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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends urgent action to increase Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination among people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future. CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination outweigh known or potential risks. As of September 27, 2021, more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths.¹

The highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in pregnant people (n=22) in a single month of the pandemic was reported in August 2021. Data from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) in 2021 indicate that approximately 97% of pregnant people hospitalized (either for illness or for labor and delivery) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were unvaccinated.²

In addition to the risks of severe illness and death for pregnant and recently pregnant people, there is an increased risk for adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, including preterm birth and admission of their neonate(s) to an intensive care unit (ICU). Other adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as stillbirth, have been reported. Despite the known risks of COVID-19, as of September 18, 2021, 31.0% of pregnant people were fully vaccinated before or during their pregnancy.³

In addition, there are racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination coverage for pregnant people. Healthcare providers should communicate the risks of COVID-19, the benefits of vaccination, and information on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Healthcare providers should strongly recommend that people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future receive one of the authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.

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Out of an abundance of caution regarding potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, Kearney Regional Medical Center has made the decision to cancel the 2021 Scrub Run.

Refunds have been sent out. If you have any questions, please email apolacek@kearneyregional.com.

We look forward to hopefully hosting this event again soon, someday!

Following the recent rise of COVID-19 in our region, Kearney Regional Medical Center is urging every person who is able, to take the important step of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Said Director of Emergency Medicine Dr. Brent Crandall during an all-staff virtual townhall earlier this month, “We are seeing more sick patients here. COVID is coming back whether we like it or not. And the common denominator recently is who’s vaccinated and who’s not.”

During the peak of the pandemic in November of last year, KRMC averaged 13.5 COVID+ positive patients per day. In contrast, in the month of June, there were only three days where a single COVID+ patient was hospitalized at KRMC.

In the first week of August, KRMC saw 10 COVID+ patients, and numbers are remaining steady.

CEO Bill Calhoun said, “One diagnosis should not take up a large percentage of a hospital, and if it does, we should be alarmed. The spread of COVID is still a concern at KRMC, as such we have strict policies in place to reduce transmission and to protect our patients, our staff and our community.”

In compliance with OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for Healthcare, KRMC has a facility policy in place requiring masking of all patients, staff, and visitors. Masking has proven to be an effective tool against the spread of the virus.

While vaccines are still under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), staff are not required to be vaccinated. More than 70 percent of staff and 90 percent of physicians are vaccinated, and administrators are hoping to see that number continue to rise. In the last week there has been an increase in request for vaccination.

In his townhall message Dr. Crandall pleaded with staff, “There will be more variants to come unless we do something. We are seeing more patients in the hospital; there are patients in the Emergency Department right now with COVID as we speak. We’ve got to get it done. It’s time. We were gone for a while, but it’s coming back. We don’t have a perfect answer on how to eradicate this virus, but we can protect ourselves, and one of the big tools we have is vaccine. It’s the best that we can do to curtail this and stop the sickness that we’re seeing.”

COVID-19 vaccination requirements and exemptions are being evaluated on an ongoing basis by the Hospital Incidence Command System (HICS) which includes hospital and clinic administrators, managers, infection preventionists, and physicians.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit kearneyregional.com/COVID19. To make an appointment to be vaccinated, contact Platte Valley Medical Clinic at 308-856-2263.