LITTLE ROCK ― The Health Policy Board of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement issued a statement Friday expressing alarm over the resurgence of COVID-19 in Arkansas and recommending renewed vigilance against the virus.

The board’s statement reads:

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement Health Policy Board calls upon all Arkansans to redouble efforts to get protected from COVID-19 through vaccination and to continue defensive strategies including face masks in public, social distancing, and frequent hand-washing. Elected officials, private businesses, faith leaders, school and college officials, and community leaders must amplify the warning signal of the COVID-19 threat.

Arkansas is currently experiencing an escalation of COVID-19 driven by the more infectious Delta variant. At the same time, Arkansas is one of the least protected states in the nation because of low vaccine uptake. Together, these two facts are cause for alarm, and the result is reflected in the current rise in cases seen across our communities.

People who are unprotected because they have not been vaccinated should recognize that because of Arkansas’s low vaccination rate, whenever they enter a public place such as a grocery store, entertainment venue, church, or dormitory, they likely are around other unprotected people, and the virus is likely present. The unprotected should get vaccinated today to protect themselves, their families, and others around them ― especially because young children are not currently eligible for the vaccine.

For those who have had COVID-19, the antibodies developed as a result of the infection do not provide total protection. Some people have been reinfected after they have had COVID-19, and the Delta variant appears to be more likely to cause reinfections than the original virus. Even people who have had COVID-19 infections should get vaccinated.

People who have received only the first dose of a two-dose shot regimen ― the protocol for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines ― should be aware that new research suggests a single shot provides far less protection than two shots against the Delta variant, and significantly less protection than a single dose provides against the Alpha variant. These people should get their second shot as soon as the protocol allows.

Individuals who are fully vaccinated should know that while scientific evidence is still limited, reports suggest that the Delta variant may reduce vaccine effectiveness. With this variant surging, the fully vaccinated should consider reinstituting defensive measures they may have relaxed, including face masks in public, social distancing, and frequent hand-washing.

“This is an important call to action,” said ACH President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson. “As a pediatrician, I want to remind everyone that while adults can choose whether to become protected, children under age 12 are not currently eligible for vaccination and must rely on adults to act responsibly and curb the spread of COVID-19. And with schools and colleges opening in just a few weeks, we have a short window to make sure our children are protected.”

Thompson also said the public should be aware that the Delta variant may cause symptoms that differ from those that have previously been associated with COVID-19.

“Instead of the cough and fever that COVID patients typically have reported, the most common symptoms reported from the Delta variant are headaches, runny noses, and sore throats,” he said. “This means that infected people may not realize they are infected, so they may not seek testing or health care and may not realize they should self-quarantine. If you have cold-like symptoms and suspect you may have COVID-19, I urge you to get tested.”

ACHI is a nonpartisan, independent health policy center that serves as a catalyst for improving the health of all Arkansans through evidence-based research, public issue advocacy, and collaborative program development. Its Health Policy Board, consisting of 21 voting members and two ex-officio members, is an independent, self-perpetuating board that guides ACHI’s involvement in and positions on specific policy matters.

The statements in this release represents the collective observations and opinions of the ACHI Health Policy Board and should not be attributed to any individual board member in their personal or professional capacity.

The board members are:

• Jerry Adams, President & CEO, Arkansas Research Alliance
• Chris Barber, President & CEO, St. Bernards Healthcare
• Lawrence “Larry” Braden, MD, Family Medicine, Ouachita Valley Family Clinic
• Sandra J. Brown, MPH, MSN, RN, CEO, Jefferson Comprehensive Care System, Inc.
• Rick Elumbaugh, Mayor, City of Batesville
• Joe Fox, MBA, President, CBI Investments
• Stephanie Gardner, PharmD, EdD Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, UAMS Academic Affairs
• Ray Hanley, President & CEO, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care
• Don Hollingsworth, JD, Retired Executive Director, Arkansas Bar Association
• Andrew Kumpuris, MD (Vice Chair), Retired Cardiologist, CHI St. Vincent Heart Clinic Arkansas
• Marquita Little Numan, Senior Policy Director, Alliance for Early Success
• Jayme Mayo, PA-C, Wellness Director, Nabholz
• Eddie Ochoa, MD, Associate Professor, Arkansas Children’s Hospital
• Marcus Osborne, Senior Vice President, Walmart
• James “Skip” Rutherford III, Dean Emeritus, University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
• Herb Sanderson, State Director, AARP Arkansas
• Richard Smith, MD, Retired Marie Wilson Howells Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Director, UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute
• S. “Sandy” Stroope, Executive Director, Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission
• Joe Thompson, MD, MPH (Ex-Officio), President & CEO, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
• Annabelle Imber Tuck, JD (Chair), Public Service Fellow & Jurist-in-Residence, William H. Bowen School of Law, Retired Justice, Arkansas Supreme Court
• Susan Ward-Jones, MD, CEO, East Arkansas Family Health Center, Inc.
• Mark Williams, PhD (Ex-Officio), Dean, UAMS, College of Public Health
• Namvar Zohoori, MD, MPH, PhD, Deputy State Health Officer, and Chief Science Officer, Arkansas Department of Health

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