Vaccine is the good news people need to hear
Coronavirus vaccines could arrive as early as mid- December, according to Auglaize County Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher, who said that is the estimated timeframe discussed in a recent conference call with state officials.
He said it was good news that the vaccine effectiveness rates have been high. Pfizer announced a 95 percent effective vaccine, Moderna announced a 94.5 percent effective vaccine, and most recently Astrozeneca announced a 90 percent effective vaccine and each are moving through testing phases.
Fisher was relieved that there were alternatives with a similar effectiveness rate to the Pfizer vaccine because that one requires refrigeration at - 80 degrees Celsius or - 112 degrees Fahrenheit.
He said Ohio Health Department was reviewing area capacities for a vaccine.
“Even if we don’t have Pfizer in Auglaize, that’s not to say it might not be available in one of the neighboring counties,” Fisher said. “We definitely will have the vaccine available when it is distributed to our county.”
Fisher said whichever vaccine you do get, you will have to get the same brand for the second dose. He said a statewide plan is being developed, although they don’t know the number of vaccines or tiers of who would receive vaccinations first. Fisher said he believed they would try to make it available to first responders and the age demographic for those in longterm care facilities.
County Administrator Erica Preston asked about using CARES Act funds for vaccination storage and transportation. Fisher said he hasn’t looked into prices but said some counties were planning to use dry ice for storage. He said they didn’t have space for another vaccine cooler and might only use it temporarily. He said they had already looked at purchasing portable coolers, which are on backorder.
“I can’t imagine there are a lot of companies making a freezer that keeps things this cold,” Fisher said.
Fisher reported there has been a change in case prioritization for contact tracing. The CDC is looking at any case six days after symptom onset as not being as efficient because people are most infectious two days prior and three days after symptom onset. Fisher said they would be following state guidance. He asked that Auglaize residents waiting for a call from the Health Department or for test results
isolate until the results are final.
Commissioner Don Regula was concerned with businesses complying with state mandates. Fisher encouraged concerned citizens to call the state hotline 1- 833- 4ASKODH — although the health department can take the calls. He said the health department was busy handling cases and doesn’t have staff to pull away.
He said while there are reasons for employees to not wear masks, it is recommended they wear a face shield. He said they could work through the Bureau of Workers Comp or the county prosecutor for those not in compliance.
Fisher said they were not staffed to respond to curfew violations.
Regula asked about Joint Township District Memorial Hospital and what would happen if they needed to set up a temporary hospital. Fisher said that decision would be made by Joint Township but the health department would offer assistance.
“It’s not really the PPE or the beds, it’s the staffing,” Fisher said.
Fisher said his staff has taken advantage of services from the Mental Health and Recovery Services to review crisis management discussions.
“I don’t think anybody expected to go through a pandemic,” Fisher said. “I think early on quite a few health commissioners decided to enter into retirement if they had the option. I think at this point a lot are staying on because of the feeling of duty and the need to see it through.”
He compared the workload to ocean waves knocking somebody down. He said the loud or abusive calls can take staff’s spirits down. He said a lot of people don’t want to give their information and be put into a state system, but he said using text messaging has made contact tracing easier.
“Just make it go away Oliver, just make it go away,” Regula said.
Fisher said the vaccines were the light at the end of the tunnel.