The shot heard around the world

The long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Ohio County last week just in time to give a few frontline healthcare workers an early “Christmas gift.”

Five hundred doses of the Moderna vaccination arrived at OCH after press time Dec. 23. Three full vials, which provides approximately 30 total vaccinations were administered on the morning of Dec. 24.

The first person to receive the vaccine was Dr. Elizabeth Ottman, OB-GYN and OCH’s chief of surgery.

“I urge all of my patients to get the vaccination,” she said. “While these vaccinations seem new, in reality, immunization research on several types of messenger RNA vaccines have been in production for years. It is only recently that a strong enough one was developed to specifically fight COVID-19.”

Also included in the first round of vaccinations were several essential workers including 18 Comcare EMS ambulance service employees, Judge-Executive David Johnston and Emergency Management Director Charlie Shields. Several frontline nurses and other clinical positions were also vaccinated.

“This vaccinations serve as hope for the return to our more normal way of living which is in community with each other,” states Jim Duke – Comcare President. “It was vitally important for the EMS service to receive the first round vaccinations as we are often in close proximity in confined spaces with potential and/or diagnosed COVID-19 patients.”

Several participants reported feeling no side effects while some reported mild soreness at the injection site and minor aches/fatigue.

Johnston said he received the news of the vaccine’s arrival about 15 minutes prior to getting vaccinated as it arrived earlier than expected.

“I hope that by setting the example of getting the vaccination that it will encourage others to receive it,” Johnston said. “I have confidence that this vaccine is key, along with masking and social distancing, in keeping our citizens safe and our businesses open.”

Johnston said the injection did not hurt and he has had no side effects nearly a week later.

Ottman said mRNA vaccines do not put a weakened or inactivated virus into the body like traditional immunizations. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein that can trigger an immune response if the real virus enters our bodies.

Johnston said he wished he could provide details about when the vaccine would be made available to others but is encouraging them to contact their healthcare provider or health department.

Johnston said vaccines were supposed to start at long-term facilities in the county Monday, but that information had not been verified.

OCH plans to continue Tier 1 vaccinations this

week for employees who work directly with patients. Tier 2 vaccinations of non-clinical employees, starting with those who are considered high risk, will begin Monday, Jan. 4.

The state’s first phase of vaccinations includes frontline healthcare workers and long-term care patients. Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday the state plans to move into its next phase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Phase 1b on Feb. 1. Those included in that group will be people over 70 years of age, first responders and K-12 school personnel.

Dr. Steven Stack, the state’s commissioner for the Department of Public Health, said Phase 1c, is currently set to include those between the ages of 65-74 years of age, those between 16 and 64 years of age with high-risk medical conditions and essential workers. It is unclear when that phase would begin.

On Monday, Beshear noted that the state’s limited restrictions and Kentuckians’ sacrifices have made a clear impact on the state’s fight against COVID-19, decreasing Kentucky’s weekly case numbers, positivity rate and hospitalizations.

On Monday, the state’s positivity rate was at 8.41% down slightly from 8.58% reported a week ago. As of Monday’s numbers, there have been a total of 261,492 cases of COVID-19 in the state with 2,563 deaths attributed to the virus.

The governor hopes that the holidays don’t lead to an increase in cases throughout the state and urged Kentuckians to keep New Year’s celebrations safe and small.

“What we do on these holidays in 2020 is going to dictate how many people are or are not with us for holidays in 2021,” said Gov. Beshear. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s make sure we’re making the types of decisions that protect people as we get there.”

As of Tuesday morning’s report from the Green River Health Department, Ohio County has had a total of 1,469 positive cases of COVID-19 with 331 of those still active. That is up from the 1,409 cases last Tuesday. There have been a total of 30 deaths in Ohio County attributed to the virus.