Starting Monday, Ohioans 16 years and older can sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.Gov. Mike DeWine announced the new eligibility earlier this month, saying Ohio will move into phase 2D of the vaccine distribution plan. This phase will expand vaccine eligibility to all Ohioans 16 years and older. Scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment can be a stressful and chaotic event. As it turns out, there are better times than others to increase your chances of finding an open slot.Click here for the best times to sign up for a vaccine in Greater CincinnatiDeWine said teenagers who are 16 and 17 years old will only be able to get the Pfizer vaccine since the FDA authorization for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines only covers those 18 years and older.The governor credited expanded eligibility to increasing shipments of vaccine doses.The state has been administering 400,000 first doses of the vaccine each week. That number will be increased to 500,000 per week starting this week.The governor directly connected the decrease in virus numbers to the states massive effort to vaccinate. But with more supply coming in, DeWine and other state leaders are running into vaccine hesitancy among certain groups, including the elderly and young people. Ohio is planning to address that with a number of TV and ad campaigns aimed at those individuals and their specific concerns around the virus.We continue to see the numbers trending downward and that is great for everyone," he said. We are making progress. But the battle has to be fought every single day.While the number of coronavirus cases per capita in Ohio continues to fall, it is happening at a pace that could still take weeks to reach the level needed to end health orders in the state, according to state data.Those orders will be lifted once the state hits the mark of 50 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, DeWine said on March 4. Those orders would include the statewide mask order and limits on attendance at sporting events and indoor entertainment events.
Starting Monday, Ohioans 16 years and older can sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced the new eligibility earlier this month, saying Ohio will move into phase 2D of the vaccine distribution plan. This phase will expand vaccine eligibility to all Ohioans 16 years and older.
Scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment can be a stressful and chaotic event. As it turns out, there are better times than others to increase your chances of finding an open slot.
Click here for the best times to sign up for a vaccine in Greater Cincinnati
DeWine said teenagers who are 16 and 17 years old will only be able to get the Pfizer vaccine since the FDA authorization for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines only covers those 18 years and older.
The governor credited expanded eligibility to increasing shipments of vaccine doses.
The state has been administering 400,000 first doses of the vaccine each week. That number will be increased to 500,000 per week starting this week.
The governor directly connected the decrease in virus numbers to the states massive effort to vaccinate. But with more supply coming in, DeWine and other state leaders are running into vaccine hesitancy among certain groups, including the elderly and young people. Ohio is planning to address that with a number of TV and ad campaigns aimed at those individuals and their specific concerns around the virus.
We continue to see the numbers trending downward and that is great for everyone," he said. We are making progress. But the battle has to be fought every single day.
While the number of coronavirus cases per capita in Ohio continues to fall, it is happening at a pace that could still take weeks to reach the level needed to end health orders in the state, according to state data.
Those orders will be lifted once the state hits the mark of 50 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, DeWine said on March 4. Those orders would include the statewide mask order and limits on attendance at sporting events and indoor entertainment events.
Lafayette, LA., (KLFY) As millions more people continue to be vaccinated across the country on a daily basis, some are choosing not to receive the vaccine.
With the possibility of travel restrictions being put in place for those without the vaccine, some are turning to buying and selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards.
[Hawaii news on the goLISTEN to KHON 2GO weekday mornings at 7:30 a.m.]
There are websites that are being created to sell fake vaccine cards to look like the CDC cards that some people are opting to pay for, instead of actually getting the vaccine, Chris Babin with the Better Business Bureau of Acadiana said.
Officials are now warning against people posting and sharing their vaccine information on social media.
We would caution people against that because your personal information is on that card and not share it because things you put on social media isnt as protected as you might think, Babin said.
Its also possible to be scammed when trying to buy a fake vaccination card, according to Babin.
Your personal identifiable information could end up in the hands of a scammer because they might need that information to fill out your fake vaccine card and also youre going to have to pay for it, so that financial information can be taken by the scammer, he said.
At KLFY, we asked our team to recreate a fake vaccination card. Within 15 minutes, we were able to recreate a fake vaccination card. Since other people had posted their vaccine information online like the lot number, product name, and clinic site, it only had to be copied over.
