Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

A total of 141 people received a shot and a beer at a special COVID-19 vaccination event Monday night outside Lake Monster Brewing in St. Paul that is seeking to help push Minnesota closer to its 70% immunization goal.

While 60.5% of eligible Minnesotans 16 or older, or more than 2.6 million people, have received at least a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, state health officials have said it will take more creative approaches to maintain progress and get the state to its target goal.

Gov. Tim Walz is scheduled Tuesday afternoon to appear at CHS Field in advance of the St. Paul Saints home opener to highlight an on-site vaccination effort taking place there as well. Volunteers arranged Monday's vaccination event at Lake Monster, which provided a coupon for a free beer for recipients, said Dr. Anne Griffiths, a coordinator of the event.

The latest Minnesota data has shown a slowdown in vaccinations against COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by exposure to the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The state on Tuesday reported nine more COVID-19 deaths and 583 more infections, bringing Minnesota's pandemic totals to 7,240 deaths and 589,527 infections.

The vaccine recipients in Minnesota include nearly 2.2 million people who have completed the one- or two-dose series. The number of doses administered has declined, though, from 409,679 in the week beginning April 4 to 228,571 in the week beginning May 2.

Walz has pledged to end the state's public indoor mask mandate on July 1, or sooner if Minnesota reaches its 70% vaccination goal. The state's numerical target for ending the mandate will remain vaccinating 3,087,404 people 16 and older, even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday authorized the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in people age 12 to 15.

Walz in a statement encouraged parents to seek vaccine for children in this newly eligible age range: "Let's get our kids their shot as soon as possible so they are fully vaccinated and protected in time for a fun, safe summer."

The nine deaths reported Tuesday all involved people who lived in private residences, an indication of vaccine effectiveness in the vulnerable long-term care residents who were prioritized for shots earlier this winter. One death involved a Sherburne County resident in the 35 to 39 year age range the state's 60th COVID-19 death of someone younger than 40.

Staff writer Christopher Snowbeck contributed to this report.

Jeremy Olson 612-673-7744

Continue reading here:

Beer and baseball: Providers try new ways to reach Minnesota's COVID-19 vaccination goal - Minneapolis Star Tribune

A handful of Maine providers are already scheduling appointments after Gov. Janet Mills said Tuesday that they could begin offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 12 and older.

But the availability of appointments is largely limited to sites run by major hospital systems, as the Pfizer vaccine requires ultra-cold storage and comes in packs of 975. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not yet approved for people under the age of 18.

As of Monday, Northern Light Health was scheduling vaccination appointments for kids between the ages of 12 and 15 at three locations in Bangor, Presque Isle and Caribou. All patients under age 18 must have a parent or guardian register on their behalf and sign a consent form. Parents are required to accompany kids under age 16.

In southern Maine, Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick is encouraging parents to make appointments for their eligible children, while walk-in vaccinations are available to people aged 16 and older. Intermed, the outpatient group in South Portland, is also allowing parents to make appointments for kids aged 12 and older. MaineHealth, which operates several sites, is currently allowing preregistrations for kids between the ages of 12 and 15.

Several hospitals have also begun to assist with school-based vaccination efforts. MaineHealth has clinics for 16- and 17-year-olds scheduled at Poland Regional High School on Tuesday and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School on Thursday. Brewer High School began offering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine to 16- and 17-year olds on Monday, while Bangor has a clinic planned at Bangor High School for students aged 12 and older on Friday.

More articles from the BDN

Read this article:

Where kids aged 12 and older can get the COVID-19 vaccine in Maine A handful - Bangor Daily News

A free beer in New Jersey. Cash in Detroit. A free fishing or hunting license in Maine.

In an effort to encourage residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19, cities and states across the country are turning to a range of incentives to get people to line up for shots.

The push comes as all Americans 16 and older are now eligible to be vaccinated, a shift from earlier phases of the vaccination rollout when states prioritized higher-risk populations. Now that more people are vaccinated, many states, including Massachusetts, are adjusting their strategies to reach those who arent as eager to line up for doses, or those who encounter barriers to access.

During a virtual meeting with President Biden and other governors, including Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Maine Governor Janet Mills on Tuesday announced the state is launching an incentive program that offers vaccinated residents perks aimed at getting outdoors.

