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2nd booster also now recommended for certain immunocompromised individuals ages 12 and older
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CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice and members of the West Virginia COVID-19 pandemic response leadership team held another news briefing today to update the public on the state’s latest pandemic response and vaccine distribution efforts.
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2ND BOOSTER DOSE INFO
During his latest briefing, Gov. Justice announced that 2nd booster shots have now been authorized by the FDA and recommended by the CDC for those ages 50 and over who are also at least four months removed from their 1st booster dose, as well as certain younger immunocompromised individuals ages 12 and older.
“Please take advantage of this,” Gov. Justice said. “If you have been fully vaccinated, got a booster shot, it’s been four months, and you’re at least 50 years old or immunocompromised, you need to get a 2nd booster shot. If you don’t, I don’t think that’s wise.
“We know for a fact that these vaccines are incredibly safe. We are living proof of that. You just can’t take a chance with this thing.”
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All West Virginians who qualify can immediately get this dose anywhere vaccines are available.
Read more about vaccines and boosters at Vaccinate.wv.gov and at CDC.gov.
Additionally, the state’s new COVID-19 Vaccination Due Date Calculator has been updated to determine whether West Virginians are eligible for a 2nd booster dose.
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CASE NUMBERS & VACCINE/BOOSTER INFO
On Friday, Gov. Justice reported that there are just 376 active cases of COVID-19 statewide.
Over the past two months, total active cases have decreased by more than 98%.
COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov
Since nearing peak capacity in early February, COVID-related hospitalizations in West Virginia are down 86%, ICU patients are down 82%, and patients on ventilators are down 86%.
The Governor went on to report that West Virginia’s County Alert Map once again features all 55 of the state’s counties in the Green category.
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RECORD-BREAKING YEAR OF REVENUE COLLECTIONS CONTINUES IN MARCH
Meanwhile Friday, Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks about COVID-19 to announce that West Virginia’s General Revenue collections for March 2022 came in at $488.1 million – an all-time state record for the month of March.
“There was a time when I stood up in front of you and said, ‘I’m going to take you on a rocket ship ride.’ And there were lots of people that thought, ‘There’s no way.’ But you had a head coach who believed in this state, and a lot of right buttons were pushed by a lot of great people,” Gov. Justice said. “Then, all of a sudden, our engine starts running in West Virginia. Now, not only are we on the rocket ship ride, we’re kicking back and really enjoying ourselves. We’re continuing to pump out record after record after record. And what I hope is that we can keep these records going so we can rub it in the face of those who didn’t believe in us – people who told a lot of bad jokes about West Virginia.”
March 2022 collections were a whopping $150.1 million above estimate and 29.9% ahead of prior year receipts.
Nine months through Fiscal Year 2022, year-to-date collections of $3.966 billion are nearly $740 million above the YTD estimate; breaking the all-time state record for total surplus through the month of March.
Click here to read more
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GOV. JUSTICE CELEBRATES WVU’S PURCHASE OF FORMER MYLAN PLANT IN MORGANTOWN
Also on Friday, Gov. Justice celebrated West Virginia University’s announcement yesterday that the WVU Innovation Corporation has officially taken ownership of the former Mylan pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Morgantown.
WVU and the West Virginia University Health System, commonly branded as WVU Medicine, will work together to oversee future development through a reconfigured WVU Innovation Corporation which will handle the daily operations at the facility.
“When the prior operator, Viatris, announced that they were packing up and leaving, I thought it was a crying shame. But they did make a commitment that they would work at WVU,” Gov. Justice said. “The two parties continued to work together. And now, finally, we’re at a conclusion, at least with the buildings. I’m very confident that WVU is going to bring a lot of good things to these buildings.”
Click here to read more
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GOVERNOR CONGRATULATES kp ON MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR EXPANSION OF WEST VIRGINIA FACILITY
Gov. Justice went on to congratulate Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) on a major expansion of its operations in West Virginia. The global manufacturer and supplier of sustainable packaging products announced today that it has selected its production facility in the Raleigh County community of Beaver for a multimillion-dollar production expansion.
The West Virginia facility – previously named as kp’s Plant of the Year for productivity out of more than 30 factories worldwide – has now been chosen to lead the way for the company’s addition of post-consumer recycled content (PCR) PET production in North America.
“It is unbelievable what is happening,” Gov. Justice said. “I’ve said 1,000 times, when people on the outside get a taste of West Virginia, they'll see craftsmen, they’ll see faith-based good people, hardworking people, people who don’t mind getting their hands dirty, and people that appreciate the opportunity that others bring when they come to this state.”
Click here to read more
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GOVERNOR DISCUSSES BILL VETOES, SPECIAL SESSION
Additionally, Gov. Justice took time to revisit his recent announcements of five bills that he has vetoed, adding a reminder that he intends to call a Special Session to correct several of these bills.
Bills vetoed for technical reasons included HB 2300, HB 4001, SB 573, and SB 729.
“We hope to revisit these bills in the upcoming Special Session,” Gov. Justice said. “We will be working very hard with our Legislature to move forward in the correct way.”
The Governor also vetoed HB 4020, which would have split the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources into two different agencies.
“This was one that I feel like we passed a little hastily,” Gov. Justice said. “We surely need to do some more work in regard to getting some real experts to evaluate our DHHR.
Naturally, we want to improve DHHR. I stand behind that in every way,” Gov. Justice continued. “But we need to be careful that we don’t do something to stub our toe, lose federal funding, or hurt a bunch of people who depend on us. So, we’re going to get it right. Then, once we get it right, we’ll move forward.”
Read more: SB 729 / Special Session
Read more: HB 4020 / HB 4001 / SB 573 / HB 2300
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NEW LIST OF APPLICANTS REQUESTED FOR INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
Additionally, Gov. Justice reiterated his announcement from earlier in the week that he has formally requested the West Virginia Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission (JVAC) to reopen the application period and submit a new list of names for him to choose from for an appointment to the newly-created West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals.
The request comes after the Governor received a letter of resignation last week from Donald A. Nickerson Jr. of Wheeling, who Gov. Justice appointed in December for a term of six-and-a-half years. Even though Nickerson has not yet been sworn in to the court, the Governor must still choose from a list provided by the JVAC for his replacement.
Anyone who applied for the Intermediate Court of Appeals seat in September 2021 may request to be considered by JVAC automatically, without the need to resubmit an application.
Any new applications are due by April 15, 2022.
Click here to download application / read more
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