Author: Tim Novotny

J&J Vaccine Pause

  By

Why we’ve suspended use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine

April 13, 2021

This morning, out of an abundance of caution, the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration have recommended a pause to the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following six cases of rare and severe blood clots reported after receiving the vaccine. This recommendation is to halt distribution while the CDC, FDA, and other agencies work together to fully understand these events and get the appropriate vaccine education out to vaccine providers and recipients. Following this recommendation, the Coquille Indian Tribe has halted its use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, including the scheduled vaccine clinic on Friday, April 16. 

Out of the more than 6.8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine that have been distributed, there have been six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). CVST occurs when a blood clot forms in the brain’s venous sinuses. This prevents blood from draining out of the brain. As a result, blood cells may break and leak blood into the brain tissues, forming a hemorrhage. 

All six cases of adverse reactions following receipt of vaccine have occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. As treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered it is important that the health care system is ready to appropriately diagnose and treat these specific reactions. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous, and alternative treatments need to be given.

While these adverse events are extremely rare, only affecting 0.0000923% of the population who has received the vaccine, the safety of our community is our top priority, and we take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously. People who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccination should contact their health-care provider immediately. These symptoms are different from the mild flu-like symptoms that have been experienced by many who have received any one of the available COVID-19 vaccines.

Again, while these events are extremely rare, the health and safety of tribal members and our patients is our main concern. We are working to learn more about the vaccine and the overall risks and benefits associated with it. We will share with you what we know as we know it, and do our best to ensure that you have all of the education and tools needed to protect your health.

Sources:

Marks, P. M.D., PhD. (2021). Joint CDC and FDA Statement on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

Joint Media Call: FDA & CDC to Discuss Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine – 4/13/2021

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Community vaccine events

  By , ,

Tribe Offers Vaccines for Seniors and Teens

 Wednesday, March 17, 2021

 The Coquille Indian Tribe will offer COVID-19 vaccinations for local senior citizens and teens in two special events this week at The Mill Casino-Hotel.

Coos County residents age 65 and older are eligible for vaccinations on Friday, March 19, or Sunday, March 21. Coos County youth age 16-17 are eligible for the Sunday event.

“We’ve been working hard to vaccinate our tribal families, and we’re delighted that we can reach out to the broader community,” said Coquille Tribal Chairman Brenda Meade.

The Sunday event will use the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Unlike the Moderna vaccine, the Pfizer vaccine can be given to anyone age 16 or older. So this event will target two groups: senior citizens age 65 and up, and teens age 16 and 17.

Meade said the Coquille Tribe is grateful for the opportunity to help protect vulnerable senior citizens as well as teens.

 “With kids going back to school and sports, getting them vaccinated will help protect their teachers and coaches and the whole community,” she said.

She noted that sharing this resource with the tribe’s neighbors reflects the traditional culture of Pacific Coast tribes.

“Our potlatch tradition is all about assisting those around us whenever we have the chance,” she said. “We’re so happy that we are in a position to do this.”

Teens and senior citizens can sign up by going to the tribe’s website, www.coquilletribe.org. Once there, click on the large white box labeled, “COVID-19 Vaccines.”

Both vaccines require a second dose. The tribe will automatically schedule the Pfizer boosters three weeks after the first appointment and the Moderna boosters four weeks after the first appointment.

The Pfizer vaccine is a one-time supply, made possible by a partnership of the Coquille Tribe, the Oregon Health Authority, the Indian Health Service and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. The OHA and IHS collaborated to provide the vaccine supply, which the two tribes are splitting.

The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians will help staff Sunday’s event.

Please note: The opportunity to sign up for appointments will end at 4 p.m. the day before each event. The supply of vaccine is limited, and shots at both events are available by appointment only.

For more information, please visit the vaccination page on www.coquilletribe.org.

 

  By , ,

Eugene-area Indigenous people soon will have a Coquille Indian Tribe medical clinic

The Eugene Register Guard

An estimated 6,000 Native American and Alaskan Natives in Lane County don’t have a culturally specific medical clinic. The Coquille Indian Tribe is set on changing that.

Read more

 

 

OSA member vaccines

  By

Live outside our service area?

If you are a Coquille Tribal member but unable to travel to a scheduled CIT clinic, there may be options closer to you. The Indian Health Service has a website to help you locate an IHS office or another tribal facility in your area. Tribal health-care facilities will likely offer the vaccine to Native patients sooner than the general public

Our staff may be able to help as well. For questions or assistance with navigating the IHS website, email us at [email protected].