The initiative, called Your Shot to Get Outdoors, offers Maine residents who receive their first COVID-19 shot between now and Memorial Day a free fishing or hunting license, L.L. Bean gift card, tickets to a Portland Sea Dogs game, or a race event at the Oxford Plains Speedway.

These incentives will encourage that outdoor activity while getting more shots in arms as quickly as possible, Mills said.

Earlier this month, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that any resident who gets their first vaccine dose in May can get a free beer if they take their vaccination card to a participating brewery, dubbing it the Shot and a Beer program.

Connecticut has launched the #CTDrinksOnUs campaign, which allows people who have been vaccinated to get a free drink at a participating restaurant.

In Detroit, people who provide transportation to residents for their shots will be given a $50 pre-paid gift card each time they drive someone to a certain vaccination location.

The goal of the program is to get more Detroiters, particularly those without access to personal transportation, vaccinated by offering the debit card to reimburse each registered Good Neighbors time and expenses, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement.

In Louisiana, a public-private partnership is offering a free pound of boiled crawfish for anyone who gets the shot at an event in New Orleans this week.

Then there is cold, hard cash: Maryland is offering $100 to state employees who have been fully vaccinated, according to a statement from Governor Larry Hogans office.

Baker said recently that with more than 70 percent of Massachusetts adults having had at least one COVID-19 dose, the state is turning to a more targeted approach, announcing plans to close some of the high-capacity mass vaccination sites, bolster mobile vaccination efforts, and provide walk-in opportunities for shots.

And while Boston and Massachusetts havent announced any perks for those who have been vaccinated, some local companies have.

Boston-based Samuel Adams held a contest to send $7 for a beer to the first 10,000 people who post a photo of their vaccination sticker or bandage to Instagram or Twitter.

Amanda Kaufman can be reached at amanda.kaufman@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandakauf1.

Read the original:

Free beer? Cash? State and local governments are offering incentives for COVID-19 vaccines - The Boston Globe

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved on Monday BioNTech and Pfizers request to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 12 to 15 in emergency cases but that doesnt necessarily mean the option to do so will be immediately available in San Diego County.

Before the younger teenagers could get their own COVID-19 shot in the region, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup must discuss and approve of the matter. The group, which covers California, Washington, Nevada and Oregon, is comprised of nationally acclaimed scientists and independently reviews FDA recommendations on coronavirus vaccines.

Once the workgroup discusses federal recommendations, it must make its own approval separate from that of the FDA before California can adopt new practices. Wednesday marks the groups next meeting, where members will likely discuss the FDAs new ruling.

The FDA granted emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine in kids ages 12 to 15, clearing the way for states to get middle school students vaccinated before the fall.

If approved by the Western States Workgroup, an announcement on inoculating children ages 12 to 15 could potentially be made as soon as Thursday. After the green light is given, it would then be up to San Diego County officials to give the all-clear for the region.

San Diego Unified School District Board President Richard Barrera said the district is eager to administer vaccines to younger teenagers and would begin to expand their walk-in clinics to middle schools once the county allows it. That age groups vaccines would rely on available supply and parental consent, first.

In the meantime, several SDUSD high schools started to offer COVID-19 vaccines on campus earlier this week to make it more convenient for interested students ages 16 and up to get one.

NBC 7's Omari Fleming spoke to parents about their willingness to get their kids vaccinated.

Continue reading here:

FDA Approves COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids Ages 12 to 15: So, When Will San Diego Offer Them? - NBC San Diego

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE)- The FDA HAS approvedPfizers request to allow their Covid-19 vaccine to be given to kids ages 12 to 15.

Parents and guardians in Rhode Island can give consent and make appointments for Pfizer vaccine for children on vaccinateRI.org.

While approval is still needed by the CDC before shots are given to 12-15 year olds, the town of Johnston already has a plan in place.

The town plans to vaccinate 12-15 year olds for their first at The Johnston Indoor Recreation Center on May 20 from 3-7.

Parental consent is required and kids are encouraged to have an adult with them when they get their shot.

Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena said the rec center has more than enough room to vaccinate all of the towns 12-15 year olds in one day.

We have the ability to vaccinate about 140 kids per hour. If theres still a line at 7 well stay open till we vaccinate as many kids as possible, Polisena said.

Full story and reaction from kids eligible on ABC6 at 4.

