Get Vaccinated Before The Holidays

High-volume vaccination clinics at Vashon Pharmacy, supported by VashonBePrepared and MRC ended last week, after having given approximately 1,900 doses of COVID and 1,900 doses of influenza (flu) vaccines to island residents. While volunteers will no longer be helping, pharmacy staff will continue giving vaccinations. So it’s not too late to get protected – here are three good reasons to do it soon!

1) COVID and flu vaccines are effective. Vaccine effectiveness studies measure real-world prevention of severe disease leading to hospitalization or death. Each year, COVID and flu vaccines are updated to better match circulating strains. Dr. Jim Bristow of Vashon Medical Reserve Corps pointed out that, “according to a New England Journal of Medicine review of 511 peer-reviewed studies, COVID vaccine effectiveness so far against severe COVID disease has averaged about 50%; however, the authors noted that last year’s vaccine was 68% effective against hospitalization. Available evidence suggests that COVID vaccination of children reduces long COVID risk by 50-70%. Flu vaccine effectiveness is also variable, but has averaged 40-50% effective in preventing severe disease.” While not perfect, these vaccines continue to be the best way to reduce the risk of serious illness from COVID and flu viruses. (Read the NEJM review at tinyurl.com/NEJM-vax.)

2) COVID and flu vaccines are safe. Vaccines are drugs, and as such they do have risks. In addition to large randomized trials with long term follow-up, the CDC maintains a reporting system for adverse vaccine events (VAERS). Apart from local reactions at the injection site, the most common side effect of COVID and flu vaccines are flu-like symptoms that generally last less than 24 hours. Anaphylaxis is a rare but serious allergic reaction that may occur within minutes after a vaccination. It occurs in about five cases per million doses of COVID vaccine, and one case per million doses of flu vaccine. For COVID vaccines, there is a risk of inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) in adolescent boys, at one to three cases per 150,000 doses. But COVID-19 disease also causes myocarditis, and it is both more severe and less likely to resolve completely than vaccine-associated myocarditis. Neither vaccine poses a risk to pregnant women or their babies.

3) They’re free at Vashon Pharmacy and many clinics. Most health insurance plans cover annual COVID and flu vaccination without a co-pay. This year, a grant from the Vashon Healthcare District, along with gifts from generous donors that are being matched by Vashon Pharmacy, will cover all out-of-pocket costs for COVID and flu vaccinations for islanders, regardless of insurance status.

A final reminder- it takes two to four weeks to develop immunity, so vaccination now will provide protection for the holidays.