by: News Channel 11 Staff
A medical staff member prepares the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Tudor Ranch in Mecca, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
WISE, Va. (WJHL) According to a press release Saturday morning, the Cumberland Plateau along with the LENOWISCO Health Districts will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to those 65 years and older starting Monday, Jan. 25.
The press release warned that the vaccine supply continues to be limited.
The state will continue receiving around 100,000 doses per week from the federal government likely through the end of February, the release stated and the vaccine allocation will be based on population.
The Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts each account for 1% of the states population, thus resulting in the allocation of 1% of the states vaccines, despite surging COVID-19 cases within Southwest Virginia.
This allocation is made available for health systems, local health departments and community partners. The announcement on Saturday revealed that this roll-out is a substantial reduction compared to previous vaccine allocations to the health district.
Although second doses arent included in this allocation, the release said they will be available in time for those who received the first dose.
Health systems, health districts and community partners in far Southwest Virginia will prioritize those most at risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19. Deaths from COVID-19 have been highest in our older populations. We will focus on vaccinating these groups, while continuing to vaccinate smaller numbers of Phase 1b essential workers. As Governor Northam said, it is critical that those who are at highest risk are protected first. So, we must ask many people to wait for a vaccine. We know this is hard. We know everyone wants to be vaccinated quickly, and we wish there was enough vaccine for everyone right now. We will continue to vaccinate our community to the best of our ability with the resources we have available.
Certain Phase 1b priority groups, including manufacturing, will experience a delay in receiving their vaccines due to the decreased vaccine supplies.
Those with medical concerns are urged to speak with their providers prior to their vaccine appointments.
For more information, CLICK HERE.
For details on COVID-19 vaccinations in LENOWISCO Health District, CLICK HERE.
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Boston Medical Center Dr. Thea James understands the hesitation.
The emergency medicine physician had her own reservations about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
I knew the science that part was clear, James said Friday. I knew that there are strict protocols to developing a vaccine. I knew that because of the pandemic, the vaccine was produced quickly. But I also knew that it went through the same vigorous scientific review as other vaccines. I also knew that the data shows that the vaccine is 95 percent effective.
But with all that knowledge and information, I was still struggling, she added. And then one day, I said it out loud. People heard me.
That struggle consumed her thoughts for days more before she finally reached this conclusion: The fastest way back to thriving for us is the vaccine, she said.
I decided that although I was feeling helpless and struggling, the one thing I could do is I could take the vaccine, and honestly after the first shot, I felt 100 percent better, she said. It was just a sense of relief of burden that I can be a part of helping us get back to a sense of normalcy where people are thriving and being able to take care of their families.
James shared her story on Friday as city leaders work to build trust in the vaccines efficacy in protecting against the coronavirus particularly in Bostons communities of color and hardest-hit neighborhoods, where residents are more likely to be hesitant or unwilling to be vaccinated.
Preliminary findings from focus groups and surveys conducted by the Boston Public Health Commission last month illustrate a racial divide in who is willing to receive the vaccine. Longstanding mistreatment of Black populations and people of color by the health care and medical sectors in the United States have eroded trust that officials and experts are now working to build back in the throes of the global pandemic.
We understand that some people are hesitant to take the vaccine. This is especially true in the Black and Latino communities, Mayor Marty Walsh said during Fridays press conference. There is no doubt that throughout history communities of color have faced discrimination in the outright cruelty in the health care system. This is a tragic outcome for systemic racism in our country.
Walsh said officials have made the issue a focus of the citys COVID-19 Health Inequities Task Force, which is reaching out to residents to hear about their concerns.
COVID-19 has hit communities of color the hardest the numbers dont lie, the numbers say it, he said. The economic fallout has hit the communities of color the hardest as well. Again, the numbers dont lie. We dont want communities of color to miss out on the vaccine because its the best tool we have to put this pandemic behind us and begin to heal our city and our state and our country.
James said she has seen firsthand the hurt this pandemic has caused and acknowledged there are valid reasons some communities are hesitant to be vaccinated.
Some are historic, and some might be more recent: for example, having a bad experience with the health care system where maybe you have questions and concerns and you need more information, James said.
She continued: Well, Im here today, because I understand how you feel 100 percent because I live in the world, like you do.
