On October 8, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) released a report on COVID-19 post-vaccination events, commonly known as “breakthrough,” showing that the vaccines continue to save lives and keep more people out of the hospital.

“What we continue to see is that the vaccines that are widely available to everyone 12 and older are highly effective for preventing hospitalizations and deaths, even as more post-vaccination cases occur in the context of more transmissible variants,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said in releasing the latest Pennsylvania data as further evidence of the vaccines’ effectiveness.

Acting Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson explained, “From a clinical perspective, we expect to see the number of breakthrough cases go up as more people get vaccinated. It is like what we saw with seat belt use years ago. As the number of people wearing seatbelts increased, the number of car accidents involving people wearing seatbelts went up. However, the overall fatality rate from car accidents dropped. Your chances of dying in a car accident drop dramatically if you wear a seatbelt. So too, your chances of dying from COVID-19 drop substantially if you are fully vaccinated.”

This month’s data shows that Pennsylvanians who are fully vaccinated fared much better than the unvaccinated even as the more infectious COVID-19 variant continues to dominate the nation.

In the past month, 74 percent of the 4,989 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 were among unvaccinated Pennsylvanians.

“That means that fully vaccinated people have a greater than three times better chance of staying out of the hospital due to COVID-19,” Dr. Johnson said. “Another way to look at it, if you are playing the lottery and there is something you could do to triple your odds of hitting the jackpot, would you do it?”

“This is why doctors across the state want all of their eligible patients to get vaccinated,” she said. “Vaccination substantially increases their odds of avoiding COVID-19 and staying out of the hospital where our healthcare workers are already overwhelmed.”

Looking at the number of COVID-19 cases over the past 30 days shows that 74 percent of the 135,098 people who tested positive were unvaccinated. Data on the number of post-vaccination deaths in the past 30 days is not yet available due to a 60-day lag in the reporting and verification process. Year-to-date data is provided below.

When reviewing longer-term data, between Jan. 1, and Oct. 4, 2021:  

• 91 percent of reported COVID-19 cases were in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people. Among a total of 771,734 cases, 69,822, or nine percent, have been identified as post-vaccination cases. Cumulative case incidence among the unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated was 5.6 times higher than the case incidence among the fully vaccinated.  
• 93 percent of reported hospitalizations with COVID-19 as the primary diagnosis/cause of admission were in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people. Among a total of 44,095 hospitalizations with COVID-19 as the primary diagnosis/cause of admission reported in Pennsylvania, 3,247, or 7 percent, were reported to have occurred in fully vaccinated people. These figures were obtained from summary data reported by 62 percent of all hospitals and 78 percent of acute care hospitals in Pennsylvania, representing approximately 80 percent of acute care beds in the state. 
• 93 percent of COVID-19-related deaths were in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people. Among a total of 7,625 COVID-19-related deaths occurring among 2021 COVID-19 cases, the latest data shows 518, or seven percent, were identified as deaths among post-vaccination cases. Cumulative death incidence among the unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated was 6.0 times higher than the death incidence among the fully vaccinated.  

“Reviewing this data over time helps inform our understanding of factors such as potential waning immunity,” Dr. Johnson said. “This data is consistent with national trends and similar to data reviewed by the FDA and CDC resulting in a recommendation for a booster dose for vulnerable populations several months following the completion of the primary vaccination series.

“What is completely clear to me is that vaccines are working as intended to help keep more people out of the hospital and alive after COVID-19,” Dr. Johnson said. “Because I know it can save their lives, I have encouraged all of my family, friends and others to get vaccinated and, when they are eligible, to get a booster dose.”

Post-vaccination data is now posted online at: PA Post-Vaccination Data.

On October 7, 2021, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Noe Ortega visited Yorkshire Elementary School in York Suburban School District to highlight how students in the region are staying healthy and safe during an unprecedented new school year, and encourage them to adopt healthy, lifelong hygiene habits. 

Currently, students 12 and older are eligible and encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which is one of the best ways to keep students learning in-person. 

The state Department of Health (PDH) is working to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable, and efficient to all Pennsylvanians. Use Vaccine Finder to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you. 

Throughout the 2020-21 school year, PDE regularly provided technical assistance and guidance to local education agencies (LEAs) to support instruction while navigating the pandemic, and PDE will continue to support LEAs as they navigate the 2021-22 school year. This includes through the latest chapter of PDE’s Roadmap for Education Leaders; Accelerated Learning through an Integrated System of Support. This toolkit includes a professional learning series for school leaders and educators to help address students’ learning loss and other issues caused by the pandemic. 

