Dr. Francisco Velazquez: Get the vaccination to get Spokane County back on its feet

Vaccines are an important tool in the arsenal to combat a communicable disease such as COVID-19. There are more than 137 vaccines around the world in different stages of clinical and preclinical trials being tested. Three vaccines have captured most of the headlines because of their successful trials within the U.S.’s Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) process. Pfizer/BioNTech – which received EUA approval and is already being administered to health care professionals (including in Spokane) – and Moderna, a Massachusetts company that partnered with the National Institutes of Health to develop the mRNA-1273 vaccine – which we expect to receive EUA approval on Thursday.

We understand that some people may be nervous about the COVID-19 vaccines, which is reasonable. Fortunately, researchers have worked on vaccines for the coronavirus family for years, so they didn’t start from scratch. Vaccines activate the immune system by imitating an infection without causing the actual disease. For this response to occur, at least one antigen from the virus or bacteria needs to be present. Once the imitated infection disappears, the body retains a number of memory-cells and B-cells which will remember how to combat the disease in the future. There are differences in these vaccines which are important considerations in the distribution and use, such as the number of doses required, storage and cost.

Throughout the process, vaccine makers have assured us that they would complete Phase 3 testing before seeking FDA approval in an effort to ensure trust and confidence in the vaccines. Our community has sacrificed much this year to keep each other and those we care about safe. Vaccines aren’t always comfortable, but this is an opportunity for you to play a part in eliminating COVID-19 and moving our community forward.

In the state of Washington, we are receiving 62,400 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week, followed by approximately 200,000 more as early as the end of December. A significant amount of preparatory work has been ongoing by the Washington State Department of Health, Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) and all of our clinical partners in anticipation of distribution. The vaccines will be distributed in a phased approach starting with those at a higher risk for contagion, such as health care workers and first responders, or those at a higher risk for severe symptoms such as the elderly, particularly those with comorbidities.

SRHD believes that everyone in our county should have the opportunity to be as safe and healthy as possible. This means we must pay particular attention to the communities that are most at risk for COVID-19 and have less access to the supports needed to stay healthy. Many of our essential workers who keep our county running – bus drivers, farmworkers, grocery store workers – are from these same communities. This is why they will be among the first to have the option to be vaccinated. And it is why CDC recommends prioritizing essential workers, in addition to health care workers. The COVID-19 vaccines offer an important opportunity to support and protect those who have been and stand to be most harmed by COVID-19.

Like most other vaccines, the probability for some side effects has been described. These range from pain in the injection site, aches, flu-like symptoms, fever, general malaise or headaches. Side effects of this nature are not uncommon with other vaccines, including those for flu or shingles. Although some people may be concerned about the potential of side effects, I support immunization if recommended by your primary care provider. The side effects are much less severe than the possible outcomes of contracting COVID-19.

Given the distribution schedule, many of us will not be immunized until next year. Thus, it is important that we continue to practice recommended health measures: facial coverings, physical distancing, limiting gatherings, hand-washing and sanitizing. Remember that there is no therapy, including vaccines, that will be 100% effective. We can all be immunized, but some may still get sick and others may get sick but with less severe symptoms. It will also take time for our community to reach “herd immunity,” which requires a vast majority of a population to be vaccinated to lower the overall amount of virus spread in a population. The percentage necessary varies depending on the disease. It’s 80% for polio and 95% for measles.

SRHD’s goal is to ensure the health and well-being of everyone in our county, and that is especially true in this challenging time. Our hospital beds are filling up, and our doctors, nurses and health care staff are going above and beyond to provide quality care. Our small businesses and the people who work there are struggling to stay afloat. One way we can keep each other healthy, support our health care workers and get the county back on its feet is to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Dr. Francisco Velazquez is the interim health officer with Spokane Regional Health District.