James has now received both shots of the two-dose vaccine, she said. The only thing she experienced was a sore arm where she was injected with the vaccine.
Janell Jimenez, deputy superintendent of Boston EMS, said she received the vaccine in order to protect her family. Working on the frontline of the pandemic, she had constant fears of bringing home the contagious illness and infecting her loved ones, she said.
As a first responder, Jimenez qualified to receive the vaccine under Phase 1 of the states vaccination plan.
If we want to one day go back to where we were, she said, we need to all do our part.
Asked how the city is making sure the vaccine is easily available across neighborhoods, Marty Martinez, Bostons chief of Health and Human Services, said officials are taking on a multi-pronged approach.
Mass vaccination sites such as using Fenway Park to distribute vaccines are part of the plan, but so are partnerships with community organizations and sites, so residents wont have to travel far from home, Martinez said.
The city is also hosting a series of multilingual webinars to provide information about the vaccine and distribution efforts in communities of color, among other outreach efforts, he said.
(The vaccine) is our way out of COVID, Martinez said. It is our way to build safety for ourselves and our families.
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The committee met on Friday to clarify who would be included in each sub-group of Group 2 in Idaho's vaccine rollout plan.
BOISE, Idaho Idaho's COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (CVAC) met on Friday, Jan. 22 at noon for their regularly scheduled meeting. The committee voted on several clarifying components of who will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination in Group 2.
During Friday's meeting, the committee received a presentation of the remaining clarifications for Idaho Group 1 and Group 2 vote results. Committee members were also introduced to the third group of Idahoans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for future discussion and votes.
Due to Idaho's limited supply of both Pfizer and Moderna's vaccine, the state has broken the vaccine distribution into four groups, with Group 1 consisting of healthcare workers and long-term care residents and staff and Group 2 consisting of those 65 and older, first responders and K-12 teachers.
In order to ensure all necessary personnel are included in the appropriate group, CVAC voted to clarify several aspects of Groups 1 and 2.
First, CVAC voted to allow clergy who enter healthcare facilities to provide religious support, such as last rites for patients, to be included in Group 1. The committee voted 26-0 in favor.
The committee also considered whether foster parents should be involved in Group 2.1, which offers vaccines to first responders and "community support" personnel, such as child services. The committee voted 3-23 against.
Gas, electric and water utility workers are set to be vaccinated in Group 3 with other essential workers. The committee voted to clarify if this subset should be included in Group 2.1 with first responders, which ultimately failed with an 8-18 vote.
Finally, the group clarified that non-USPS package delivery service personnel will not be vaccinated at the same time as USPS workers. The committee voted 0-26 against.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little is expected to adopt, reject, or modify CVACs recommendations next week.
Dr. Patrice Burgess, chair of Idahos Vaccine Advisory Committee, also vaguely discussed vaccine progress, both locally and on the state level.
Thecommittee was formed by the Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare (IDHW) under Little's direction in October 2020. Members of the committee represent members of Native American tribes, priority populations, healthcare systems and providers, and immunization organizations.
During the meeting, Idaho Gov. Brad Little held a press conference to make an announcement regarding the COVID-19 emergency. Little lashed out at the Idaho Legislature, saying their efforts to limit his ability to make emergency declarations during the COVID-19 pandemic will put more Idahoans at risk of getting the virus.
To watch Gov. Little's COVID-19 announcement followed by the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee meeting, click here:
More:
Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee clarifies who will be vaccinated in Group 2 - KTVB.com
BARCO, N.C. (WAVY) Virginia residents frustrated with the slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout commonwealth are finding luck when they travel south of the state line.
On Thursday, nearly 1,000 doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine were administered at a mass vaccination clinic at Maple Park in Currituck County, N.C.
Those working at the clinic said a decent amount of the people vaccinated didnt call the state home.
One 10 On Your Side viewer emailed to say she booked her 87-year-old father an appointment through the Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS) after having no luck in Virginia Beach.
Couldnt get doctors to return a call. Didnt have any availability. Signed him up last night, and he got his shot today in North Carolina, the viewer said.
Ben Stikeleather, Curritucks county manager, said those performing vaccinations have seen their fair share of people coming from Virginia with similar stories.
