Health officials encourage more to take vaccines
Shot clinic set for Thursday in FC
A clinic is scheduled in Forrest City this week in an effort to get more people to take a Covid vaccine.
The clinic is planned for Thursday, July 22, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., at the Civic Center, and is a cooperative effort of the City of Forrest City and the Arkansas Department of Health to help raise the percentage of vaccinated populations against Covid-19.
Kathy Barron, St. Francis County Health Unit Administrator, said children between the ages of 12 and 17 would receive the Pfizer vaccination, and those 18 years and older would receive Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
Those who receive the Pfizer vaccination will automatically be scheduled for to receive the second dose of the vaccine at the St. Francis County Health Unit.
"We highly encourage you to get your vaccination to protect yourself, your loved ones, coworkers and those who are not able to get the vaccination as well," said Barron.
"Everybody who can should get vaccinated. Everybody who is 12 and older," said St. Francis County Health Officer Dr. James Meredith. "I really think it will help curb our number of deaths."
According to Meredith, Arkansas hospitals have begun nearing capacity.
"We had a patient recently diagnosed with Covid who had a low oxygen level," said Meredith.
He said that after not being able to get the person’s oxygen level up locally, the hospital sought a different hospital in the state to get care. "Not a bed available in Arkansas,” he said. “They ended up in a hospital in Mississippi. That is how bad it is right now in
Arkansas."
Meredith stresses the importance of vaccinations to curb patients hospitalized due to Covid.
"People are going to continue to have heart attacks, strokes and car accidents, and we don't have anywhere to put them in tertiary hospitals because they are full with Covid patients," said Meredith. "If we got everyone vaccinated, we'd be a whole lot better off."
"It is time for us to pay attention to what is happening nationally and here locally," said Forrest City Mayor Cedric Williams. "We are again losing close friends and coworkers. We are not shutting things down again. It is imperative that our kids are able to go back to in-person school. I, my wife and children made the decision to get vaccinated for the safety of ourselves and those around us. It is time for everyone to take the shot and make the decision to protect themselves and others around them."
One problem in the push for vaccinations has been conspiracy theories and misinformation over social media platforms.
"The people who say those things probably couldn't pass high school science class," said Meredith. "Unfortunately, people are believing what they say over physicians, virologists, epidemiologists, you know people who deal with illness, and particularly viruses for their entire careers. But they believe somebody who literally has no education at all, putting out this misinformation."
Barron recommended those who have questions or concerns about the virus to contact their physician or the health department.
"You also receive information and a sheet on the vaccine you are receiving," said Barron.
Meredith said there are two types of vaccinations for the virus. Moderna and Pfizer use mRNA while Johnson & Johnson uses the more traditional virusbased technology. "The 'm' stands for messenger," said Meredith.
Meredith said that mRNA vaccinations put a strand of RNA, not to be confused with DNA, into a patient's immune system.
"All the RNA does is prime your immune system to recognize a spike protein, and as you may know, the coronavirus has spikes on it," said Meredith. "So if a virus with a spike protein enters your body, it recognizes it as something foreign."
Meredith said the Johnson & Johnson vaccination while also stimulating the immune system, just does it in a different manner.
According to Meredith, vaccinations help keep the virus replication low, which helps stop the spread.
"When it replicates, in other words when it creates more copies, it is more likely to mutate and create a stronger virus and that's what has happened with the Delta variant," said Meredith.
Meredith said that viruses, like most living things, evolve. "So it becomes a much more contagious virus," he said.
According to the Arkansas Department of Health, common side effects of vaccinations include pain, redness and swelling on the arm patients are vaccinated in as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and/or nausea.
"Usually, if it hits you, it's in eight hours," said Barron "You'll wake up, or if we see you in the morning you'll feel it in the afternoon."
Tips to relieve the side effects in the arm include application of a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area and using or exercising the arm. Patients should also drink plenty of fluids and dress lightly.
It is recommended to talk to a doctor about taking over-thecounter medicine, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin or antihistamines for any pain or discomfort that might be experienced after getting vaccinated.
The ADH doesn't recommend taking the above medicines before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects.
Those who are taking vaccinations with two doses may experience more intense side effects during the second dose than the first dose.
Residents are encouraged to call a doctor if redness or swelling gets worse after 24 hours or if the side effects do not seem to be going away after a few days.
The ADH also states that it takes time for the body to build protection after any vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen Covid-19 vaccine.
Residents should keep using all the tools available to protect themselves until fully vaccinated, health officials said.
Meredith also said physician offices may soon be able to give vaccinations as well as pharmacies.
"We are hoping to have something in our office over the next few weeks," said Meredith.
For more information on Covid vaccinations and Covid19, visit healthy.arkansas.gov or cdc.gov.