Read the original:

COVID-19 vaccination appointments now open in RI for kids 12-15 years old - WLNE-TV (ABC6)

The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization has issued Interim recommendations for the use of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine BIBP developed by Sinopharm/China National Pharmaceutical Group.

Here is what you need to know.

This article provides a summary of the interim recommendations; the interim recommendationsand thebackground document are also available online.

While COVID-19 vaccine supplies are limited, health workers at high risk of exposure and older people should be prioritized for vaccination.

The vaccine is not recommended for persons younger than 18 years of age, pending the results of further studies in that age group.

Countries can refer to theWHO Prioritization Roadmapand theWHO Values Frameworkas guidance for their prioritization of target groups.

The available data on the COVID-19 vaccine BIBP in pregnant women are insufficient to assess either vaccine efficacy or vaccine-associated risks in pregnancy. However, this vaccine is an inactivated vaccine with an adjuvant that is routinely used in many other vaccines with a documented good safety profile, including in pregnant women. The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine BIBP in pregnant women is therefore expected to be comparable to that observed in non-pregnant women of similar age.

In the interim, WHO recommends the use of the COVID-19 vaccine BIBP in pregnant women when the benefits of vaccination to the pregnant woman outweigh the potential risks. To help pregnant women make this assessment, they should be provided with information about the risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy; the likely benefits of vaccination in the local epidemiological context; and the current limitations of safety data in pregnant women. WHO does not recommend pregnancy testing prior to vaccination. WHO does not recommend delaying pregnancy or considering terminating pregnancy because of vaccination.

The vaccine can be offered to people who have had COVID-19 in the past. Within 6 months after an initial natural infection, available data show that symptomatic reinfection is uncommon. Given limited vaccine supply, persons with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the preceding 6months may therefore choose to delay vaccination until near the end of this period. In settings where variants of concerns with evidence of immune escapeare circulating earlier immunization after infection may be advisable.

Vaccine effectiveness is expected to be similar in lactating women as in other adults. WHO recommends the use of the COVID-19 vaccine BIBP in lactating women as in other adults. WHO does not recommend discontinuing breastfeeding after vaccination.

Persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Persons living with HIV were not included in the trial but given this is a non-replicating vaccine, persons living with HIV who are a part of the recommended group for vaccination may be vaccinated. Information and counselling, wherever possible, should be provided to inform individual benefit-risk assessment.

Individuals with a history of anaphylaxis to any component of the vaccine should not take it.

Anyone with a body temperature over 38.5C should postpone vaccination until they no longer have a fever.

SAGE recommends the use of BIBP vaccine as 2 doses (0.5 ml) given intramuscularly. WHO recommends an interval of 34 weeks between the first and second dose. If the second dose is administered less than 3 weeks after the first, the dose does not need to be repeated. If administration of the second dose is delayed beyond 4 weeks, it should be given at the earliest possible opportunity. It is recommended that all vaccinated individuals receive two doses.

We cannot compare the vaccines head-to-head due to the different approaches taken in designing the respective studies, but overall, all of the vaccines that have achieved WHO Emergency Use Listing are highly effective in preventing severe disease and hospitalization due to COVID-19.

SAGE has thoroughly assessed the data on quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine and has recommended its use for people aged 18 and above.

Safety data are limited for persons above 60 years of age (due to the small number of participants in clinical trials). While no differences in safety profile of the vaccine in older adults compared to younger age groups can be anticipated, countries considering using this vaccine in persons older than 60 years should maintain active safety monitoring.

A large multi-country Phase 3 trial has shown that 2 doses, administered at an interval of 21 days, have an efficacy of 79% against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection 14 or more days after the second dose. Vaccine efficacy against hospitalization was 79%.

The trial was not designed and powered to demonstrate efficacy against severe disease in persons with comorbidities, in pregnancy, or in persons aged 60 years and above. Women were underrepresented in the trial. The median duration of follow-up available at the time of evidence review was 112 days.

Two other efficacy trials are under way but data are not yet available.

SAGE currently recommends using this vaccine, according to the WHO Prioritization Roadmap.

As new data becomes available, WHO will update recommendations accordingly. This vaccine has not yet been evaluated in the context of circulation of widespread variants of concern.

There is currently no substantive data available related to the impact of COVID-19 vaccine BIBP on transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease.

In the meantime, WHO reminds of the need to maintain and strengthen public health measures that work: masking, physical distancing, handwashing, respiratory and cough hygiene, avoiding crowds and ensuring adequate ventilation.