 

COVID questions from members

  By

If you have a specific question about the vaccine and cannot find the answer in the FAQ’s or other information, you can email your question to [email protected] or contact Health and Human Services Director Kelle Little at (541) 297-0341.

 

When will Elders residing outside the service area (OSA) be offered the vaccine?

The tribe’s COVID-19 Task Force will be presenting a resolution to the Tribal Council which defines the next phase of vaccine eligibility.  Adding Elders/spouses who reside outside of the service area and can travel to one of the vaccine locations in Oregon will be one of the categories included in the proposal.  The resolution will be considered on Jan. 14.

Can tribal members sign up for the Vaccine?

Not at this time as CIT is in Phase 1 of the vaccine delivery which is limited to 100 doses. CIT staff will be phoning Elders to be scheduled first.

When will the next doses of Covid-19 vaccine be available to tribal members?

The tribe is waiting for information on the next shipping date of the vaccine. Once we know the date, amount, and related information, it will be shared on the Covid-19 vaccination page on coquilletribe.org.

Are unmarried domestic partners of tribal members eligible for vaccination?

 Yes.

Guidelines

  By

Vaccine Distribution Guidelines

The Coquille Indian Tribe’s COVID-19 Vaccination Workgroup, made up of tribal administration and staff members, has identified Phase 1 distribution guidelines based on two criteria:

  1. Coquille Indian Tribe employees engaged in direct, mission-essential services to the Tribal membership and critical to the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This category includes the following:
  • Medical clinic and pharmacy staff
  • Other essential staff designated by the tribal Health and Human Services Director as critical to vaccine distribution.
  1. Coquille Indian Tribe Elders and spouses 55+ who reside in the five-county service area and have high or moderate risk medical conditions, with a priority on the oldest members and spouses.

High-risk tribal members and spouses within the tribe’s service area will be contacted by CIT staff to coordinate vaccination dates.

Watch this website for updates about the COVID-19 vaccination process.

For specific questions relating to the Coquille Tribe’s COVID-19 Vaccination Phase 1 Distribution, please email [email protected].

COVID-19 Information

  By

Vaccination FAQ

Coquille Indian Tribe

How should I prepare for my vaccination?

Before reporting for your appointment, please download this app.

The v-safe app is secure and allows the CDC to monitor your health and-or any side effects following the COVID-19 vaccination. If you don’t have a smart phone, the tribal health center staff will help you figure out how to monitor yourself.

Which vaccine does the Coquille Tribe use?

We’re using the Moderna vaccine. 

What if I don’t live near the tribal clinic?

If you are a Coquille Tribal member residing outside the tribe’s five-county service area (Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson and Lane), your clinic or health-care provider may have a different vaccine. Check with your regular service provider. Consider contacting a tribal or Indian Health Service clinic near you to ask  about options for receiving the vaccine. Or check this IHS website.

What are the common side-effects of the vaccine?

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Fatigue

How soon will I be immune to the disease?

Each vaccine requires two doses to be effective. With the Moderna vaccine, you are fully protected two weeks after the second dose. With the Pfizer vaccine, you are fully protected one week after the second dose.

Should I get the vaccine if I’ve tested positive for COVID-19?

A person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and still has symptoms should wait till the end of their isolation period to get the vaccine. To avoid infecting others, it is recommended to wait one month after recovering from the illness before getting the vaccine.

What if I’ve already had the disease? Should I get vaccinated anyway?

Antibody levels drop after a natural infection. So the CDC recommends people who have had the illness be vaccinated to boost the immune response and provide long-term protection.

It is recommended to wait one month after recovering from the illness before getting vaccinated. Anyone who is vaccinated for COVID-19 should have two doses, even if they already have been infected.

Is vaccination mandatory?

These vaccines are not currently mandatory. We are strongly encouraging vaccination and promoting education about the vaccine and COVID-19.

Once I’m vaccinated, am I done with COVID-19?

The vaccine helps protect you – but even with the vaccine you can still become infected with COVID-19 and may still be able to pass it on to your loved ones. Until we have reached herd immunity, we must all continue to do our part to protect our community

Are the vaccines safe? Are they effective?

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both were found to be over 94 percent effective, and neither reported serious safety issues. The vaccines were tested in large-scale research, which included adults from all backgrounds.

Due to the global pandemic, both vaccines were tested in many more people than a typical vaccine trial: The Pfizer vaccine was tested in 43,000 people and the Moderna vaccine was tested in 30,000 people.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a six-minute video on the topic.  See the video

More information

For specific questions relating to the Coquille Tribe’s COVID-19 Vaccination Phase 1 Distribution, please email [email protected].