PCHS vaccinations exceed 1,600

Perkins County Health Services administered another 110 COVID-19 vaccination during their last session Friday. 

CEO Neil Hilton said this week that PCHS has administered 1,680 shots since they began offering vaccination in late December. 

To this point, the only vaccine the hospital has been using is the Moderna two-shot vaccine. 

Those 1,680 doses represent 800 people who have already received both of their shots, along with another 80 who have completed the first round of the Moderna shot.

Hilton said they just received 100 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine but have not administered it yet. 

Whether they will or not remains to be seen after the Center for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration recommended a hold on J&J vaccinations on Tuesday. 

According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, a Nebraska woman was diagnosed with a rare and severe type of blood clot on April 8. The person had received the J&J vaccine. 

After consultation with the Nebraska entities involved,  CDC and FDA issue a joint statement recommending a pause on Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccinations nationwide while more investigation is completed.

Only six instances of this severe clotting event have been identified among approximately 6.8 million who have received the J&J/Janssen vaccine across the US. 

All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. 

Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered, creating the need for review and investigation.

Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous, and alternative treatments need to be given.

According to the CDC and FDA, people who got the vaccine more than a month ago area at a very low risk at this time.

People who recently got the vaccine—within the last few weeks—they should be aware of any symptoms.

If these following symptoms occur—severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath—the people affected should contact their healthcare provider and seek medical treatment.

Praise for his staff

 Hilton praised his team at PCHS for their efforts in getting the vaccines administered.

The clinics, run in specialty clinic area, have called on the entire crew to be engaged in at one time or another throughout the process, he said.

Vaccination clinics will continue at PCHS until it appears they are no longer needed, he added. 

He said they will hold on to the J&J vaccine doses until some recommendation is made by the FDC and CDC.

Adams Drug in Imperial began  dispensing the J&J vaccine last week. 

Buenz U Save Pharmacy in Ogallala just received an allotment of J&J vaccines but, like PCHS, plans to hold off for the time being. They have been offering the Moderna shots. 

9,300 doses in SW Nebraska

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) received 1,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and 200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the last two weeks.

That brings the total distribution to 9,300 doses for southwest Nebraska.

Vaccine safety and the health of Nebraskans is the top priority, and this pause is being recommended out of an abundance of caution, Director Myra Stoney said in reference to the J&J vaccine. 

She said SWNPHD and local partners will continue to vaccinate Nebraska residents age 18 years and older with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, with a goal of 70% of the population vaccinated against COVID-19.

Stoney reminded residents  that none of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19.

“Vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19,” she said.

Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever.  These symptoms are normal and a sign that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19, she added. 

Case numbers low

Stoney said SWNPHD had nine new cases of COVID-19 reported from March 29 to April 12.  These included two in Perkins County, three in Keith County and four in Red Willow County.

That brings the total number of cases to 3,788.  There was one death due to COVID-19 in SWNPHD in the month of March. 

An additional 14 deaths have been reported to SWNPHD as a result of an audit that was conducted of the COVID-19 cases during the fall wave and early 2021. 

All deaths due to COVID-19 are submitted to state health officials and then must be positively confirmed before being reported to local health districts, which can lead to significant delays. 

By month, the following additional deaths were identified: October - 3, November - 3, December - 4, January - 1, and February - 1. 

This brings the total deaths due to COVID-19 in southwest Nebraska to 74.

The statewide COVID-19 Risk Dial, based on the amount of hospital capacity used for COVID patients, is currently in the green
level.