What you should know about COVID risk if you are vaccinated, and best practices for staying safe

Last week three people aboard the American Constellation cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19. Two of them had been fully vaccinated. The incident raised concerns in port communities throughout Southeast Alaska where the ship had visited. KHNS’ Corinne Smith spoke with Dr Elliot Bruhl, chief medical officer for the Southeast Regional Health Consortium – or SEARHC – about the risk for those who are vaccinated and best practices for staying safe. 

 

SEARHC’s Dr Elliot Bruhl emphasized that the COVID vaccine is very good, but not perfect. And in cases known as “vaccine breakthrough,” those who are vaccinated and contract COVID are more likely to have a much milder illness.  

“We know from real life, from the observation of what’s going on with millions of people who’ve received these vaccines, is that in breakthrough, the symptoms are mild or self limited, or they’re asymptomatic,” Bruhl said. “We know the total number of virus particles that are detectable in the throat, in the airways of people who’ve been vaccinated is much, much lower. So their ability to transmit the virus is much, much lower. So the vaccination protection continues to be extremely good.”

Last week, three people aboard the American Constellation cruise ship tested positive in Petersburg, just days after docking in Skagway and Haines, raising resident concerns. Especially as two of them had reportedly been fully vaccinated.

Bruhl says it is happening, though much less frequently, and those most at risk are still the elderly and medically vulnerable.

“There were 18,000 deaths from COVID, in the United States, in the month of May. And of those 18,000 deaths 150 were of those deaths occurred in people that were fully vaccinated,” said Bruhl. “So, it is possible, but that’s less than 1% of the total. So the vaccine continues to be very effective at preventing people from dying from this virus.”

And, as the pandemic continues, the highest risk is still for those who are not vaccinated, with no antibodies for protection.

“What we know right here in Alaska, is that 97% of everybody who has ended up in the hospital here in Alaska has been people who are not vaccinated. So, the vaccines continue to be very effective, though they’re not perfect, and they never have been. But they’re very, very good.” 

Across the United States, and Alaska, there has been an increase in COVID in recent weeks, and more cases of the delta variant, now estimated at 40% of all cases in Alaska. Across the border, the Yukon Territory is battling a COVID outbreak, with 317 and four deaths since June 1. 

The delta variant is more contagious, and health officials say the best safeguard is widespread vaccinations. 

For communities, there’s no patient test to know if you have a certain variant. Bruhl said in all cases, if people have symptoms they should get tested. 

“Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue or muscle aches, headaches, sore throat, runny nose, and then gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea or nausea or vomiting. All of those things would be things where that would qualify as potential symptoms. There’s another strange one, which is it changes your sense of smell or taste. So that would be the thing where you would want to go get tested.”

And if positive, quarantine immediately.

“If you had symptoms, you certainly don’t want to be getting back into the public into any kind of public contact until you’re symptom free, and it’s been at least 10 days since your positive test,” said Bruhl.

For testing in Skagway, there is free COVID testing by appointment only Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4to 7:30 p.m., provided by the Skagway Traditional Council. 

In Haines, contact SEARHC to set up an appointment for testing Sunday through Thursday. Those without health insurance may be charged. The number is: 907.766.6300. 

For more information go to covid19.searhc.org.