Additionally, PDE has sent regular correspondence to schools with up-to-date processes, procedures, and information as it develops. Those updates can be accessed on the What’s New page on PDE’s website.  

“Over the past year-and-a-half, our students and schools have had to adjust to a new normal and implement new practices to keep themselves and others safe and healthy,” added Sec. Ortega. “Those practices—like frequent hand-washing, cleaning food before consumption, and covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze—will help students form lifelong healthy habits, prevent the spread of illness, and ensure that they can remain safely in the classroom, which is where they belong and where they want to be.”

To see the press release, click here.

School Seniors and Eligible Students to Submit College Applications (October 7, 2021)

On October 6, 2021, in an effort to further support academic endeavors on the postsecondary level, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) reminded high school seniors and eligible students to submit their college applications as soon as possible.

“Preparing for college can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time for students, especially those who face barriers or are unfamiliar with the process,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Noe Ortega. “It is critically important for educators to provide them with guidance and resources to submit their applications, ease their anxiety, and help prepare them for a meaningful and successful postsecondary experience.”

October is College Application Month, and the American College Application Campaign (ACAC) seeks to increase the number of students who are applying to college early in their senior year with a focus on first-generation college students, students from low-income families, and students who may not otherwise apply to college.

During the Pennsylvania College Application Campaign (PCAC), students at participating high schools will receive assistance with their college applications during the school day with the goal of each participating student submitting at least one college application. Many colleges will often waive the application fee during the application events. During PCAC, students may apply to any of the commonwealth’s community colleges, independent colleges, and public universities. Pennsylvania schools interested in hosting events can submit a form online. In 2019, PCAC had 35 events, and a total of 2,621 students submitted 2,984 college applications.

ACAC began in 2005 in a school district in North Carolina and soon grew to become a nationwide effort. In 2014, the Pennsylvania joined as PCAC and hosted events in high schools across the commonwealth encouraging students to apply to college. During fall 2020, more than 5,600 high schools nationally hosted college application events resulting in over 363,000 students submitting more than 625,000 college applications.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) recently released the latest issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, which aims to provide the most recent research and resources for people with mental health and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to live an everyday life. This edition focuses on transitions and how they affect the populations DHS serves.

“Part of DHS’ mission is to ensure that people, regardless of disability, have the resources and information they need to live an everyday life. We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused upheaval among individuals, families, and health systems, and that transitions to and from social distancing measures can cause great stress among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead. “We hope that this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal will provide some insight into best practices and methods so we can all work together to ensure that the people we serve can be better off as we continue to navigate the pandemic and many other life transitions.”

This edition features research and articles on the following:

• Effectively Utilizing the Space Between What Was and What Will Be: This article advocates for a Person-Centered approach to transition planning and provides a case study from the LifeCourse Framework on a successful transition back to community activities following social distancing protocols during COVID-19.
• Using Goal Attainment Scaling to Measure Progress and Make Instructional Decisions: This article reviews the concept of Goal Attainment Scaling for standardizing and measuring outcomes for an individual’s goals, as well as setting reasonable expectations for the progress an individual will make towards achieving that goal.
• Moving in the Same Direction: A Case Study of How Integrated Care Can Support Independence and Community Living for Individuals with Complex Needs: This article highlights the successes that are possible for individuals presenting with complex challenges when stakeholders are committed to open communication and coordination, and when systems support innovation in programming.
• My Life, My Way: After the Pandemic: Let’s Talk with A Self-Advocate: This article includes interviews with 11 self-advocates and four family member-facilitators and encourages self-advocates to use their voices in meetings and events that affect their lives.
• A Win/Win: Using Both Personal Spiritual Strength to Heal and Experiencing Post-Traumatic Growth to Heal with a Transition and Reintegration in Sight: This article looks into the role that trauma plays in transitioning and reintegrating back into the community and how supporting spirituality along with mental health recovery can help individuals.
• Use of Remote Monitoring to Positively Impact Individuals by Removing the Struggle Between the Person and Their Supports: This article highlights how remote monitoring and other positive strategies can be implemented to support people with intellectual disabilities or dual diagnoses.

The journal is a collaboration of DHS’ Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and collects research on resources, observations, and advancements in mental and behavioral health in order to better serve people in their communities. 

Read this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal.

For more information visit www.dhs.pa.gov.