Dear ACHS patients,
I wanted to give you a few updates as we head into our second fall of the pandemic. As you have doubtless heard, the Delta variant of the coronavirus is much more contagious than the original variant of last year. This, along with more social interactions and less masking has led to a bump in case counts - before we even head into winter! The good news is that the available vaccines are helping reduce hospitalizations and deaths among the vaccinated. The vaccines also reduce the chances of getting mildly ill (it may not FEEL mild, but we refer to mild illness as almost anything that does not require hospitalization) and “long COVID” (the syndrome of feeling poorly for months after having COVID19 infection). Since you are less likely to contract infection once vaccinated, you are thus less likely to pass it on. So, this brings me to some FAQs and updates...
I’m fully vaccinated, should I get a 3rd shot?
If you are immunocompromised (taking certain medications or have an underlying illness that affects your immune system such as cancer) and you were immunized with Pfizer or Moderna, you should get a 3rd shot 28 or more days after your 2nd shot. There is good evidence that this will help keep you healthy.
If you are over 65 and you got Pfizer, or are over 50 and have underlying medical problems, you SHOULD get a booster
There is good evidence that getting a booster 6 months or more after your 2nd shot will help prevent severe disease. We don’t know for sure how much it will reduce you from getting mild illness. People over 65 in particular, seem to lose some protection from the vaccine with time.
What if I had a Moderna Vaccine?
If you are over 65 and you got the Moderna vaccine, we are still waiting for the FDA to review the evidence. Moderna seems to be holding up better than Pfizer, but it’s pretty likely that you will also need a booster this fall/winter. Stay tuned for more on that.
What if I had the Johnson and Johnson vaccine?
Fewer people got J&J in the US, so it’s been slower to collect enough data to know what recommendations to make. At this point, 2nd shots are not approved and there is no formal recommendation about getting one of the shots from Moderna or Pfizer. We do know that J&J recipients are currently less protected than those that received Moderna and Pfizer. However, they are much more protected than folks who got no vaccine. We expect an update from the FDA in the coming weeks.
What about younger people with underlying conditions,
or those in high-risk jobs?
Younger people with medical conditions or those in professions where you are exposed to potentially sick people who received a Pfizer vaccine are allowed to get a booster, but it’s not as clear if this is necessary or helpful. We have to wait for more data to know for sure, but you can make your own decision now. See the CDC website: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot | CDC
Where can I get a 3rd shot/booster?
ACHS does not carry Pfizer vaccine. You can get a Pfizer shot at many pharmacies or from Littleton Regional Healthcare. ACHS offers the Moderna vaccine and we are still vaccinating unvaccinated patients. We will give boosters when they are approved by the FDA. We have limited staffing, so we mainly give vaccines at regular appointments and some nurse visits when staffing allows. If you get shots at your pharmacy, please have them send us a copy of the record, or you can send us a copy of your vaccine card
I don’t want a vaccine and my employer is mandating one —
can you give me a letter?
For most patients, the answer is no. The only contraindication to the currently available vaccines against COVID19 is a history of a serious allergic reaction to a COVID19 vaccine component. If you have a documented (event for which medical treatment was needed and is in ACHS medical records) history of such an event, then ACHS encourages you to discuss a possible medical exemption from vaccination. For all other patients, ACHS will not be able to give you a medical exemption—please do not contact the office to ask for one. Currently available COVID19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective through numerous studies. We encourage all our eligible patients to be vaccinated!
What about kids?
The Pfizer vaccine is available now for kids over 12. Some parents worry about the rare complication of myocarditis. The chances of a teenager getting myocarditis after vaccination is 67 out of a million. The chances of him/her getting myocarditis if they get COVID is 450 out of a million (plus there are lots of other risks). Your child is safer getting vaccinated given that there is a lot of COVID going around and the chance that they will get COVID if unvaccinated is high. We hope there will be approval for younger kids in about a month.
Why do I still have to wear a mask at the office?
Should I wear one at other places?
Masks reduce (but do not eliminate) transmission. We are already seeing more cases in New Hampshire and Vermont including rising hospitalizations and deaths and it’s not even winter! We need to do everything we can to keep each other safe and to avoid a surge that overwhelms the healthcare system such that we can’t do a good job taking care of patients with all illnesses, including COVID. You must wear a mask while at ACHS and we recommend it when you're indoors in public areas, even if you are vaccinated.
Should I still get a flu shot this year?
Yes, we strongly recommend patients get a flu shot this season. In fact, we are already seeing influenza in the community now! ACHS has flu shots for all ages. However, due to staffing shortages and our low supply of high-dose flu, we recommend that if you are over 65 you get your “senior” flu shot at your local pharmacy. We will be offering shots at regular appointments and have some nursing visits available as well.
This is a lot of information, but we hope it may answer some of your questions. Still need answers? Check the NH state Covid Information page, the CDC, or ACHS website.
Thanks for your time and stay well!
Sarah
