SUBLETTE COUNTY – As the Sublette COVID-19 Response Group dissolves having fulfilled its purpose as directed by the county commissioners, COVID-19 updates will solely be conducted by Public Health going forward.

That started, in earnest, on April 23 when Public Health Nurse Manager Janna Lee issued an end-of-week briefing. Among the briefing was the news that the Sublette COVID-19 Response Group’s website, sublettewycovid.com, will remain the top source for the most current and accurate information on COVID-19 and Public Health’s vaccination program within Sublette County.

The Wyoming Department of Health confirmed 11 new cases of COVID-19 in Sublette County from April 17-23, bringing the active cases to 11. That’s down once again from consecutive weeks in the 20s for the county. Sublette County has now had 765 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began last March. Of those, 746 have recovered and there have been seven deaths.

Following the April 22 drive-through vaccination session, Public Health has vaccinated a total of 1,836 people. Wyoming Department of Health statistics show the county has vaccinated a total of 17.14 percent of its population over 18 and 36.1 percent of its population over 65.

Lee’s updated numbers showed 2,105 first doses and 1,836 second doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered for a total of 3,941. Public Health has also administered 185 different doses of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.

The update stated the Janssen vaccine was on pause in the county as it underwent review by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Drug Administration and Johnson & Johnson.

Also on April 23, a panel of advisers to the CDC voted to recommend lifting the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for all adults and adding a label about an exceedingly uncommon, but potentially dangerous blood-clotting disorder. That decision came during a meeting among the institutions conducting the vaccine’s review.

The latest numbers show the blood clots appear to be most common in women between 30 and 39 with 11.8 cases per million doses given.

Nearly 8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered, according to the company.

It’s up to state departments of health whether to resume distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following the panel’s decision to lift its pause.