Vaccine coming

Jay County Health Department expects to get its first doses of coronavirus vaccine this week. But it will be a relatively small amount that will likely be targeted for those on the front lines of health care.

Jay County Health Officer Dr. Jerry Whetzel reported to Jay County Board of Health at its regular meeting this morning that the health department expects to receive about 100 doses of coronavirus vaccine this week.

Whetzel added that those doses would likely be administered next week. They are expected to be used for those who are most likely to come in contact with COVID-19 patients.

“The initial aim is for our first responders,” Whetzel said.

(Some vaccinations for health care workers, such as hospital employees, are being conducted directly through the facilities, with new board of health member and IU Health Jay chief nursing officer Christina Schemenaur noting that she has already been vaccinated.)

Priority for vaccination is being determined by Indiana State Department of Health. The county received a grant of about $40,000 to help administer the vaccines and must follow the guidelines attached to that funding.

Whetzel added that the local health department is still waiting for more guidance on a timeline for the next phase of vaccinations and who the target population will be.

“I think everyone is sensitive to wanting to get our vulnerable population — the elderly and the immunocompromised — super high on the list,” he added. “And I would concur.”

Health department officials are working on a plan for when more doses become available for the general public. That includes considering possible locations for vaccination clinics, with options including the former General Shanks Elementary School, community centers and other large venues.

Schemenaur noted that IU Health Jay would be willing to be a partner for vaccinations to provide both a location and staff.

Whetzel reminded the board that one of the factors with the coronavirus vaccines is that patients are required to wait at least 15 minutes in order to make sure there are no allergic reactions or side effects that need immediate attention. He said such reactions have been rare.

“That’s going to be the sort of thing that slows the administration process down is making sure we have adequate space,” Whetzel said. “The staff is doing a lot of work behind the scenes on that sort of stuff.”

Fielding a question from Mike Rockwell of Jay County Council, Whetzel said there is no charge for the vaccine but that patients are asked to provide insurance information. However, he noted, insurance is not required.

“Obviously there’s going to be people who are not going to have insurance coverage or not have their card,” he said. “They’re not going to be refused.”

Rockwell also asked if visitation restrictions would be lifted at long-term care facilities after vaccines are administered there. Whetzel said outside visitor restrictions are likely to stay in place but that more interaction may be allowed within the facility.

“Until the cases are likely receding we expect that the visitation restrictions will be the same for outside,” he said, noting that vaccinations were given Tuesday at Miller’s Merry Manor in Dunkirk. “I would say that most of these recommendations or requirements are probably going to go on incidents of disease, hospitalizations and deaths as opposed to whether somebody vaccinated or not.”

Through Monday, Jay County has recorded 1,534 cases of COVID-19 and 21 deaths. Of those cases, nearly 1,100 came in November and December. There were 23 new cases through the first four days of January.

Also this morning, the board of health re-elected Virginia Burkey as president and Trent Paxson as vice president. Whetzel serves as the board’s secretary.

It also confirmed its meeting dates for the remainder of 2021 for 7 a.m. on the first Wednesday of April, July and October.