Up until this week, those who are either a healthcare worker or 65 years of age or older would not be turned away.
Just rolling through, trying to give out as many vaccines as possible, Stikeleather said.
However ARHS said it will move away from pre-registration and start announcing weekly clinics based on vaccination allocation to each county. These will be on a first-come-first-served basis and the line will be cut off when vaccines are exhausted.
We greatly appreciate everyones patience and understanding as we continue to navigate the largest pandemic vaccination response in our nations history, said ARHS Health Director R. Battle Betts, Jr., MPA. Each week we are learning more about our capacity to respond to the need and demand regionwide and are adjusting our plans accordingly. We are beyond proud of our staff and county partners for their selfless acts, battling frigid temperatures and long hours to get vaccines into arms. Your grace and kindness is greatly appreciated.
ARHS is overseeing the vaccination effort for Pasquotank, Perquimans, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates and Hertford counties.
You can check ARHS website for the latest on vaccine clinic dates and times.
While a spokesperson for ARHS told 10 On Your Side that we ask that individuals only register for the county they reside in or received their shot in, the groups vaccination webpage also mentions Gov. Roy Coopers (D-N.C.) directive to get the vaccine into arms as quickly as possible.
Demand for the vaccine in Virginia and elsewhere in North Carolina has been high, with private health care providers in Hampton Roads quickly seeing their appointment times filled up. Virginia is only getting just over 100,000 first doses a week, which isnt expected to increase until March.
Thursday, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services SecretaryDr. MandyCohen said the state is receiving roughly 120,000 doses a week from the federal government yet gave little detail into how they are divided by local health departments.
She reiterated that those with vaccines are encouraged to use their allotted supply up completely by each Monday.
Our understanding is because its a federal vaccine, that the vaccine can be administered as well to the people of our region, not just here, Stikeleather said. It stretches our resources thin, but I mean, were happy the folks who come here are going to get a vaccine if they are eligible to get one in North Carolina.
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After all the talk and concern, hope and urging, Bill Gates arrived this week at a critical point in his journey as an outspoken proponent for the science needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic: the Microsoft co-founder received his first dose of vaccine against the deadly virus.
Masked up with his sleeve up in a photo he shared on Twitter Friday morning, Gates said he received the shot this week and that he feels great.
At age 65, Gates was eligible for the vaccine under Washington states Phase 1B tier 1 of vaccine distribution.
In his tweet, Gates thanked those who got us to this point without thanking himself. The billionaire philanthropist has been a leading advocate for a globally coordinated response to the pandemic since the early days of the crisis a year ago. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for COVID-19 initiatives, including vaccine development and distribution.
Gates, who warned about the possibility of such an outbreak years ago, spent much of 2020 speaking to anyone who would listen about the precautions people needed to take to stem the spread of the disease.
As development of vaccines proceeded at an unprecedented pace, disinformation around the treatments and Gates involvement also spread, fueled bysocial media conspiracy theorists seizing on heightened political polarization in the United States. Melinda Gates told The New York Times that the fact that she and her husband have been targeted pointed to fear and people who were looking to point to somebody or some thing or some institution. The Trump administration did not help with its politicization of vaccine development, she said.
Among the outlandish theories spread online, some said Gates had a hand in developing vaccines with a microchip that would be implanted into anyone who was injected.
Earlier this week, both Gateses tweeted their willingness to work with President Joe Bidens administration on tackling Americas toughest challenges including COVID-19.
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I feel great: Bill Gates shares photo of himself getting first dose of COVID-19 vaccine - GeekWire
Most in Wisconsin assisted living have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, even as less vulnerable have Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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TOWN OF DICKINSON (WBNG) - According to the New York State COVID-19 vaccine tracker, the Southern Tier has administered over 32,000 vaccines and now there is another site available in Broome County.
The COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the SUNY Broome Ice Center is another POD or Point of Distribution site for the COVID-19 vaccine here in the Southern Tier.
On Thursday around 400 people got their dose of the vaccine and they only hope to be able to increase that number.
"We are ready to vaccinate, we can potentially put 500 people a day through this site, we could probably even get up to 1,000 with our partners," said Director of Public Health for the Broome County Health Department Rebecca Kaufman.
