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Vaccinated youth may protect more vulnerable

PHN Chief Medical Officer: Science sound behind eligibility expansion

LEWISTOWN — The expansion of coronavirus vaccination eligibility to adolescents is a good thing, as was the process to get that approval, said one of the leaders of a medical organization that serves the region from its Mifflin County location.

Dr. George Garrow, chief medical officer of Primary Health Network — the state’s largest federally qualified health center — said the work that led to Wednesday’s final approval to offer the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine to 12-15-year-olds was well done.

Ongoing clinical trials of vaccines are conducted among different age groups before approval.

“This is how clinical trials work,” Garrow said. “It was really important that they study this group individually. Moderna is also evaluating vaccine and adolescence so it’s probably not out of the question that in the near future we might hear from (them).

“Both the mRNA vaccine manufacturers are looking at even in younger children.”

The recent change in approval, Garrow said, is the continuation of process that began in late 2020. Fewer facilities may offer the Pfizer vaccine because of its stringent handling requirements. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, spread apart by several weeks, to be fully effective, but have a higher efficacy rate than some other vaccines.

PHN at this time has only the Moderna vaccine available at its Yeagertown location, although availability by location is subject to change. For the latest information on vaccine scheduling with PHN and availability for those under age 16, visit https://primary-health.net/COVID-Vaccine-Clinic.aspx or call (724) 699-9211.

Geisinger also is offering vaccine appointments to anyone ages 12 and over at one of its four community vaccine centers, which includes Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital, and does have Pfizer at those sites. Appointments can be made through myGeisinger or by calling (570) 284-3657. Geisinger announced Friday it would begin accepting walk-ins seeking COVID-19 vaccines on weekends as well.

Appointments are currently available in as little as a day or two. The Pfizer vaccine is a two-dose vaccine given 21 days apart.

Geisinger offers more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, including information for parents of newly eligible children, online at geisinger.org/COVIDVax.

Although COVID itself has had a statistically lower impact on younger members of society, Garrow says it’s important that more people have it as a means of protecting not only themselves but others around them.

“The reason we really want to look at opportunities to immunize adolescents and children is they’re reservoirs — they can transmit the virus to grandma, or to others that are vulnerable,” he said.

Garrow — who posits himself a bit of a nerd on medical science — says he’s following the clinical outcomes and current recommendations for PHN and its clients. For example, recent studies have indicated those who previously have had COVID may need a different level of vaccine protection, but until that is determined for sure, he recommends staying with the current standard.

“That’s certainly been a postulate that that may be the case,” and the data may change later, he said. “We’re still recommending that they get the two-dose series … because that’s what the science has pointed to.”

As use of the vaccine has spread there have been reports of bad reactions or even people contracting COVID after being vaccinated — all within the statistical range expected by this and other vaccines. Garrow points to blood clot issues with vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca (the latter not approved in the U.S.) as an example.

“I kind of really dove into, ‘What’s going on?’ You may remember that when COVID infections were rampant, we were seeing a lot of blood clots in a lot of people that actually had naturally occurring COVID,” Garrow explained. “The risk of getting blood clots is actually far greater in someone who actually develops COVID infection compared to the tiny risk of blood clots that occur after one of the vector vaccines” — in simpler terms, preventing COVID by getting a vaccine may actually lower your risk of getting a blood clot.

He said he agreed with the CDC move to pause the J&J vaccine and make sure, instilling greater confidence that safety is paramount.

The next major hurdle, as vaccination rates decline, is more difficult, Garrow admits, sounding a bit like the doctor on television’s original Star Trek series — getting holdouts to believe in the science behind the vaccines.

“I’m not political, I’m a doctor,” he quips. “If I knew the answer to this one, wouldn’t that be great?”

It’s a tough challenge.

“What I hope is that health care leaders, public health officials, others can earn the trust and the respect of individuals in the community,” he said. “Lots of folks maybe have reason not to trust authorities or public health officials. We have a responsibility — I have a responsibility — to try to earn the title of being someone who’s trustworthy, someone who’s information is accurate.

“I don’t know what the answer is other than having honest, open non-judgmental conversations with individuals — a relationship (that will) help individuals overcome their concerns.”

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