A Florida man was recently fired from his job for selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards, according to media outlets.
We also reached out to the Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landrys office to see if charges could be pursued against those who forge or use these documents.
A statement was issued saying they are aware of the situation, and at this time, they have not received any reports of this occurring here. However, other states are seeing a growing trend in people doing so.
While we have not received a response from Landry regarding whether or not this could be punishable by law, according to Louisiana statues, this could be considered forgery.
Forgery is considered to be a felony crime which can be punishable in both fines and up to ten years in prison.
NEW JERSEY Many New Jerseyans became eligible Monday for vaccination against COVID-19. Employees in certain "essential" fields became eligible for vaccinations Monday, while many others will qualify for inoculation starting April 5.
Who Joined The List Monday?
Employees in the following professions can now get inoculated:
Who's already eligible?
Who becomes eligible April 5?
Where and How to Find Appointments
Patch has gathered tips that may help for securing vaccine appointments and websites with additional information:
Are There Enough Doses?
Gov. Phil Murphy expects New Jersey's vaccine supply to meet demand soon. This week, New Jersey expects to receive 494,430 doses, a "nearly 20 percent" increase week over week, according to the governor.
May 1 is the target date to open eligibility for everyone 16 and older who lives, studies or works in the Garden State.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico/NEW YORK, March 29, 2021Doctors Without Borders/Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) is working with the local health organization Puerto Rico Salud, the Puerto Rico Department of Health, and the Colegio de Profesionales de Enfermera de Puerto Rico to vaccinate vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities on the island, the international medical humanitarian organization announced Monday.
The participating organizations plan to vaccinate 6,000 people according to certain risk factors, including people experiencing homelessness, living in long-term care facilities or with disabilities, in Arecibo, Humacao, Aguadilla, Mayagez, Ponce, Loza and La Perla, San Juan. This effort aims to help protect these communities and demonstrate the feasibility of vaccinating people at risk of being missed by local vaccination efforts due to geographic isolation or living conditions.
"We have seen that many people face barriers in accessing COVID-19 vaccinations because they lack transportation, live in remote areas, or have conditions that make it difficult to reach a vaccination site," said Carla Sofa Gonzlez, a nurse with Puerto Rico Salud. "Now that vaccines are available, we are showing that it is possible to go into communities and ensure that people are not left out because of their circumstances."
In 2020, MSF began working in Puerto Rico to provide home-based care and COVID-19 monitoring for people isolated at home in multiple communities. Staff from this effort went on to form Puerto Rico Salud, which will carry out the two-month vaccination effort with MSF's support. The Department of Health is providing the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which requires only one dose, and the Colegio de Profesionales de Enfermera de Puerto Ricois aiding in the safe storage of the vaccines.
In the coming days, health workers from Puerto Rico Salud will begin visiting communities to vaccinate people whom community leaders have identified as lacking access to existing vaccination programs. These vaccinations may take place in local health centers or community buildings, or, when necessary, in peoples homes.
"Based on our experience in Puerto Rico, we understand the logistical challenges of bringing health care to geographically isolated areas, to people who are homeless, or to those who are home-bound due to chronic health issues," said Sophie Delaunay, coordinator for MSF in Puerto Rico. "While all too often, health care providers lack the means to ensure that hard-to-reach people are vaccinated, we are showing a way to overcome these challenges."
As the COVID-19 vaccination rollout ramps up throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico continues to have one of the lowest vaccination rates among U.S. states and territories, highlighting disparities in access to medical services and a lag in administering doses or recording them. According to the CDC's COVID Data Tracker, as of March 25, Puerto Rico has received 1,310,000 vaccine doses, of which 867,570 have been administered.
Thanks to the commitment of our nursing professionals in Puerto Rico we will have the opportunity to join with Doctors Without Borders and support this vaccination effort against COVID-19, said Dr. Ana Garca, president of the Colegio de Profesionales de Enfermera de Puerto Rico. Our goal is to reach places that are difficult to access in order to ensure that we can impact as many people as possible."
