State Epidemiologist Jared Taylor speaks at a COVID-19 briefing with Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister in September. Taylor said Wednesday that data reporting anomalies will appear to show a spike in COVID-19 cases, but in reality cases and deaths are still declining.
Thousands more positive COVID-19 tests and deaths than would be considered regular were added to the state’s data dashboard on Wednesday, but the state’s top epidemiologist says it’s not indicative of virus proliferation.
The jumps are the result of an error and data reporting changes, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Jared Taylor warned journalists on Tuesday that the coming weekly data upload would cause case numbers to appear artificially high.
The state on Wednesday reported a total of 441,906 confirmed cases of the virus since the pandemic’s beginning, an increase of 3,542 from the last weekly update. And the state reported 6,669 investigated deaths, a jump of 1,716 from the last report.
Both data bumps were sure to catch attention, Taylor said, but neither, when placed into the context of when the positive tests or deaths were occurring, changes the state’s interpretation of the data then or now.
About 1,300 of those positive tests surfaced sometime last week after data specialists determined that reports from one lab had not been integrated into the collective data for nearly six weeks, Taylor said.
The state is in the process of moving away from its Public Health Investigation + Disease Detection of Oklahoma system for reporting cases, and such a step requires labs to use a new form of data transfer called HL7 messages.
“We found that this one lab had been reporting what they thought were functional and appropriate files that would go into our system and be integrated into our reporting, but unfortunately it was not,” Taylor said. “We had those files going in, and the cases contained therein sort of going into an abyss and being lost.”
Taylor declined to identify the lab, saying the error did not affect anything beyond reporting within the State Department of Health.
The majority of the positive tests in question were confirmed between December and February, with some trickling into March, Taylor said, and the Health Department completed a full investigation to determine that the error was a “one-off situation with one lab.”
Taylor said he couldn’t promise that such a situation wouldn’t happen in the future, but he said changes have been made in an effort to avoid a repeat mistake.
As for the 1,700 jump in investigated deaths, Taylor said the state created an algorithm to speedily work through some “easier” case investigations that don’t necessarily require human review.
The addition was expected to bring the state’s investigated death totals closer to the total based on death certificates reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
As reported deaths totals between the two grew increasingly untethered — at last update, the state reported nearly 3,000 fewer deaths in Oklahoma than the CDC did — Taylor said the Health Department began looking for ways to speed up the investigative process.
Enter “a very well structured and defensible but automated approach.”
Taylor said the use of the algorithm will not reflect a full and complete tally of overall deaths, as many in-depth investigations that require human attention are ongoing. The additional deaths reported Wednesday occurred between April 2020 and March of this year.
The CDC reported 7,994 provisional deaths on Wednesday.
Taylor said he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the state’s positioning in the fight against COVID-19. Hospitalizations have remained relatively level in the past few weeks.
A total of 213 COVID-19 positive patients remained hospitalized across the state on Tuesday, the latest data available, with 56 in ICU beds, the state reported.
But he emphasized that cases are still occurring, as are deaths.
Vaccinations have, however, caused a “notable” drop in cases recorded among populations considered most vulnerable to severe complications or death, Taylor said.
“We don’t want to rest on our laurels in any regard,” Taylor said. “While we are as happy as we are with the vaccine efforts, we can’t get complacent, because we are not at the point statewide where we can feel confident that that vaccine uptake will prevent a resurgence if Oklahomans become complacent.
“It’s incumbent upon Oklahomans to seek out that vaccination opportunity.”
More than 2 million vaccinations had been administered in the state as of Saturday, according to OSDH data, and 705,877 Oklahomans had completed a vaccine series.
Gov. Kevin Stitt was vaccinated publicly last week to celebrate the state’s move into Phase 4 of its vaccine priority plan.
Since then, vaccinations have been widely available in the state and open to all Oklahoma residents age 16 and older. Vaccinations will open to nonresidents on Thursday.
Vaccine appointments may be scheduled through OSDH’s vaccine portal at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov or through the Saint Francis Health System at saintfrancis.com/getvaccinated. Vaccinefinder.org also helps users find vaccination sites in their area.
