By Karen Kier,
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team
As vaccination rates are increasing, the number of cases in Ohio is decreasing for a second straight week.

Ohio reports that 32.8% of the population is vaccinated, which is slightly higher than the overall country at 31.5%. These numbers are far below the estimated herd immunity requirement to successfully reduce COVID-19 infections and exposures.

Some experts believe that a 60-70% rate would be sufficient but Dr. Fauci and other infectious disease specialists estimate a 90% vaccination rate is necessary to reduce the number of cases and deaths.

Path to Normality
The goal has moved away from the idea of achieving herd immunity to getting enough of the population vaccinated to achieve the “Path to Normality”. The reasons for moving to this new goal of normality with COVID-19 is the number of people that are still hesitant to get the vaccine, the new variant strains, and the delay in getting children vaccinated.  

Children will be the next focus for vaccination when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) evaluate the evidence for the COVID-19 vaccines.

On March 31, 2021, Pfizer submitted study information to the FDA for children ages 12 to 15. Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine already had FDA emergency use authorization for 16 years and up.

The study data for the age group 12 to 15 years resulted in the vaccine being 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection after the second shot in the series. The company is hoping for emergency use authorization of the vaccine by early summer. 

If the FDA gives emergency use authorization, then children could be vaccinated before school starts in the fall. CNBC reported that Pfizer will have study data for ages 5 to 11 years and the possibility exists for that age group to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccines by the end of summer or early fall.

Pfizer has started clinical studies of the COVID-19 vaccine in ages six months and up. This study information will probably not be released until the end of 2021 for administration of vaccine in 2022.  

CDC new guidelines
The CDC released new guidelines for individuals who have been vaccinated. A new study has shown that those who have been vaccinated have a 0.008% chance of getting a COVID-19 infection after a complete shot series.

The CDC indicates that contracting a COVID-19 infection while being outdoors is an extremely low risk for those vaccinated. Indoor risk is determined by anyone in the room who is not vaccinated.

The vaccinated person can still unknowingly transmit a COVID-19 infection because they could have an asymptomatic infection/exposure and the virus can be in air droplets from their lungs. 

The use of masks indoors are more protective for the unvaccinated in the room then the vaccinated. If you are unsure about the new CDC guidance, please read the guidelines at the CDC.gov website. The CDC has listed higher risk activities for those who are vaccinated. 

These higher risks include communities with high transmission rates and cases (purple in Ohio), settings with a large number of unvaccinated individuals in a group, indoor areas with poor ventilation, lack of physical distancing in groups, activities that involve singing, shouting, or physical exertion in large groups, and exposure for longer periods of time within groups.

The CDC no longer recommends self-quarantine following domestic travel for those vaccinated. International travel may still require a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel even if vaccinated. The CDC continues to evaluate the science and modifies guidelines as appropriate. 

Questions? Ask us
The Ohio Northern University Drug and Health Information Center (DHIC) is available to answer questions related to the COVID-19 vaccines, as well as other medication and health information. 

The ONU DHIC was established in 1977 and has been answering health and drug-related questions ever since. The pharmacists and student pharmacists that answer questions are very well versed on the COVID-19 vaccines. The website to submit a question to the DHIC is  https://www.onu.edu/student-life/health-and-wellness-resources/onu-healt....

Feel free to call the ONU HealthWise Pharmacy or talk to your health care professional for more information.  ONU HealthWise is offering COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Ada every Friday.

The clinic is offering both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines this week. Please visit the Ohio website to register for sites:  https://gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov/.

ONU HealthWise Pharmacy
419-772-3784