COVID-19 vaccine information from Klamath County's Health Officer

/
Stock photo

Stock photo

Klamath County Public Health.png

The following is a press release from Klamath County Public Health and Dr. Wendy Warren, Klamath County Health Officer.

Klamath County recently reached 50% COVID-19 vaccination for those 18 and older. It’s an important milestone, but there is still work to be done in this surge period worldwide.

A colleague just shared with me nationwide research done in May indicating there are four kinds of people who are not interested in being vaccinated at this point. They include:

  • 8% who are watchful. They are waiting to see what happens next.

  • 9% are cost-anxious. They want the vaccine but can’t afford the time or cost.

  • 4% are system distrusters. They feel the health care system doesn’t treat them fairly.

  • 14% are COVID-19 skeptics. They don’t believe the threat.

You can read about the study in a May 18, 2021, New York Times opinion piece by Sema K. Sgaier, titled Meet the Four Kinds of People Holding Us Back From Full Vaccination.

Here I would like to provide some information for our community about the COVID-19 vaccines and help those who appreciate a more local perspective.

First, all of the vaccines are free for those who would like to be vaccinated.

There are three vaccines authorized and recommended for use in the United States to prevent severe COVID-19 illness. They are Pfizer-BioNTech, which was just fully approved by the FDA, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen. Each is safe, effective and reduces the risk for severe illness. CDC does not recommend one vaccine over another.

There are common side effects after vaccination which are normal are not cause for concern. On the arm where you got the shot, you might experience pain, redness or swelling. Throughout the rest of your body, you might experience tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever or nausea.

All of these are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects, others have had symptoms for just a few hours.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine both need two shots in order to get the most protection. You should get the second shot even if you have side effects after the first shot, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get it.

You only need one shot of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine.

It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. You should keep using all the tools available to protect yourself and others even after being fully vaccinated.

Millions of people have received COVID-19 vaccines, and no long-term side effects have been detected.

CDC continues to closely monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. If scientists find a connection between a safety issue and a vaccine, FDA and the vaccine manufacturer will work toward an appropriate solution to address the specific safety concern (for example, a problem with a specific lot, a manufacturing issue or the vaccine itself).

Being fully vaccinated does not mean you should stop practicing the other methods we’ve learned to keep ourselves and others healthy, including:

  • Keep your distance by maintaining six feet of social or physical distancing between yourself and others.

  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, utilizing hand sanitizer when washing facilities are not available.

  • Sanitize surfaces that are often touched.

  • Avoid gatherings of any size where social or physical distancing is not possible.

  • Cover coughs and sneezes.

  • Stay home when sick.

  • Wear a clean mask in public spaces, including outdoors when six feet of social distance cannot be maintained.

Oregon Health Authority recently determined that those with immunocompromised conditions will be offered booster doses, probably in October. There is not a lot of information yet about scheduling and other details. Klamath County Public Health will share more information when it is available.

You should get a COVID-19 vaccine, even if you have already had COVID-19 because:

  • Research has not yet shown how long you are protected from getting COVID-19 again after you recover from COVID-19.

  • Vaccination helps protect you even if you’ve already had COVID-19.

Evidence is emerging that people get better protection by being fully vaccinated compared with having had COVID-19. One study showed that unvaccinated people who already had COVID-19 are more than two times as likely than fully vaccinated people to get COVID-19 again.

Oregon’s plans for booster COVID-19 vaccinations have not been finalized. We know Oregon Health Authority approved boosters for people with autoimmune disorders. Public Health will share more information as it becomes available. Meanwhile, talk to your primary care provider about recommendations for you personally.

I hope this information is helpful. Please ask questions, if you have them. Remember we all make choices every day that effect our health and safety.