Nurses shift from defense to offense with vaccine distribution
Call the Marshall County COVID-19 hotline to be added to the waiting list to be notified for vaccine eligibility. Please note that being added to the waiting list is not registering for the vaccine. Volunteers will notify those on the waiting list when they are eligible to register for their vaccine based on priority age group.
MARSHALL COUNTY — Marshall County Health Department (MCHD) Public Health Nurse Lisa Letsinger and MCHD Nurse and Health Educator Sandy Dunfee are happy to shift from defense with education to offense against COVID-19 with vaccine distribution.
Letsinger said that it has been uplifting to see people in the over 80 category come in with hope. “They have been really patient. It feels good to be moving forward with the vaccine distribution.”
Regardless of county of residence; people
who register for a COVID-19 vaccine are offered first available with a certain distance of their zip code. That opportunity has enabled swifter and more efficient distribution. Letsinger said, “The people we have been vaccinating just in the week that we have
been doing it have been so pleasant and so appreciative and thankful. It has been a breath of fresh air as we’ve been in this almost a year now.”
Both Letsinger and Dunfee have received both doses of their
vaccine against COVID-19. The first dose caused tenderness at the site for both women. The second round caused a stronger immune response for both women. Dunfee experienced joint discomfort in her hands, feet and lower back. “It was that night that I was kind of restless and didn’t sleep as well; but then the next day I was good.”
Letsinger had a stronger immune response and reported nausea, a headache and chills. She received her second dose late afternoon Friday. Saturday morning she went in to the office to work on the vaccines and distribution. “As I stayed I started to chill and I started to feel a little nauseous. By 1 o’clock I told Sandy that I needed to go home. I just felt like I was starting to get the flu. I was chilled, achy, fatigued, a little nauseous and had a headache; so I just went home. I slept on and off the rest of the afternoon. I went to bed early and slept through the night to the next day. I got up and felt better. By noon I felt almost 100%. The aches were gone by then; I still had a residual headache and some fatigue.”
Letsinger said her experience is considered common for immune response to a vaccine. “It’s just your body’s immune system reacting.” She said it’s no different than when children run a slight fever and experience discomfort after their vaccines. “It was nothing life threatening. I just curled up and rested.”
Her only concern was that she would not feel strong enough by Monday to serve the public as Marshall County began their first wave of public vaccine distribution for those over 80.
Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered should still get vaccinated. Nurse Letsinger stated, “We know they have antibodies for 90 days. Any point after that 90 day mark they would need to be vaccinated.”
The COVID-19 vaccine is not a “live vaccine”. Nurse Letsinger clarified, “The COVID vaccine is not going to give you COVID.” Nurse Dunfee added that taking the vaccine will not cause someone to test positive for COVID-19.
Individuals who are 70 years old or older and certain professionals are now eligible to register for the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone who has patient facing contact healthcare wise, first responders including law enforcement officers, and persons who are aged 70 and older should call 2-1-1 or go to www. ourshot.in.gov to get registered.
The Marshall County Council on Aging is also providing assistance for individuals who are having technical difficulty navigating the registration process. Call 574-936-9904 or tollfree at 1-866-936-9904 to speak to someone about arranging for help.
Letsinger said they are hoping to have the Mobile Medical Unit up and running within two weeks to reach those who are shut-in and home bound. Go to www.co.marshall.in.us to visit the MCHD website for additional information.