Puerto Rico's vaccination efforts have targeted primarily health professionals, frontline workers, people 65 years old and above, people above 60 years old with chronic conditions, prisoners and people with disabilities. As of mid-March, Puerto Rico has reported more than 100,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 2,000 deaths.
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As Loveland ramps up COVID-19 vaccinations, most on council have started their shots Loveland Reporter-Herald
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The state has been receiving the largest sustained COVID-19 vaccine allocation increase since the vaccines first became available.
Col. Robert Ator, program manager for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, says this week Arkansas COVID-19 vaccine allotment has increased more than 23%.
This weeks allocation is 95,240 doses, when you add in Walmart and our federal partners it comes out to be just under 115,000 coming into the state, says Ator.
Col. Ator says we have seen a 20% increase once before, however, it was due to the initial dump of Johnson and Johnson.
But it was short-lived, it was the big dump of Johnson and Johnson that we got two and half weeks ago, so this is the first long sustained big growth,adds Ator.
This sustained growth is coming from a number of places.We saw close to 10,000 additional doses of Pfizer this week, so between the J&J and Pfizer that is where that increase is coming from, says Ator.
When it comes to getting these additional vaccines into arms, Col. Ator says, more providers will be coming onboard.
Last week we brought on 31 doctors and clinics, and then this week we added another 10, and we are going to continue doing that, says Ator.
Col. Ator tells me along with helping get the additional vaccine out, he hopes adding all of these additional providers helps more individuals with underlying health conditions their shot in a more timely fashion.
Although that the vaccine is more readily available, a language barrier, misinformation, and a distrust of the government and politicians have created barriers for Northeast Ohios Muslim community, which was hit hard by the coronavirus. Despite that, when it comes to the vaccine theres still reluctance.
by: Brett Hall, Dean Mirshahi
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY/WRIC) Of the Virginians who want the COVID-19 vaccine, more than half already have received their first dose.
However, even when all those who want a vaccine receive one, state vaccination coordinator Dr. Danny Avula believes an additional one million people will have to receive a shot for Virginia to achieve herd immunity.
Avula, appointed as Virginias vaccine coordinator in January, reiterated previous assessments in a press call Friday that vaccinating at least 75% of the states adult population which would be an estimated 5.1 million people is the expected benchmark for herd immunity.
As of Friday, 2.2 million Virginians have received at least one dose of the vaccine according to the Virginia Department of Health. Avula said 1.4 million people remain on the states pre-registration list.
While Avula is confident another half-a-million people will automatically sign up once the state further opens up vaccine eligibility, beyond that, things could get tricky.
For the 60 to 65% [population vaccinated] that will be easy to get. We are a little over halfway there, Avula said. For that additional 12% to get to herd immunity, thats going to be a lot of work.
As to why that is, Avula listed a variety of possible reasons, including a mix of lack of awareness, access and concerns over the vaccine.
Pre-registration is a deterrent for some folks, Avula said, explaining how some residents may be wary of providing personal informationwhen signing up. He also cited possible internet access issues and those who may not be tech-savvy.
In addition, he said national data shows that those living in rural areas where much of the political base identifies as Republican are reluctant to get the shots.
In response, the VDH is working on targeted efforts to expand outreach to vulnerable communities and people hesitant to register for the vaccine. This includes more flexibility for walk-ups and smaller satellite vaccination sites, and giving doctors with private practices and advocacy groups more vaccine supply.
Its really going to be the private providers, doctors and nurses that have relationships with their patients, who will be incredibly effective to help those on the fence, get off the fence and get vaccinated, Avula said.
Next week, Virginia expects 164,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, 140,000 first doses and 112,000 second doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 49,000 of Johnson & Johnsons single-shot dose.
The shipment ofJohnson & Johnsonscoronavirus vaccine for next week is fewer than half of the doses expected. Despite that, Avula believes enough shots will be available to move all communities into Phase 1c of Virginias vaccination plan and still expects to meet President Joe Bidens goal of making all adults eligible for a vaccine by May 1.
A spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Health provided information from Avula in an email Thursday indicating the states effort to expand vaccine eligibility may be held up without a larger J&J supply.
