“Simple it’s not, I am afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.”
– Dr. Seuss

Aloha Dear Colleagues!

On Friday, May 14, 2021, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a startling – and encouraging press release!  The news contained therein could spell the end of the CoVid-19 Pandemic – if people overcome their inertia and get immunized!

The results of the study conducted by the  CDC adds to the growing body of real-world evidence that shows COVID-19 mRNA vaccines  protected 94% of nurses and other healthcare workers once they were fully-vaccinated!

“This report provided the most compelling information to date that COVID-19 vaccines were performing as expected in the real world,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH.  You might remember when Dr Walensky made a different kind of statement just a couple of months ago.

“We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope, but right now I’m scared,” said Walensky on March 29, 2021, who noted she had begun experiencing a “recurring” feeling of “impending doom.”

This study, added to the many studies that preceded it, was pivotal to CDC changing its recommendations for those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 namely that fully-immunized  individuals no longer need to wear a mask in most situations. 

Data for this assessment come from a network covering 500,000 HCP across 33 sites in 25 U.S. states, providing additional robust evidence that mRNA vaccines are effective against symptomatic illness in real-world conditions.

Understanding vaccine effectiveness among HCP is important because we are at higher risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through patient interactions. Vaccination of HCP protects us, our patients , families, and communities against COVID-19 and ensures patients get the care they need.

The assessment found that COVID-19 symptomatic illness was reduced by 94% among HCP who were fully vaccinated, defined in this study as seven or more days after receipt of a second vaccine dose, and by 82% among those who were partially vaccinated, defined in this study as 14 days after receipt of dose one through six days after dose two. These findings support CDC’s recommendation that everyone should get both doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to get the most protection.

This assessment is part of CDC’s comprehensive strategy of using complementary methods to understand how COVID-19 vaccines are working in different populations and real-world settings. On May 12, CDC expanded COVID-19 vaccination recommendations to include adolescents 12 years through 15 years of age under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization. These adolescents are now authorized to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. CDC has several surveillance networks that will continue to assess how well FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are working in real-world conditions in people of different age groups, including children and adolescents.

As nurses, we know disease-prevention is the way to go.  Consider the case of the tiny nation of Israel, holder of the the record for “World’s Best Vaccine Roll-out”.  In Israel, before the CoVid-19 vaccines became available, there was  an exceptionally high incidence of CoVid-19.   During the month of January, 2021  there were 8-10,000 cases diagnosed daily, out of a population of 9.5 million.  Israel’s all-time peak of CoVid cases came on January 27, 2021, with 11,934 cases diagnosed in one day.  Pretty awful. Yet, today, in Israel, the daily case rate of CoVid-19 hovers around 35, barely 5 months after the vaccine became available.

Compare this to Hawaii, where we have a population of 1.5 million – (1/6 that of Israel) – yet more than double the daily cases of Co-Vid 19.

Join with me and share information with the vaccine-hesitant people in your life.  Reassure them that ALL  currently authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and CDC does not recommend one vaccine over another. The most important decision is to get a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible. Widespread vaccination is the critical tool in stopping the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccinations are readily available for all Hawai’i residents who are at least 12 years old. You can find a convenient location to take your vaccination by clicking on the link below. Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are currently being offered, and clinics may soon resume use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

PLEASE Share this link with your patients, families, staff, and circle of influence in the community.

https://hawaiicovid19.com/vaccination-registration/

Mahalo for All You Do!

Leslie Jane

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