Link:

The Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine: What you need to know - World Health Organization

The UK's National Health Service app will be available on Monday to use as a COVID-19 "vaccine passport" for people who are fully vaccinated and want to travel internationally, the government told The Times and the BBC.

Downing Street said the app feature would be ready on Monday, when the UK's ban on international travel is lifted.

People without smartphones will be able to get paper documents to confirm their vaccination status through calling 119, the government said.

People who are not fully vaccinated will still have to follow testing regulations and COVID-19 rules for the countries they're traveling to, the government says on its website.

However, the website also says that people who are fully vaccinated might still need to isolate or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to get into another country.

"There are not many countries that currently accept proof of vaccination," it said. "So for the time being most people will still need to follow other rules when travelling abroad like getting a negative pre-departure test."

Follow this link:

The NHS is launching a 'vaccine passport' on its app for international travel - Business Insider

Written by Bill FisherNewsPublished: 11 May 2021

The Avery County Health Department and the Baker Clinic at Cannon Hospital announce that FIRST DOSE COVID vaccines are available for anyone age 16 and up.

The Health Department (545 Shultz Circle, Newland) will offer vaccines Monday-Friday. You must make an appointment by calling 828-733-8273.

The Baker Center at Cannon Hospital (436 Hospital Drive, Suite 230, Linville) will offer vaccines on Saturdays 8:30am-11:30pm. Please call 737-7711 to schedule an appointment.

The next mass vaccine clinic is scheduled for Thursday May 20. The mobile clinic will be at Linville Land Harbor 9:00am-12:00pm (22 Land Harbor Plaza, Newland) and Elk River Club 1:00pm-4:00pm (15 Clubhouse Drive, Banner Elk). To Schedule an appointment for these locations call 733-8273.

Free transportation to the vaccine clinic is available for Avery County residents with Avery County Transportation. Please call 733-0005 to arrange transportation if needed.

COVID Testing is available at the Avery County Health Department (545 Shultz Circle, Newland) Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00-6:00pm. No appointment is needed for a COVID Test.

Continue reading here:

Avery Offers New COVID-19 Vaccination Opportunities - Go Blue Ridge

DRAPER, Utah (ABC4) Days after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, a Utah teenager was hospitalized for blood clots in his brain. Now, he faces recovery.

Seventeen-year-old Everest Romney, a Corner Canyon High School basketball player, started feeling his neck swell the day after getting his dose. Over the next few days, he suffered from severe headaches.

His mother, Cherie, tells ABC4the pediatrician initially dismissed the symptoms as a pulled neck muscle, says she was convinced it was something else.

He could not move his neck without the assistance of his hands, says Cherie. He also began suffering from fevers and incessant headaches.

After more than a week with symptoms, Everest and his family finally had answers: two blood clots inside his brain, and one on the outside.

Romneys mother tells ABC4 she cant yet say whether the shot caused Everest to suffer like this. Perhaps, she says, it was a perfect storm. Her son plays competitive basketball seven days a week, which means high contact physical activity that could have possibly aggravated the swelling caused by thevaccine.

On May 6, Everest was able to leave the ICU with swollen eyes and the road ahead uncertain.

Everest recently had an MRI that showed no neurological damage to his brain, his family shared Monday, and his blood clots have not increased in size. Doctors are still working to identify a more specific cause as well.

An update on his condition reads in part:

His brain swelling continues but they are hopeful this will improve and the migraines will lessen within 6 weeks or even a month. His vision does not appear to have been affected long-term and follow up appointments will be needed to continue to verify that. He will be monitored closely for the next few months but early indications and tests lend them to cautiously believe his prognosis is very very good, including returning to basketball!!!!

We have a tough road ahead yet but are beginning to possibly see light at the end of the tunnel. We want to express our love and immense gratitude to all of you for your love and support, your prayers and fasting on behalf of Everest and your support of our family during this almost unbearable time. I do not think we could have gotten to this point so quickly without your prayers, and I do not want to think about having had to face this alone forever we will be grateful for our Smith family, our Corner Canyon basketball family, our church and the community of Draper as well as the greater basketball communitys love and support. Words cannot express our thanks as so many of you continue to uplift and even carry us.

