CDC NEWS
CDC Approves Pfizer Booster Shots
Studies show that after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection against the virus may decrease over time and be less able to protect against the Delta variant. Although COVID-19 vaccination for adults aged 65 years and older remains effective in preventing severe disease, recent data suggest vaccination is less effective at preventing infection or milder illness with symptoms. This lower effectiveness is likely due to the combination of decreasing protection as time passes since getting vaccinated (e.g., waning immunity) as well as the greater infectiousness of the Delta variant. The CDC has endorsed the recommendation for a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in certain populations and also recommends a booster dose for those in high risk occupational and institutional settings. Read more from CDC regarding Pfizer booster shots.
 
COUNTY NEWS
Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, would like to encourage residents to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or obtain a booster shot if eligible. Need to find a vaccine or a vaccine booster shot? Please visit www.vaccines.gov.

Montgomery County also confirms four additional deaths related to COVID-19.

• A man in his 40s, from New Caney, died in the hospital. There were no co-morbidities noted in his medical records. He was not vaccinated.
• A man in his 70s, from Willis, died in the hospital. He had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19. He was not vaccinated.
• A man in his 80s, from Conroe, died in the hospital. He had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19. He was not vaccinated.
• A man in his 80s, from Kingwood, died in the hospital. He had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19. He was not vaccinated.
  
  
• TOTAL cases of COVID-19 increased by 381 to 84,857 since Monday’s (9/27) report.  Of the 381 new cases, 58 are under the age of 12 and not eligible for vaccination.
• ACTIVE cases of COVID-19 increased by 359 to 9,013 since Monday’s (9/27) report. Today, we accounted for 2 additional inactive cases who we have been unable to contact for 30 days or more.
• 388 county residents are known, as a result of contact investigations, to be in the hospital. Contact investigations have not been initiated on all reported cases.
• 32,277 people have clinically recovered.

 
The Testing Positivity Rate for Montgomery County remains at 18%, down from 19% on Friday.

VACCINE MYTH-BUSTING WITH CDC
Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. Accurate vaccine information is critical and can help stop common myths and rumors. It can be difficult to know which sources of information you can trust. Before considering vaccine information on the Internet, check that the information comes from a credible source and is updated on a regular basis. Some common myths dispelled by CDC include rumors of microchips, magnetism and DNA alteration by the vaccines. To learn the myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines, read more.

SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council
SETRAC is a powerful coalition of providers, responders and other healthcare related partners united together to save lives and improve health outcomes through research, education and collaboration. You can find more information and view hospital use related to COVID-19 on their website, setrac.org.

GET YOUR FLU SHOT
Flu season is quickly approaching. By getting vaccinated against the flu viruses, hospitalizations and deaths can be reduced this fall and winter, which can in turn help reduce the burden on the medical system and save medical resources for the care of COVID-19 patients. Please ask your healthcare providers about vaccine availability. If you don’t have a health care professional you regularly see, you can find flu vaccines at many places, including health departments and pharmacies. Read more.
 
COVID TESTING
The Woodlands Township is a host location for COVID-19 testing provided by Curative, Inc. Testing takes place seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The Township offers free testing through Curative at three locations. Please note, testing is no longer offered at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

• The Recreation Center at Bear Branch, 5310 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381 (Through October 2021)
  Register: https://curative.com/sites/31030
  
  
• Sterling Ridge Park and Ride, 8001 McBeth Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382
  (Through October 2021) Register: https://curative.com/sites/15333
  
  
• The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77389 (Through October 2021)
  Register: https://curative.com/sites/25566
  
  

• Conroe ISD: https://apps.conroeisd.net/covidimpact/
• Tomball ISD: https://datastudio.google.com/reporting/d9e82fda-88fe-4319-b2c6-51ff7332dba0/page/3QqgB
• Magnolia ISD: https://sites.google.com/magnoliaisd.org/nov-magnolia-isd-covid-dashboa/home

CDC Guidance Regarding the Delta Variant
The Delta variant causes more infections and spreads faster than early forms of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Delta variant is highly contagious, more than 2x as contagious as previous variants. Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness than previous variants in unvaccinated people. Read more.

Help Reduce the Spread of COVID-19
Current advice from the CDC includes wearing a mask indoors in public and crowded spaces in areas of high transmission for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Vaccines remain the most effective way to reduce spread of COVID-19 and prevent serious illness. Read more.
 
Additional Information
Please visit the Township’s COVID-19 information page, www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/covid19  for resources, information and updates.