By Juanita Carnes FNP, Board of Health chair and Joe Rouse, health director
JUANITA CARNES,
Chair, Westfield Board of Health
Focusing on some good news regarding COVID-19, along with the decrease in cases and hospitalizations, the CDC and MDPH may soon release new guidelines for fully vaccinated people. Recommendations relaxing the stringency will be forthcoming. However, we are not suggesting it is time yet to stop wearing masks and social distancing. We, nor your mother, will ever tell you to stop washing your hands.
The quest to find a vaccine appointment continues. There is no change in eligibility of the Phase 2 groups. The good news is more vaccines are coming from the Federal Government. State government is working hard to make the delivery system more efficient. Pfizer and Moderna are both committing to boosting their vaccine production and delivery capacity. As of February 24, 2021, 66,464,947 vaccines have been administered out of 88,669,035 distributed nationwide. Please read Peter Currier’s weekly updates on local, current COVID-19 issues and statistics. Johnson’s vaccine is undergoing the same federal approval process that Moderna and Pfizer did. Don’t be fooled by the lower efficacy number.
The efficacy percentage is lower because Johnson is being tested with the variants whereas the other two were tested before the variants were identified. The Johnson vaccine is a single dose vaccine that does not require the specialized temperature storage. It is a DNA not an RNA vaccine, the differences between the type of vaccine is too complicated to explain here, but the important thing is that both DNA and RNA vaccines are known to be safe and effective. The lower percentage applies to a decreased efficacy for mild and moderate symptoms. For hospitalization and death, the Johnson vaccine is 100% effective. Any vaccine available to you is what you should get. There is no legitimacy to rumors of discriminatory practice of lower efficacy vaccines being distributed to certain socioeconomic or ethnic groups. As with everything COVID, things rapidly change as time passes and we learn more about this virus.
JOSEPH ROUSE
There is speculation that the one or two vaccines that you initially get may only be the start. The United Kingdom is looking at booster shots. Like the flu shot, we may need to get this vaccine yearly. As research continues we will know more about how long the vaccines are effective and when people should be revaccinated. In the meantime we can only follow science and the recommendations made from sound research. More good news this week, Governor Baker announced moving into Phase 4 of the reopening plan at the end of this month. Massachusetts is currently in the first step of Phase 3. On March 1, we will move into the second step of Phase 3 allowing indoor performance venues and recreation attractions to reopen and increase capacity limits for many businesses. On March 22, if the positive trends continue, we will move into Phase 4. This plan is based on a continuous, significant drop in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Massachusetts. The state is not throwing caution to the wind but is hopeful that getting people vaccinated as fast as possible with the decreasing numbers, we can reopen as long as there is not a resurgence due to a variant or something else. A well known local doctor used to walk by my desk every day at the Emergency Department and ask, “Are you saving lives and stamping out disease?” It feels like we may actually be making progress in stamping out this disease. Take care of yourself and someone else if you can.
Dedicated health department members who have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic are: Debra Mulvenna RN, Assistant Director Evelyn Bristol RN, Steve Cipriani, Health Inspector Thomas Hibert, Health Inspector Cheryl McMordie, Office Manager Crystal Dugay, Kathi Cotugno, CORE coordinator
Other Board Members: Margaret Doody, Stan Strzempko MD
WE KEEP WORKING TO KEEP YOU SAFE Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Keep your distance. Avoid gatherings. Stay home. Save lives.
Look for us in next Saturday’s edition.
