Deaconess Community,

Although more people in our community are choosing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, now is not the time to abandon the safety measures recommended to reduce the spread of the virus. In the last few weeks, there have been reported increases in COVID-19 infections in Missouri and Illinois. Vaccines are one way of helping to protect against COVID-19, and in these special edition digests, we will continue to provide information and resources to help you make an informed decision about vaccination.

We recognize information related to the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination is updating frequently as policy and vaccine availability continues to evolve. In addition to bringing insights from people in our community who are deeply engaged in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts and sharing the work of our partners addressing health disparities, we have a dedicated page on our website to help you get connected to resources in your community: Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Registration and Appointment and COVID-19 Testing Information. We still invite you to share resources that have been helpful for you and may be shared with others by contacting us at info@deaconess.org.

In this second edition, Rick Stevens, President of Christian Hospital, acknowledges the barrier technology has played in the vaccine rollout, shares efforts to connect communities with limited access to technology with resources, and encourages everyone to make an informed decision about vaccination.

In service to our children,

Cheryl D.S. Walker

Interim President and CEO

Deaconess Foundation

On February 1, 2021 Christian Hospital opened a BJC COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Christian Hospital for the community, with the goal of putting 900 vaccines in arms each day. As the pandemic disproportionately continues to affect our communities of color, one of our challenges from the onset of vaccination distribution has been connecting with those most vulnerable with limited or no access to technology to register online to receive the vaccine.

In response, we established a hotline (314-273-1252) with BJC and the Washington University School of Medicine to assist community members aged 18 years and older who have limited or no access to a computer with signing up to receive the vaccine. In addition to receiving assistance with pre-registration, callers may also speak with a registered nurse to discuss their questions about vaccine safety, side effects or specific health factors that may impact their decision. Callers with access to a computer who may need assistance navigating the pre-registration process may receive step-by-step assistance through the hotline to register online at bjc.org/vaccinate.

Since March 1, Christian Hospital has been hosting an in-person COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration clinic to further connect with this segment of the population. This has proven to be effective in helping to close the technology gap. To-date, we have pre-registered more than 1,000 community members with no or very limited technology access at our vaccine pre-registration clinic. The clinic registered residents on Sundays between 2-4 p.m. in the atrium lobby of the Paul F. Detrick Building and held its final registration event on April 18th.

My family and I have received the vaccine and I encourage everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated to make informed decisions as to what is best for them as individuals.

As the pandemic continues, along with getting vaccinated, the most important things we all should continue to do are wear your mask, watch your distance and frequently wash your hands.

Christian Hospital Foundation creates opportunities for indviduals and organizations to provide vital support that directly improves the health and wellness of the community. Each year, Christian Hospital provides wellness programs, health screenings and educational opportunities at no charge. The free flu clinics, mammograms, blood glucose and cholesterol checks, and many more free health screenings are made possible through funds raised by the Christian Hospital Foundation.

Deaconess Foundation provided funding to Christian Hospital Foundation through its COVID-19 Equitable Relief and Recovery Fund. The grant supports efforts to provide basic needs and services such as rent or mortgage assistance, cleaning supplies, food, masks, behavioral health assistance and basic household needs to individuals and families affected by COVID-19 through community health workers.

To get involved and learn more about Christian Hospital Foundation, visit: christianhospital.org/Giving/Foundation

The following information is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We encourage you to use the information to make an informed decision regarding the vaccine.

Below are answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination.

CDC and FDA have recommended that use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine resume in the United States, effective April 23, 2021. However, women younger than 50 years old especially should be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after vaccination, and that other COVID-19 vaccines are available where this risk has not been seen. If you received a J&J/Janssen vaccine, here is what you need to know. Read the CDC/FDA statement.

 

After getting vaccinated, you might have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. Common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling in the arm where you received the shot, as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea throughout the rest of the body. These side effects could affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Additional Information: Possible Side Effects

The number of doses needed depends on which vaccine you receive. To get the most protection:

If you receive a vaccine that requires two doses, you should get your second shot as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, your second dose may be given up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose, if necessary. You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval.

Yes, if you are pregnant, you might choose to be vaccinated. Based on how COVID-19 vaccines work, experts think they are unlikely to pose a specific risk for people who are pregnant. However, there are currently limited data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant people because these vaccines have not been widely studied in pregnant people. Systems are in place to continue to monitor vaccine safety, and so far, they have not identified any specific safety concerns for pregnant people. Clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant people are underway or planned.

You might want to have a conversation with your healthcare provider to help you decide whether to get vaccinated. While a conversation with your healthcare provider might be helpful, it is not required before to vaccination. Learn more about vaccination considerations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you are pregnant and have received a COVID-19 vaccine, you are encouraged to enroll in v-safe, CDC’s smartphone-based tool that provides personalized health check-ins after vaccination. A v-safe pregnancy registry has been established to gather information on the health of pregnant people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Additional Information: Pregnancy or Breastfeeding, Monitoring Systems for Pregnant People, V-safe Pregnancy Registry

It depends. For now, fully vaccinated people can gather indoors without physical distancing or wearing masks with: 

Until more is known, fully vaccinated people should continue to wear masks and stay 6 feet apart from other people in other settings, like when they are in public or visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households. 

Additional Information: When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated, Key Things to Know, Protect Yourself and Others

Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.

If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Experts are still learning more about how long vaccines protect against COVID-19 in real-world conditions. CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

Additional Information: Benefits of Getting Vaccinated

No. People with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation; those without symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria before getting vaccinated. This guidance also applies to people who get COVID-19 before getting their second dose of vaccine.

Additional Information: When to Quarantine, Ending Home Isolation

The CDC doesn’t know how long protection lasts for those who are vaccinated. What the CDC does know is that COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice.

Experts are working to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity. CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html.

Resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Deasia Paige | Belleville News-Democrat

In January, as St. Clair County started making plans to administer vaccines to residents, East St. Louis resident Patricia Parker signed her name on the county health department’s list to be notified about an appointment.

It wasn’t long before East Side Health District called her to get her and her husband vaccinated. They received the first dose of the Moderna shot at the clinic in early February.

Parker didn’t expect to get an appointment so quickly. She’s grateful for the work of the district to ensure Black residents aren’t left behind in the vaccine rollout.

“I think that having it in East St. Louis provides another layer of security and confidence that East St. Louis residents are going to a place that they know and recognize, and not having to travel all the way across to Belleville to a service that should be more accessible,” Parker, 67, said about the clinic’s vaccination events in the area.

East Side Health District, based in East St. Louis, provides healthcare services to communities of color in southwestern Illinois. The four townships in its jurisdiction include East St. Louis, Canteen, Centreville and Stites. Read more>>>

Sarah Fentem | St. Louis Public Radio

The number of new coronavirus cases in the St. Louis region is rising after weeks of stable numbers.

Public health officials say the region is now in a race to encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine before the virus becomes more widespread.

“Right now we are in the most difficult phases of the pandemic,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health. “Public patience is wearing thin, people are increasingly skeptical, and exhaustion at an emotional level is perhaps building up.”

There has been an average of about 400 new coronavirus cases per day over the past week in the bi-state area, according to data collected by the New York Times. That’s a 10% increase over the week before.

Health officials in the St. Louis region say people need to make sure they don’t let their guard down, even as the vaccine becomes more available.

Missouri and Illinois are among several states that are seeing more coronavirus cases. Michigan has had a nearly 50% increase in new cases over the past 14 days, driven in part by positive cases in young people. Read more>>>

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