Pre-register online, although walk-ins welcome.
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT |||
Sign-ups are looking good, but there are still spaces available. Walk-ups also welcome.
For anyone waiting for full FDA approval of the vaccine before receiving their shot, that approval has now been granted for the Pfizer vaccine being administered this week.
Thanks to everyone who is signed up — we really appreciate the renewed interest.
As COVID case numbers continue their dramatic increase in the islands and beyond, there is an upcoming easy no-cost opportunity for those not yet vaccinated to get their shots.
San Juan County Health & Community Services will be hosting Pfizer vaccine clinics on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. Any unvaccinated individual age 12 or older is urged to come get their shot. Second dose appointments will be exactly three weeks later. There are no additional clinics scheduled at this time beyond these events.
Registration in advance is recommended by going to www.sjccovid.com, but walk-ups are welcome. Minors should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Tues Aug 24 / SAN JUAN ISLAND
- Fairgrounds (849 Argyle Ave.) 4:30 – 6 p.m.
- Weds Aug 25 / ORCAS ISLAND
- Orcas Center (917 Mt. Baker Rd.) 4:30 – 6 p.m.
- Thurs Aug 26 / LOPEZ ISLAND
- H&CS Clinic at Family Resource Ctr. (23 Pear Tree Lane) 4:30 – 6 p.m.
San Juan County Health Communities Manager Ellen Wilcox highlights this vaccine opportunity, “The disease is spreading rapidly in the islands. If ever there were a time for an unvaccinated islander to get their shot, this is it. The vaccine does an incredible job of keeping people out of the hospital and alive. And with school starting, if you have an unvaccinated child who is eligible, get them vaccinated ASAP, it’s your best bet of protecting them and minimizing disruption this fall.”
Printable flyers advertising these clinics available here. For more info: www.sjccovid.com.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Third doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for moderately to severely immunocompromised people are widely available on the mainland, but not in San Juan County. Why?
News Release
For immediate release: August 14, 2021 (21-188)
Contact: DOH Communications
Public inquiries: State COVID-19 Information Hotline, 1-800-525-0127
Third dose of COVID-19 vaccine recommended for certain immunocompromised individuals
OLYMPIA – Health care providers can now offer third doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to certain immunocompromised individuals following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP), and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.
While authorized vaccines have proven to be more than 90% effective in protecting against most variants, emerging data suggest people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not always build the same level of immunity compared to people who are not immunocompromised. The third dose is not considered a booster, rather an additional dose for individuals who did not adequately develop immunities with the initial two-dose series. A full list of conditions is available on the CDC’s website.
“A third dose of Pfizer or Moderna will provide those who need it extra protection and help shield some of our most vulnerable from the highly contagious delta variant,” said Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH. “Science continues to show vaccines are the best tool we have to protect our communities and slow the spread of COVID-19.”
A person receiving a third dose should get it at least 28 days after dose two. When possible, the individual should receive the same vaccine as the first two doses but may receive the other mRNA vaccine brand if the original vaccine is not available. At this time, no additional dose is recommended for people who had the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. People who received J&J should not get a second dose of either J&J or a dose of an mRNA vaccine. Additionally, people with competent immune systems should not receive a third dose.
While vaccination is likely to increase protection, people who are immunocompromised should continue to wear a mask, maintain 6 feet of social distancing, avoid crowds, and avoid poorly ventilated indoor spaces to protect themselves and those around them. Close contacts of immunocompromised people are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to help place a bubble of protection around them.
Hi Janet- local healthcare providers should be well situated to work directly with their immunocompromised patients to help them evaluate appropriateness of a third dose and help them secure the shot if needed. If for some reason the provider is not able to support patient’s vaccine needs, the provider should reach out to their Health Department liaison to discuss options.
Thanks, Brendan.
My arthritis specialist in Seattle has written me a letter saying that I need a third dose of vaccine because a medication that I take interferes with an effective response to the vaccines. If I stop taking this medication for a week before the third dose and a week after, I will likely develop a strong antibody response. So I need predictability in when I will receive my third dose.
It is really hard to get to the mainland these days.
Ferries from Anacortes to the San Juans have been cancelled since early this morning. This has interrupted the delivery of the Pfizer vaccine to San Juan County vaccine clinics:
Today (August 24) @ 2:41 PM: Ferry Alert: “Ans/SJs – #1 Suquamish Expected to Resume Service w Ana/FH 4:45 PM departure following previous cancellations.
Ray’s Pharmacy has Moderna, the vaccine that I received for my first and second doses. But, apparently, they cannot administer it to me because my Seattle doctor would not be on site. I have had two doses of Moderna with only the usual mild to moderate side effects. I am not allergic to any of the vaccine components.
The people who administer the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in our islands are trained to look out for side effects and treat them.
My doctor’s letter, the CDC’s recommendation for moderately to severely immunocompromised people to receive a third dose, and the WA State Dept. of Health’s agreement with this are not enough to allow me access on Orcas Island to the vaccine that I need to protect myself.
Vaccinated people who experience severe, even life-threatening, Covid-19 illness are likely immunocompromised people like myself. Why is San Juan County making it so difficult for us to become better protected?