By Amir Mohammad
Your Health
Dr. Amir Mohammad
The Orange Health Department took the initiative of hosting COVID-19 vaccine clinics and has been vaccinating the Orange community since January. So far we have given more than 1,200 doses of vaccines. Despite all the challenges, we are still going strong. My plan is to continue to serve my community.
In various published reports, the vaccine hesitancy among various demographics has significantly improved. As more and more people get vaccinated, it will help in reducing vaccine hesitancy and anxiety as vaccinated people share their positive experiences.
Since my last column, the Centers for Disease Control has published various updated guidelines. Fully vaccinated people can now mingle with other fully vaccinated people without masks. Additionally, those individuals who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19 as long as they are not experiencing any symptoms.
However, the CDC is urging fully vaccinated people to continue taking precautions when they are in public.
Several published studies indicate that all three available COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson) are very safe and effective in preventing severe symptoms, hospitalization and mortality.
As per the CDC’s latest guidelines on travel, “Fully vaccinated people don’t need to get a COVID-19 test before or after domestic travel – and don’t need to self-quarantine following travel.”
Despite the CDC’s determination that travel is a low-risk activity for people who have been vaccinated, officials still advise against nonessential travel as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the US. There remains a high possibility that cases will rise after spring break as more people travel.
Based on local data, the town of Orange is doing well when it comes to its vaccination rate. As of last month, 36 percent of the total population in Orange had been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines. The immunization rate is much higher among the 65 and 75 years and older groups. My goal is to achieve 50 percent or above overall vaccination by early summer.
As of April 1, all age groups 16 and above are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, due to limited resources and staffing, our health department is only able to offer one day per week of vaccine clinic at the High Plains Community Center. According to the state Department of Public Health’s recent announcement, more vaccination sites will open to provide faster access to vaccine clinics.
We have received great feedback from our residents. The credit belongs to all the dedicated volunteers, Community Emergency Response Team members, Orange Visiting Nurse Association staff and our town residents who have stepped up in offering this noble service.
Knowing the collective benefits and the CDC’s updated guidelines on vaccinated individuals, I urge all of you to join me in this effort to improve the vaccination rate among our town residents. Let’s continue our vaccine optimism by encouraging our families, friends, neighbors and all those who we interact with to be vaccinated as efficiently and quickly as possible.
Dr. Amir Mohammad is the director of public health for the Town of Orange.