We dont expect it to prevent us from moving into 1C, the email read. If ourJ&Jsupply doesnt grow significantly from here, it may impact our ability to move to Phase 2, but not 1C.
The Associated Press checks out some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. This one is bogus, even though it was shared widely on social media. Here are the facts:
CLAIM: The CEO of Pfizer refuses to get the COVID vaccine.
THE FACTS: A video on social media is trying to spread doubt about COVID-19 vaccines by falsely claiming Albert Bourla, the chairman and CEO of Pfizer, refuses to get the vaccine his company created.
In fact, he has already received two shots. Albert Bourla received his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on March 10, 2021, Pfizer spokesperson Faith Salamon told The Associated Press in an email.
Bourla tweeted a photo of him receiving his second shot on March 10.
Excited to receive my 2nd dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech#COVID19 vaccine, his post reads. Theres nothing I want more than for my loved ones and people around the world to have the same opportunity.
A popular video that includes the false banner, PFEIZER CEO REFUSES VACCINE, has been shared thousands of times on Facebook.
The name of the company is misspelled and some of the letters in the word vaccine have been replaced with an image of a coronavirus particle and a syringe. The video includes a clip of an interview Bourla did with CNBC on Dec. 14, but the video does not note the date.
In that interview, host Meg Tirrell asked when Bourla planned to get the shot. In his response, Bourla never refused to get the vaccine -- he simply noted that, at the time, it wasnt yet his turn.
As soon as I can, I will. The only sensitivity here, Meg, is that I dont want to have an example that Im cutting the line, Bourla said, according to the CNBC transcript. He went on to say he was 59, in good health, and not a frontline worker. My type is not recommended to get vaccination right now, Bourla said.
I told them to get the shot, all of you, Morton said, then jokingly added that he even told them that were ready to go back in the sanctuary and Im not letting anyone in who doesnt have the shots. I told them I want to see their card. We want to stop the pandemic.
About 34% of Georgians whove died from COVID-19 are Black and 5% are Hispanic, according to state data. Additionally, state data shows about 39% of Georgians whove been hospitalized are Black and nearly 11% are Hispanic.
State data, however, shows Black and Hispanic Georgians are getting vaccinated at disproportionately lower rates.
About 21% of Georgians vaccinated are Black, although they make up about 32% of the states population. Only 2.5% of Georgians whove received the vaccine are Hispanic, although they make up about 10% of the states population. State officials note that race and ethnicity data of recipients is often missing or may not be supplied by the recipient.
Still, experts agree that community-based outreach is an important part of the drive to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and the reach of houses of worship in these communities is far and wide.
In the Black and Latino communities, churches are among the first places some turn to know what is happening. People look to their church leaders for guidance, and many of their congregations include older people who are the hardest hit by COVID-19.
A positive word or act of encouragement from a trusted church leader can have more impact than science or health professionals in getting skeptical people to take the vaccine. Additionally, many houses of worship have health ministries, so offering the vaccine is not a far stretch as part of their community work.
Volunteers are calling members to make sure they know about the vaccine, and can navigate websites to book appointments, and some are offering rides to vaccine sites. Churches are also partnering with drugstore chains and government health agencies to hold vaccine drives. The state health department has also worked with faith leaders to provide information about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
U.S. Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, D-Ga., who also serves as senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, recently visited the Morehouse School of Medicine to look at vaccine efforts.
We know that churches are the oldest, most indigenous institutions in the African American community and we need to see continuing partnerships between our health care community and the faith community and the government, so that we provide wraparound approaches to care, he said.
Recently, the 38-year-old Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta sent a letter to Gov. Brian Kemp offering to share information with their congregations and distribute the vaccine.
Although theyve yet to get a response, the Rev. Shanan Jones, who has taken the vaccine, said the organization is still working to get information out to underserved communities through events like community forums with medical professionals and scientists. Jones is the groups president and pastor of The Gathering Baptist Church in College Park, which lost one of its younger members to the virus.