Oklahoma governor announces Phase 4 of COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Gov. Kevin Stitt on March 29 said "We are gonna get our summers back Oklahoma, and the light at the end of the tunnel has never been brighter."
Q&A: State vaccination portal help and other guidance as Oklahoma enters Phase 4
Q&A: State vaccination portal help and other guidance as Oklahoma enters Phase 4
Who is eligible currently?
As of March 29, all Oklahomans 16 and older will be vaccine-eligible.
What determines how many appointments are available?
The state is reliant on COVID-19 vaccines supplied by the federal government; officials reportedly are notified of shipments one week at a time. The limited supplies make it logistically impossible to schedule vaccinations weeks in advance. Oklahoma officials hope for a policy change that resupplies be based on states' “burn rate,” of how many shipped doses are distributed promptly.
States and tribal leaders are receiving federal shipments of vaccines based on population, OSDH leaders have said. Oklahomans with a CDIB card would go to a tribal health care center for vaccines.
I signed up at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov but never got an email confirmation of any kind — what should I do?
Confirmation emails are sent out in batches; users should receive one within 24-48 business hours of registering. “Emails are sent out over a span of time in the order in which registrations occurred,” the state said. “As a result, some emails may be delayed.” If you've waited at least 48 hours without having gotten a response, it could mean a data-entry error was made by the user during registration.
State and county health officials also have said most of these issues are resolved when the user checks their junk mail folder for messages flagged as spam.
I’ve been told I can make an appointment, but I went to the portal and there were none available within 100 miles — what do I do now?
First, if the portal has a link that says "No appointments available," click anyway. Possible glitches in the system might result in that message showing up even when appointments might be open outside the user's immediate area.
If you're still coming up empty, bookmark and keep checking the “Click here” link emailed to you, says deputy OSDH commissioner Keith Reed. The link does not expire and is the only method to check for appointment availability. No further emails will be sent.
When will new appointments be added to the online portal as the state is updated on the supply of vaccines expected to ship from the federal government?
A new round of scheduling should be available on the portal every Thursday. Starting 5 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday morning, new appointments are uploaded for distribution pods, said Mindy Spohn, OSDH vaccine facilitator.
Tulsa Health Department did not add appointments Feb. 10-11 for the coming week due to inclement weather.
Someone I know is unable to go online to access the vaccination portal — how can they make sure to get an appointment?
The state recommends that those unable to access the online portal ask a family member or friend with internet capabilities to assist them with the registration process.
Some churches have stepped up to help people without internet access register on the portal, as well as those who need a foreign-language interpreter. State officials have said a Spanish translation is forthcoming for the online vaccine portal.
How are 211 and LIFE Senior Services trying to help?
Call center staff at 211 can help Oklahomans connect to resources they may need to physically access the vaccine distribution sites, but they cannot schedule appointments. OSDH helped add to 211 staff, who can collect patients' contact info to pass on to local health departments for phone scheduling.
LIFE Senior Services is helping callers get scheduled by signing them up on the portal and receiving emails for the patient. Pictured: LIFE Senior Services activities director Amberly Villegas and Geneva Boling.
Who else is trying to help people book appointments?
Josh Wright, software developer from Norman, developed a text-alert system for Oklahomans as a companion site for the state's COVID-19 vaccine portal.
The vaccine-alerts.com site has 41,000 users, who have received 1.25 million text alerts, as of Feb. 5.
Can I show up at a vaccination site without an appointment to wait for someone to miss their scheduled time?
No, Tulsa Health Department and other sites say those without appointments are not welcome at known vaccination sites. THD says if someone does miss their appointment, those shots may be offered to first-responders in the area who have not been able to get vaccinated yet.
What happens if I am unable to make my scheduled appointment? Can it be changed?
Asking that residents strive to keep their bookings as time slots are in high demand, the state has said that those who miss their scheduled time will need to make a new appointment. Cancellations or scheduling changes can be made through the portal. “There’s been some difficulty with that,” Spohn said. “Sometimes you have to wait 24 hours to be able to get back in and redirect your appointment because it locks up. … That’s among fixes we’re working on on our end.”