But the issue is not having enough of the vaccine itself. The county gets their doses from the state who gets their supply from the federal government.
"So what we do is over the weekend we typically find out how many doses we'll receive that week and on Monday's we anticipate releasing a link to our website that people can go on if they're in the 1A or 1B category to register and sign up."
Kaufman said this location is ideal for this process and would not be possible without their community partners like UHS and Lourdes as well as county employees from a variety of departments.
"It really is a nice space for vaccination because we're out of the weather elements, but it's a big area and it really feels outdoors which is important with COVID-19. We know we wanted a big space and enough room to be all spaced out, but also a space people could find and that was right here in our community."
"We realize there are not enough doses for the amount of people eligible, so it is frustrating but if people can continue to look, register, and as soon as we get the doses we will be getting them out."
This site is in addition to the state run site located in Johnson City. Every vaccination clinic requires you to sign up ahead of time online.
If you are a Broome Co. resident and need assistance registering online you can call 2-1-1.
More here:
SUNY Broome Ice Center home to COVID-19 vaccine clinic - WBN - WBNG-TV
A TikTok user is saying that if you live in Houston, don't worry about what's in the COVID-19 vaccine.
Abe Bahranipoor uploaded a video titled "Don't Worry About What's in the COVID vaccine: Texas edition." He's already garnered nearly 4,000 views for the video, in which he had some pretty shady things to say about the Bayou City.
TODAY ON TIKTOK: If George Strait sang 'WAP', it would probably sound a lot like this
"First off, if you live or have spent any amount of time in this toxic city of Houston, you're good," he began. "Don't worry about what's in the COVID vaccine."
Texans are already immune. ##texas ##texascheck ##houston ##sanantonio ##austin ##fyp ##vaccine ##dallas ##joke ##wee
Bahranipoor went on to say that if you've ever been to certain locations in Austin or San Antonio, you have bigger things to worry about than the vaccine. Not to mention if you've ever stepped foot on a beach in Texas.
Yes, Galveston, that includes you.
"If you've been to any of the dirty beaches in Texas, congratulations, you're actually immune to COVID-19," he said. I mean, is that a bad thing?
When asked who in Houston could've broken his heart so badly he would say such horrible things about our great city, Bahranipoor jokingly replied, "Lol a burger place put onions on my burger when I said not to."
Oh, if you live in one of Texas' red cities, this video shouldn't concern you, because you probably still believe COVID-19 is a hoax, he said. That includes you, Fort Worth.
Read more from the original source:
Houston is apparently more toxic than the COVID-19 vaccine could ever be - Chron
By Kirsten Gutirrez, WRAL reporter
Morrisville, N.C. The Food and Drug Administration has issued Emergency Use Authorization for both Pfizer and Modernas vaccines. But behind the scenes, scientists are working toward the goal of adding more to that list a critical need to amass enough shots for the country and the world.
That includes Johnson & Johnson, which is working on one that would only require one shot instead of two. Another may come from the Novavax Phase 3 trial, currently underway in Morrisville.
Novavax needed someone to bulk manufacture their vaccine, and thats where FUJIFILM Diosynth in Research Triangle Park came into play. Aside from Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, AstraZeneca is another company hoping to bring its vaccines to the frontline.
UNC Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Cynthia Gay says it's pretty simple: the more, the merrier.
"We need as many safe and effective vaccines as we can get, Gay said. Its exciting to have another two vaccines with the Johnson and AstraZeneca coming forth that you know. If both are safe and effective, I think will provide us with additional hope that were going to get to a better place.
Former FDA employee Dr. Mark McClellan says that we won't know any definitive details on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for a little while.
Scientists involved are going to take a very close look at the data and see if they can proceed to bringing that vaccine to market," McClellan said. "That could happen over the next few weeks, and that could be enough vaccine for another 100 million Americans by spring.
Gay says some of these vaccines, if approved, will be easier to distribute, which would be good news for everyone.
The AstraZeneca study started around the same time as the Johnson study, so I do think we can anticipate hearing something about results in the near future," Gay said. "I think that will be coming. The Novavax study just started enrolling in the end of December, and that study is 30 to 40% enrolled, and its going quite well.
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New COVID-19 vaccines are on the way; what this means for getting the public vaccinated - WRAL.com
