VACCINATION INFO FROM PUTNAM COUNTY
25 April 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 25, 2021
Putnam County Department of Health Announces Resumption of J&J Vaccinations
BREWSTER, NY-- Now that the “pause” has been lifted, the Putnam County Department of Health (PCDOH) will be offering both the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine as well as the two-dose Moderna vaccine on Tuesday April 27th in Garrison. Individuals 18 and older who live, work, or attend school in New York are eligible. The PCDOH will also be running a clinic on Thursday, April 29tb in Brewster as well. For links to sign-up and more information, visit: https://www.putnamcountyny.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/.
Federal vaccine safety monitoring systems worked as intended and allowed for further investigation into any possible link between the one-dose (Janssen) vaccine and TTS, also known as thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome. The CDC’s independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has now deemed that the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh any known potential risks for individuals 18 and over. Most people who developed TTS, a combination of blood clots and low levels of platelets, were females ages 18 through 49 years. The CDC and FDA report that the chance of TTS remains rare.
As the first and so far only single-dose COVID-19 vaccine to gain Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA, Janssen’s “one and done” vaccine appeals to a wide stretch of the population. Its ease of transport and storage enables providers without deep freezer capacity to vaccinate diverse populations. Individuals that may struggle to accommodate a two-dose series for a variety of reasons have sought out Janssen vaccinations.
County Executive MaryEllen Odell says, “From homebound residents to college students nearing the end of their semesters, rolling up their sleeves for a single-dose has helped to keep individuals safe as well as contributed to the overall vaccination rates in the county. We are glad the processes in place to ensure vaccine safety worked and now we can keep Putnam healthy and moving in the right direction.”
According to the NYS Vaccine Tracker, 48% of Putnam County residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Putnam is slightly ahead of the statewide average of 44%. More information about local and statewide vaccination rates can be found at: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/covid-19-vaccine-tracker.
Commissioner of Health, Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD says, “The ‘pause’ on the Janssen vaccine allowed for a thorough review of the reported cases as well as a chance to field reports of additional cases. Another vital task during this brief pause was the broad education and outreach that was needed to ensure clinicians are aware of the proper management and specialized treatment required for the rare, but serious clotting event. The bottom line here is the CDC and the FDA have confirmed that this vaccine is safe and effective.”
Fact sheets for recipients of the Janssen vaccine have been revised to include information about this rare clotting syndrome and vaccine recipients are encouraged to report side effects to the FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 1-800-822-7967 or to report online visit: https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. V-safe is also a new voluntary smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with people who have been vaccinated to identify potential side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. For more information on how to sign up, visit: www.cdc.gov/vsafe.
22 April 2021
01 March 2021
PCDOH has received notification that the state is shipping Pfizer vaccines specifically for our residents 65+. This means PCDOH has been given the go-ahead to begin to vaccinate our seniors! As always, when the health department has received this shipment, we will confirm POD details and share a link for a limited number of appointments on our vaccine info website: https://www.putnamcountyny.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/. PCDOH also anticipates Moderna shipment for the groups that were previously eligible for vaccinations through PCDOH-run PODs and registration information will be shared when vaccine arrives.
Additionally, the list of vaccine providers on the above site will be updated as Putnam County receives information from NYS.
09 February 2021
Vaccines:
A list of vaccine providers in Putnam County can now be found at https://www.putnamcountyny.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/. The list will be updated weekly as Putnam County receives information from NYS.
PCDOH PODs
PCDOH held a first and second dose closed-POD on Monday, February 8, in Carmel and will hold a first and second dose closed-POD on Thursday, February 11 in Philipstown. Any individual who works in or lives in Putnam County that currently works in the following categories is eligible: Police, Fire, Schools, Daycare, Grocery, Corrections, and newly eligible individuals include: restaurant workers, restaurant delivery drivers, and for-hire vehicle drivers.
Per direction from NYS, PCDOH is not permitted to vaccinate 65+ unless the individual falls into one of the categories listed above. We ask residents not to register for an appointment if they do not meet these criteria. They will be turned away at the door. Local health departments must adhere to specific vaccination groups determined by the New York State Department of Health, or we may not receive vaccines the following week.
We received limited doses of vaccine this week so appointments will fill quickly. Future PODs will be scheduled as more vaccine is received.
Register here: https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=BAB6C480501404BAE0530A6C7C166F7B
Press releases:
13 January 2021
Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced that the Putnam County Department of Health will open a second COVID-19 vaccination site on Thursday, Jan. 14, this one in Philipstown.
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11 January 2021
The Putnam County Department of Health is preparing to expand COVID-19 vaccination distribution to those aged 75 and older, first responders, teachers and other essential workers who live and/or work in the county, The Putnam County Department of Health is preparing to expand COVID-19 vaccination distribution to those aged 75 and older, first responders, teachers and other essential workers who live and/or work in the county, as the state institutes Phase 1B of its vaccination program, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said.
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07 January 2021
The Putnam County Department of Health vaccinated 251 people against COVID-19 Thursday during its first vaccination drive of the pandemic, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced.
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Photo: Heather Hazzan, SELF Magazine for the American Pediatric Association.