By L. Parsons Last week, medical facilities around Navajo County begin distributing the COVID-19 vaccine recently approved for emergency use by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine manufacturer, Moderna is one of two companies that had its vaccine approved. The county chose the Moderna version partially due to its ease of storage in a regular refrigerator. The vaccine can be stored for up to 30 days at 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit. It will be administered to Arizona residents over the age of 16 in a two dose process. Both doses will be given in the deltoid (shoulder) muscle and will take place 28 days apart. This comes as Arizona COVID cases continue to trend upward. As of Dec. 23, there were 473,373 cases statewide and COVID related deaths had increased over 2,000 since Dec. 1 at 8,179. The percent positivity remained over 12 percent. In Navajo County, a total of 10,650 cases have been detected resulting in 309 COVID related deaths. The week of Dec. 21 the positivity rate was over 24 percent. According to the FDA, the Moderna vaccine was shown to be over 94 percent effective on average and have 100 percent efficacy in a study group of participants aged 65 or older. FDA officials had this to say about the safety of the vaccine, “Adverse events were reported in a higher proportion of vaccine recipients than placebo recipients. Overall, across all age cohorts the most frequently reported adverse event was pain at the injection site.” This is a common side effect of many vaccines and was mostly reported by older recipients. Some also reported fatigue, headache and low grade fever. All at levels far below 15 percent in any age group. Arizona received 384,350 doses of the vaccine the week of Dec. 14. According to the Office of Governor Doug Ducey, Maricopa and Pinal counties administered the vaccine first and the rest of the state including at least four tribes received shipments the next week. Earlier this month, Governor Doug Ducey spoke in a press conference about the vaccine and the distribution plan. “I have asked Dr. Cara Christ (Arizona Department of Health Services Director) to prioritize teachers among the first to receive the vaccine. We want schools open and our educators protected.” He continued, “I have spoken with the insurance companies,” he said, and we have come to the conclusion that it should not cost the Arizona public a dime. Therefore, I am issuing an executive order that assures every Arizonan can get a vaccine free of charge.” Distribution will continue and according to the Navajo County Public Health Services dashboard, it will be a three phased approach. Phase 1A is happening now and includes health care practitioners, long-term care facilities staff and residents and the vulnerable population congregate living in shelters, and behavioral health facility staff and residents. Phase 1B will follow and likely take place in the next few weeks and into the spring of 2021. That will include public safety employees including corrections facilities staff, teachers and educational facility staff, power and utility employees, food and agriculture occupations and other essential/critical industry staff. Phase 1C vaccinates the elderly and high risk populations. According to the plan, the general population can expect to begin receiving the vaccine in the spring and into the summer. Assistant Navajo County Manager Bryan Layton said, “This is a very fluid process that is evolving quickly but we have been encouraged so far. The community has really stepped up and we have a number of providers around the county who are providing vaccinations. In this rollout we also appreciate the county’s health director, Jeff Lee, who sits on the Arizona Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Advisory Committee (VAPAC). In this position, Mr. Lee has made sure that the concerns and needs of rural counties are heard.” During the Governor’s press conference, Dr. Christ said, “We remain highly concerned with the metrics used to monitor this virus. Requirements are being enforced at a state level but we need to remind you to wear a mask indoors and outdoors, reduce the size of your gatherings and avoid prolonged contact with those that do not live in your household.” Ducey concluded, “There is light at the end of the tunnel but the fight against this pandemic is not over. Far from it. I need Arizonans to continue to do their part in continuing to slow the spread of this virus. Please get the vaccine when it is available to you. Public health experts cannot overstate the importance of this. We need Arizonans to step up and get this vaccine if we want to return to normalcy.” The Navajo County COVID dashboard which hosts an appointment button can be found at www.navajocountyaz.gov by clicking on the COVID-19 resources page icon.
