack of immunity, whether it's mask wearing or just the distancing. I feel like a lot of questions around that, people are asking a lot of those questions."

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Geitner went on to criticize local hospitals for not being transparent enough about their COVID operations, and spoke out against a state requirement that all health professionals be vaccinated.

"It's difficult to hear people say that we need to support our health care professionals, and then turn around and say we're not going to allow them to make a personal decision about whether to get the vaccine," she said. "It's no wonder that people are leaving the profession."

Johnson admitted that responding to the pandemic is more difficult with a shortage of medical workers.

El Paso County

"Much of it is because of the secondary trauma of what COVID plays on our providers," she explained. "If we really talk about what it means to have these patients hospitalized, it's pretty traumatic. And this wave of COVID seems to be making the trauma worse."

Commissioner Holly Williams called the local pandemic " a crisis of unvaccinated immigrants."

El Paso County

"They're coming across the border and haven't been tested," she said. "They should be required to have the vaccine because they are coming into our country, in my opinion, illegally."

Susan Wheelan, the health department's director, said that she understands the commissioners' questions and concerns but there are no easy answers.

El Paso County

"We know that when you hear and see what's going on in the national news, local news, state news and social media, there's a lot of differences," she said. "We want to make sure that we're transparent, objective and share the data that we have. This is still new to us, and we're learning as we go along."

Wheelan also commented on the turmoil about masks within many local school districts, saying that she trusts school districts to make the right decisions.

"Because we all care about our kids and what's best for them," she said. "We'd also like your (commissioners) help with setting up vaccination events at schools in your districts."

El Paso County

According to health department data, the number of daily COVID cases in the county has increased from 133 to 215 in the past month -- far above the daily peak of 87 cases last summer.

However, the data also shows that the Delta variant is affecting more younger people and resulting in fewer deaths.

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"95% of hospitalizations are people who aren't vaccinated or aren't fully vaccinated," Johnson said. "Although there have been some breakthrough infections among some vaccinated people, but they're at a lower risk of serious illness."

The health department said that just under 60% of county residents are fully vaccinated.

El Paso County

As for talk of the need for a third COVID shot -- also referred to as a booster shot -- Johnson said that it should be available soon for people with compromised immune systems, and later for the general public.

"You should try to get the same series of vaccine that you initially received," she said. "However, it's better to take what's available; and there could be added benefits to taking different brands of the vaccine."

The health department said that there are more than 30 providers and and 100 locations in the county where the vaccine is available.

"We hope more people will get it," Johnson said. "So many of the deaths could have been prevented."

Article Topic Follows: Coronavirus

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Scott Harrison

Scott is a reporter for KRDO. Learn more about Scott here.

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