Cherie says she has been overwhelmed with support not just locally, but around the country. People are praying and sending messages of love, which she says are holding her family up during this time. Going forward, she says she wants parents to make the best decisions for their children, and for doctors to understand this new vaccine might bring new challenges to conventional wisdom.

She doesnt want to discourage parents, she says, because each parent must make the best decision for their child. Still, with her son now hospitalized, she wishes her choice had been a different one.

It was pretty awful, says Romney.

Follow this link:

Recovery continues for Utah teenager hospitalized with blood clots after COVID-19 vaccine - ABC 4

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose vaccine to prevent COVID-19. This Snapshot feature looks at the possible side effects and safety recommendations associated with this mRNA vaccine.

Modernas COVID-19 vaccine, also known as mRNA-1273, is a two-dose vaccine. The doses are administered 28 days apart, and the vaccine trains the immune system to fight against future infections with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Modernas vaccine has authorization for use in a total of 45 countries. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued this authorization for people in the United States aged 18 or older. The vaccine has also been authorized for use across the European Union after a recommendation by the European Medicines Agency, as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.

Clinical trial data show that the vaccine has an efficacy of 94.1% at preventing symptomatic COVID-19.

Article summary:

Like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine is an mRNA vaccine. While these two are the first mRNA vaccines to be authorized for use in humans, scientists have been researching this technology for many years.

An mRNA vaccine functions by providing the body with genetic information to produce viral or bacterial proteins, in this case, the spike protein found on the surface of SARS-CoV-2. These proteins trigger an immune response and the production of specific antibodies, preparing the body to fight off an infection if it comes into contact with the pathogen in the future.

The vaccine only carries the information needed to make a small part of the virus. It does not contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and it cannot cause COVID-19.

Enzymes in our cells quickly degrade the mRNA molecules in the vaccine once the spike protein has been made. It is not possible for the vaccine to alter the bodys genetic information.

The FDAs fact sheet for this vaccine lists the following general side effects. Also, we have included the percentages of frequency reported in Modernas phase 3 clinical trial data:

The clinical trials found that side effects were more commonly reported after the second dose and lasted around 23 days.

Recipients also reported the following injection site reactions:

People who have had other authorized COVID-19 vaccines have also reported these side effects.

Among recipients of mRNA vaccines, however, there have been more frequent reports of side effects from people who have had the Moderna vaccine. This study notes that after the second dose, 82% of Moderna vaccine recipients reported injection site reactions, compared with 69% of Pfizer vaccine recipients.

There have also been reports of people experiencing a red, itchy, swollen, or painful rash at the injection site. Known as COVID arm, the rash can appear several days after the vaccination.

This case report describes the experiences of four people who developed COVID arm 710 days after receiving the first dose of the Moderna vaccine. The authors of the report note that COVID arm is uncommon, not harmful, and recedes spontaneously or with the use of steroids or antihistamines.

Allergic reactions, severe and otherwise, have been reported as possible side effects of the vaccine, as a response to certain ingredients in the vaccine.

Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, is a rare side effect of vaccination. Out of 7,581,429 Moderna vaccine doses administered, there have been 19 reports of anaphylaxis, fewer than 3 cases per million.

The vaccine fact sheet lists the following potential symptoms of a severe allergic reaction:

Like the Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine contains an ingredient called polyethylene glycol (PEG), which has raised concerns regarding its potential to induce an allergic reaction.

PEG, which is commonly found in laxatives, works in the vaccine as a protective coating for the mRNA molecule as it enters cells. It is still unclear whether PEG is the cause of the reported allergic reactions or whether the concentration of PEG in the vaccine is enough to cause a reaction.

It is worth noting that a PEG allergy is extremely rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anyone with a history of an allergic reaction to PEG should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and should speak to their doctor about an alternative.

Moderna reported three cases of lip or facial swelling in clinical trial participants who had previously had a dermal filler cosmetic injection. The company said that the reactions were likely related to vaccination.

A possible explanation for this side effect is that the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which the mRNA helps the body to produce, interacts with regions around the dermal filler and induces an inflammatory response.

The CDC report that Infrequently, people who have received dermal fillers might experience swelling at or near the site of filler injection (usually face or lips) following administration of a dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

The agency says that people who have dermal fillers can have mRNA COVID-19 vaccines but that they should contact a healthcare professional if they experience any swelling after the vaccination.

For live updates on the latest developments regarding the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, click here.

Go here to see the original:

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: What are the side effects? - Medical News Today