Listening in on the @Intermountain presser on vaccine plans.
Dr. Kristin Dascomb: Excited to be able to offer this to our caregivers. Two hospitals have received it, Utah Valley and LDS. Vaccinations expected to begin Wednesday, starting w/ those in COVID units. #utpol
Dr. Kristin Dascomb: Excited to be able to offer this to our caregivers. Two hospitals have received it, Utah Valley and LDS. Vaccinations expected to begin Wednesday, starting w/ those in COVID units. #utpol
@Intermountain Driscomb: Will be a tracking system for adverse events. Will be administered when providers can take a day off to recover from symptoms.
Was transported to pharmacy, stored. Will be thawed and administered one at a time to avoid crowds. #utpol
Was transported to pharmacy, stored. Will be thawed and administered one at a time to avoid crowds. #utpol
Now, @E_Stenehjem, calls it “historic week in health care.” 16 million cases, 296,000 deaths, 1,055 deaths in Utah. “More deaths will come” but we’re hopeful. All of our lives have been impacted. Today signals the beginning of the end of COVID in Utah. #utpol
Stenehjem: It’s a proud day for science and for medicine. It’s an astonishing accomplishment in 11 months.
We’ve “looked under the hood,” looked at the data and feel the vaccine is safe and effective, needs to be deployed ASAP. We have no hesitation to be vaccinated. #utpol
We’ve “looked under the hood,” looked at the data and feel the vaccine is safe and effective, needs to be deployed ASAP. We have no hesitation to be vaccinated. #utpol
Stenehjem: This is light at the end of the tunnel but we’re still months from widespread community vaccination.
Cases are improving but transmission rates are still very high. ICUs at 101% capacity.
Good public health measures avoided big Thanksgiving spike. #utpol
Cases are improving but transmission rates are still very high. ICUs at 101% capacity.
Good public health measures avoided big Thanksgiving spike. #utpol
Stenehjem: Message for Hanukkah and Christmas is the same. Can’t afford another spike.
Now Sean Talley, shock trauma ICU manager. The good news is vaccine is here. Signals entering new phase. Lots of nurses want to get vaccinated ASAP. #utpol
Now Sean Talley, shock trauma ICU manager. The good news is vaccine is here. Signals entering new phase. Lots of nurses want to get vaccinated ASAP. #utpol
Q. Why wait until Wednesday?
Driscomb: We need to be able to set up caregivers to administer the vaccines safely. Need people signed up for appointments. Need to coordinate thawing and administering.
Will announce when community vaccinations start. #utpol
Driscomb: We need to be able to set up caregivers to administer the vaccines safely. Need people signed up for appointments. Need to coordinate thawing and administering.
Will announce when community vaccinations start. #utpol
Anticipating community vaccinations starting sometime between March and June.
Q. How will those who get vaccine first be notified?
Dascomb: Email will give directions, let them set up an appointment.
Q. Who gets it first? #utpol
Q. How will those who get vaccine first be notified?
Dascomb: Email will give directions, let them set up an appointment.
Q. Who gets it first? #utpol
Dascomb: First will be medical workers and environmental services workers who handle waste. As more comes in, offer it to those in primary care and beyond. Then long-term care facilities and patients. Then public over age 65 and those with co-morbidities. Then the public. #utpol
Q. How do you make sure you have enough caregivers if they get sick and have to stay home?
Dascomb: If they need to stay home they can. Doing it at end of shift week. If they get Covid symptoms, would have them stay home and get tested. #utpol
Dascomb: If they need to stay home they can. Doing it at end of shift week. If they get Covid symptoms, would have them stay home and get tested. #utpol
Q. What is ICU status?
Stenehjem: Intermountain ICUs still very very full. Keep opening new units and beds. The ICU sure was predicted. ICU patients stay a long time and its challenging to manage the number of patients.
Q. When will it et to Dixie RMC?
A. End of week. #utpol
Stenehjem: Intermountain ICUs still very very full. Keep opening new units and beds. The ICU sure was predicted. ICU patients stay a long time and its challenging to manage the number of patients.
Q. When will it et to Dixie RMC?
A. End of week. #utpol
Q. How many doses received?
Dascomb: Two boxes in Utah Valley. Anticipate same at LDS. Each box is about 975 doses.
Distribution is based on number of workers and patients. Allocated on where patients are and where workers are most exposed. #utpol
Dascomb: Two boxes in Utah Valley. Anticipate same at LDS. Each box is about 975 doses.
Distribution is based on number of workers and patients. Allocated on where patients are and where workers are most exposed. #utpol
Q. Are politicians getting in front of the line?
Dascomb: No plans for community members at this time.
Q. Are health care workers opting out?
Dascomb: It’s not mandatory. Since sign-ups just starting don’t know if any are declining. Expect 70% in short term. #utpol
Dascomb: No plans for community members at this time.
Q. Are health care workers opting out?
Dascomb: It’s not mandatory. Since sign-ups just starting don’t know if any are declining. Expect 70% in short term. #utpol
Q. What about 2nd dose?
Dascomb: They’ll get an email to schedule appointment for 2nd dose in 21 days.
Q. What does it mean the vaccine is stable?
Stenehjem: RNA is unstable, so needs to be cold. Temperature is important. #utpol
Dascomb: They’ll get an email to schedule appointment for 2nd dose in 21 days.
Q. What does it mean the vaccine is stable?
Stenehjem: RNA is unstable, so needs to be cold. Temperature is important. #utpol
Stenehjem: Moderna vaccine is similar. Will be presented to FDA advisory committee this week which will make recommendation to FDA that could issue emergency use authorization similar to the Pfizer process and timeline.
Q. Are elective surgeries being done? #utpol
Q. Are elective surgeries being done? #utpol
Stenehjem: Hospitals are prioritizing, putting off what can and doing what is necessary.
Q. Why weren’t appointments made before?
Dascomb: Wanted to make they had the product first.
Q. Do you have enough people to administer vaccine? #utpol
Q. Why weren’t appointments made before?
Dascomb: Wanted to make they had the product first.
Q. Do you have enough people to administer vaccine? #utpol
Dascomb: Asking lots of nurses who normally administer flu vaccines to come do it. Don’t anticipate shortages.
Q. How long does it last?
Stenehjem: We don’t know. Need to monitor it. Doubt it will be annual like flu, because with flu the virus shifts. #utpol
Q. How long does it last?
Stenehjem: We don’t know. Need to monitor it. Doubt it will be annual like flu, because with flu the virus shifts. #utpol
Q. Why get vaccine if you’ve had Covid?
Stenehjem: Vaccine may provide longer immunity and it would be a challenge to do antibody testing before administering the vaccine (or not).
Q. Why still mask?
Stenehjem: Won’t have widespread community vaccination for months. #utpol
Stenehjem: Vaccine may provide longer immunity and it would be a challenge to do antibody testing before administering the vaccine (or not).
Q. Why still mask?
Stenehjem: Won’t have widespread community vaccination for months. #utpol
Stenehjem: Until we can get people at risk for severe outcomes vaccinated still need to mask and social distance.
Pfizer also didn’t look at asymptomatic infection. If you’re vaccinated you might still be able to transmit virus. #utpol
Pfizer also didn’t look at asymptomatic infection. If you’re vaccinated you might still be able to transmit virus. #utpol
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