Send us your Covid-19 Questions and Concerns |
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If you have a question about anything Covid-19 or vaccine related, or a concern you'd like to share, email us at covid19@nevehshalom.org with "Reader Question" in the subject line and we'll research the answer for you.
The CNSCOS team is available to help anyone. You don't have to be a member of Congregation Neveh Shalom or be Jewish to access our assistance.
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Volunteer Opportunity: Be a Vaccinator in CNSCOS's Mobile Vaccine Unit! |
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CNSCOS announced in September that we are launching our own mobile vaccine unit! Under the leadership of CNS board member Dr. Michelle Alberts, CNSCOS will soon be able to host vaccine events and administer vaccines, rather than relying solely on OHA or county vaccination teams. This new program will give us new flexibility to reach as many people in the community as possible. As vaccine eligibility for children is coming closer, it’s imperative that we have more available vaccinator teams.
Now we need a pool of volunteer medical professionals (currently working or retired) who are trained to administer vaccines. As we schedule events, we’d put out a call to this pool to see who is available for each event.
If you’d like to be involved as a vaccinator, or in another volunteer role to help with events, please fill out this Google form. Our first event will most likely take place in November. Send any questions to covid19@nevehshalom.org.
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- As of Monday, October 4, Oregon has recorded:
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334,971 cumulative confirmed or suspected Covid-19 cases.
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3,823 deaths from Covid-19.
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As of October 4, 2.75 million Oregonians have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Out of that total, 2.52 million are fully vaccinated.
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Breakthrough case report: During the week of September 19-25, OHA recorded 11,567 cases of Covid-19. Of those cases, 2,401 (20.8%) were in fully vaccinated people. Overall, OHA has recorded 25,347 breakthrough cases of Covid-19. Only 4.6% of people with breakthrough cases have been hospitalized, and fewer than one percent have died.
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Delta’s dominance is waning. In Oregon, case numbers have fallen for 4 consecutive weeks, according to OHA’s weekly data report from September 20 through Sep 26. And as expected, counties with lower vaccination rates have seen more cases. Across the country, we’re averaging about 110,000 new cases per day, about 50,000 less than at the beginning of September. Hospitalizations are also falling. (If you subscribe to the New York Times, here’s a good article about how this latest wave of delta could have been the final major Covid-19 wave in the US.)
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Last week, pharmaceutical company Merck announced that its experimental antiviral drug reduced the risk of hospitalization or death from Covid-19 about 50% in clinical trials. The company says it will submit their data for FDA Emergency Use Authorization soon. However, the pill wouldn’t necessarily be available for everyone — it might only be available for people who have a higher risk of severe Covid-19 cases, such as older folks, people with obesity, diabetes, other underlying conditions, or who are immunocompromised.
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Anthony Fauci, the President’s Chief Medical Advisor and head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, emphasizes that antiviral medication is not a replacement for getting vaccinated. Vaccination remains our best weapon in the fight against Covid-19.
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Antibody tests cannot tell you whether your immunity to Covid-19 is waning or whether you need a booster shot of one of the Covid-19 vaccines. Antibody levels vary in different people, and they vary at different times (such as right after a vaccine versus 6 months later). Low antibody count doesn’t mean you’re no longer immune — you have other kinds of cells that can create antibodies when they’re needed.
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Covid-19 booster eligibility |
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Third dose shots for BOTH Moderna and Pfizer have already been authorized by the FDA for people who are severely immunocompromised, as defined by the CDC. That includes people currently in cancer treatment, have advanced or untreated HIV, have received an organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressive drugs, and more. See the complete list here.
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On September 22, the CDC and FDA formally recommended Pfizer booster shots for anyone ages 65 and up. Additionally, the FDA authorized Pfizer boosters for those with underlying conditions that would make a Covid-19 infection much worse. Those conditions include things like diabetes or chronic lung disease, among other things.
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For younger adults with underlying conditions, a Pfizer booster is optional, and individuals should consult with their doctor.
Bottom line: for young, healthy people, the two-shot dose is still working great. There has been some waning effectiveness against delta for symptomatic (mild to moderate) Covid-19, but the vaccines are still keeping people out of the hospital and, most importantly, alive.
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Get your Covid-19 vaccine! |
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All adults age 16 should receive a Covid-19 vaccine (ages 12+ for Pfizer)! Here’s OHA’s guide on how and where to find vaccine appointments.
- Please also contact our team if you are interested in being a volunteer for vaccination events.
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If you're interested in tracking how many people in the US have been vaccinated, check out the CDC's vaccine tracker dashboard or the Mayo Clinic's vaccine maps.
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Alex Freedman (he/they) is one of CNSCOS's two program coordinators. Alex is a Massachusetts-born social worker specializing in systems-level organizational and policy change. Alex has worked closely with youth and young adults in the foster, carceral, and mental health systems, as well as with LGBTQ+ and unhoused individuals. Since joining the team in January, Alex has graduated from Portland State University with their Masters in Social Work. When they're not working, Alex also loves backpacking, graphic novels, learning languages, and science fiction.
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Stephanie Gonias (she/her, left) is one of CNSCOS's two program coordinators. She is a Social Worker originally from the Northeast with a background in trauma-informed care and supporting children and families in child welfare. She is passionate about social justice and she loves hiking, reading, hanging with her cat (and other peoples cats), and trying new recipes.
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JoAnna Wendel (she/her) is CNSCOS's communications manager (and newsletter writer!) She is a professional science communicator and has been writing about science for nearly a decade. She moved back to Oregon in March 2020 after spending six years in Washington, DC. When she's not thinking or writing about science, JoAnna likes to hike, paint, read, and hang out with her cat Pancake.
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Dena Marshall is CNSCOS's project manager. A long-time Portland resident, Dena is also CNS's Development Director. She is an avid swimmer and traveler and the mother of two Portland Jewish Academy and BB Camp kids.
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CNSCOS is here to help anyone in Washington, Multnomah, or Clackamas County who has been affected by Covid-19.
- We can help you find/apply for food and financial resources, with errands, or just calling to talk if you’re feeling lonely.
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Please do not hesitate to reach out at covid19@nevehshalom.org! And please share this information with anyone who might need help!
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