Beverly Sell, MSN, RN, of the Hall County Health Department, vaccinates St. Michael's Catholic Church parishioner Roberto Sierra. The Gainesville parish served as a vaccination site for nearly 100 members on Feb. 18. The clinic was held, in part, to increase vaccination rates in the area's Hispanic community. (Michael Alexander / Georgia Bulletin)
Credit: Michael Alexander / Georgia Bulletin
Credit: Michael Alexander / Georgia Bulletin
For many, its a matter of concern about the side effects of the vaccine, lack of access and distrust of the government and medical community. That hesitancy extends beyond the Latino and Black communities. About 45% of white evangelical Protestants said they would definitely or probably not get the vaccine, according to a recent Pew Research Center study.
Nationally, churches in cities like Louisville, Kentucky, and Milwaukee have held vaccination events, and the movement is growing in Georgia.
St. Michaels Catholic Church in Gainesville partnered a few weeks ago on a clinic with Hall County health department officials to administer 100 vaccines.
The churchs pastor, Father Tim Hepburn, said some of the vaccine recipients were from the Hispanic community. They wanted to do more, but were limited by the number of slots available.
Wed like to do it again, he said.
This past weekend, St. Marys Road United Methodist Church in a predominantly Black area of south Columbus held a vaccination event, where 500 people registered. Medical professionals, mostly from the St. Marys congregation, were to give the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires just a single dose.
The event, which was scheduled for Saturday, was done to enable more people to attend, with drive-thru and walk-up service to allow greater access for those who live in the neighborhood and dont have transportation.
St. Marys Road United Methodist Church in Columbus, led by Pastor Adriane McGee Burgess, planned a weekend vaccination event which registered 500 people. (Courtesy of Pastor Adriane McGee Burgess)
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Pastor Adriane McGee Burgess said many of her church members are older or have pre-existing conditions, so getting the vaccine was critical.
Id hate to bring (COVID-19) to someones home, or a funeral or assisted living facility, she said.
Pam Kirkland, public relations and information coordinator for the West Central Health District, which includes Columbus, is seeking additional faith partners.
Kirkland said the department hopes to make inroads into hard-to-reach communities, who may be less hesitant if they are talking to members of their church, people they know and trust, especially their pastor.
Some of the mosques in Georgia are also providing information about the vaccine and where to get inoculated.
Dr. Fawzi Mohammad, a vascular and interventional radiologist, is also a member of the board of the Islamic Community Center of Atlanta in Fayetteville.
Dr. Fawzi Mohammad, a member of the board of the Islamic Community Center of Atlanta, said people place a great deal of trust in their faith leaders. (Courtesy of Dr. Fawzi Mohammad)
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
While the ICCA is not hosting vaccine clinics, they have taken steps to offer lectures about COVID-19, the pandemic and how people can protect themselves, including sending links to vaccine resources.
People rely heavily on the faith community for a lot of their life decisions, he said. So more likely they will listen to a faith-based message than a political one or even from health care providers they may not trust.
Volunteer Morgan Hodge helps Terri Fleming with her paperwork after Hodge received her vaccination shot at St. Philip AME Church in Atlanta Saturday, March 13, 2020. (Steve Schaefer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Credit: Steve Schaefer
Credit: Steve Schaefer
The Rev. William D. Watleys 91-year-old mother survived a bout of COVID-19 and was hospitalized for more than a month.
Watley, 72, senior pastor of St. Philip AME Church in Atlanta, doesnt want to see anyone go through what his family experienced.
The church recently partnered with Walgreens to vaccinate hundreds of people in one weekend. Volunteers manned expanded phone banks and helped those who were not as technologically adept register to get the vaccine.
The role of the church is not just the soul, but were concerned with the whole person, said Watley. Since this is a crisis, its important that the faith community be on the cutting edge of meeting that very critical moment, and that has not been easy because the decision about vaccine sites is beyond out of our hands.
New Beginnings Morton said he wants to see people back in the church.
Its so important, he said of the vaccine. Look how many of us have died.
He said he lost his eldest brother Bishop Clarence Leslie C.L. Morton Jr. to complications from the virus not long after he attended the funeral of another bishop.
He said several members of his church reached out to him to thank him for encouraging them to get vaccinated.
I have another huge weapon besides my mask, besides social distancing, besides washing my hands. I have the ultimate weapon, he said. God kept us all through COVID. He can keep us through a shot.