At what point do I schedule my second dose or "booster shot"?
The answer seems to change depending on which site a patient received their first dose.
Second-dose appointments may be scheduled at the time of the first shot. It is not required to schedule booster doses through the portal. “Follow the instructions given when you got your first shot,” OSDH Deputy Commissioner Keith Reed said.
Second-dose appointments may also be made via the state portal, and users will be asked whether they need the Pfizer or Moderna shot. Some clinics have had scheduling issues for second doses, Spohn said, so officials are working to ensure those sites aren’t filling up with only first-dose appointments.
Tulsa Health Department says: “You are able to walk in for your second dose without an appt, provided you come at the same time as your first dose. Must bring your vaccination card with you.” Director Bruce Dart said those who got a Pfizer vaccine through Tulsa Health Department should try to come back to the same site 21 days after the prime dose; those who got Moderna should walk back into the same site 28 days after.
In Wagoner County, second-dose appointments cannot be made until one week before the patient is due for the booster shot.
I can't get an appointment for my booster dose when I am supposed to — is it OK to take it any later?
Those concerned about getting appointments exactly 21 or 28 days after their first dose don’t need to worry; if you’re a little late, it doesn’t cause you to have to restart the shots. You may just take a few more days to reach 95% immunity.
The state says it may take longer for second-dose appointments to show up in the system as those cannot be entered into the system weeks in advance. Because the timing of booster doses means a three- or four-week delay, those scheduling their booster dose via the online portal are told not expect to set the schedule right after the prime dose.
Can I choose whether I receive a Moderna or Pfizer shot?
Some clinics have both Pfizer and Moderna available, but basically it’s whatever is available at the time of the appointment at the site.
Will I be able to drive-through to get my vaccination or will I have to go inside a facility?
Mindy Spohn said the state is trying at each location to help patients with accessibility issues to be able to drive-through. “The problem with drive-throughs … it does limit our throughput because you have a 15-minute observation period.” She said some sites may have found ways to offer drive-through with observation, "but their ability to reach large numbers is limited because of that."
If I have already had COVID-19, do I still need to consider getting the vaccine?
The short answer is yes. Dr. Jennifer Clark, who leads Project ECHO’s COVID-19 data sessions, said the human body’s natural immunity isn’t fully reliable and can be erratic. She said the response a person’s body will have from the vaccine will be more reliable and robust relative to the body’s natural immune response. Monks recommends waiting 90 days after recovering, especially if those who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma.
Do I still need to practice the three W’s after getting my vaccination?
Yes, it is vital for Oklahomans to continue to wear masks, wash their hands and watch their distance even after being vaccinated. The vaccine effectively protects recipients, but recipients may still be able to spread the virus to others. The CDC has not yet determined if or when it will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent community spread.
Can you be a carrier of the virus after receiving a vaccination?
"We have to assume the answer is yes, you can. In other infectious diseases, this happens pretty commonly, though in others it does not. It won’t be known for another few months as we’ve gotten lots of people vaccinated and then tested with viral swabs," Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation President Dr. Stephen Prescott said.
Why do I have to wait 15 minutes before being able to leave after my vaccination, and what side effects are common?
Any adverse reaction that could endanger the patient's health should be evident within 15 minutes, so those receiving the vaccine must agree to observation during that time. Dr. George Monks, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, said possible side effects include mild pain or swelling at the injection site, true of any medicine injected into skin. Other possible side effects include mild fever, chills, tiredness and headache. Monks said side effects are almost always mild and are more common in younger people or when receiving the boost dose. Monks said one can think of the symptoms as a sign that the vaccine is working.
How many vaccine doses have gone to waste in Oklahoma?
State officials say there is no problem with expiring vaccines; doses arriving each week are already scheduled to be distributed the following week. “We don’t have any vaccine that’s sitting on the shelf,” says deputy OSDH commissioner Keith Reed. On Feb. 9, he said only 247 cumulative doses had been wasted due to broken or leading needles and vials.
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