Officials at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital are encouraging those who haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccine to get one.
Speaking to reporters via a conference call Wednesday, hospital president and chief executive officer Denise Schepici and hospital chief nurse and chief operating officer Claire Seguin said that even as the state lifts restrictions, the virus is still among us.
Schepici said vaccinations are beginning to level out, which is normal for immunization programs. Of all Dukes County residents, 79 percent have received their first dose of the vaccine, and 56 percent are fully vaccinated. In total, the hospital has administered more than 22,000 vaccines — 12,583 first doses and 9,996 second doses.
She urged those who have not been vaccinated to make an appointment with the hospital. “Fully vaccinated is the key to get back to some degree of normalcy,” Schepici said. “Anyone who has not received their shot or shots, depending on the vaccine, sign up now. We have plenty of vaccines and plenty of appointments.” She said this was important as the Island opens up for the summer, especially since the Steamship Authority is seeing a significant increase in ferry reservations.
On Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced all COVID-related restrictions and capacity limits for businesses will be lifted on May 29.
Both Schepici and Seguin said they were supportive of Gov. Charlie Baker’s guidance, but Schepici was still concerned about the hospital’s capacity. “It’s going to be a booming summer, and the hospital is small. I just do worry about it. It’s summertime, right, we’re busy anyway,” Schepici said. “If people are coming over and they’re not vaccinated, or we see increased transmission, it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m remaining cautiously optimistic that everybody wants to have a great summer, and they’re going to use good common sense.”
The hospital is continuing its COVID-variant testing with the state epidemiologist. No new variants have been detected on the Island since B117, also known as the U.K. variant, was reported in April. “There’s no sign of a new variant, but additional results are pending,” Seguin said.
This Friday, the hospital is holding a Johnson & Johnson vaccine clinic for those looking to get the one-and-done dose. To sign up for this clinic, people should book an appointment for Friday, May 21, via the hospital’s online sign-up portal.
Schepici was proud to announce the hospital’s efforts in administering second vaccine doses to a team of 36 oceanographers from the Washington School of Oceanography visiting the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. “I’m glad we could support this group, and it was a fun adventure for our vaccine crew at the hospital,” Schepici said.
The hospital began vaccinating children ages 12 to 15 last week. As of 5 pm Tuesday, the hospital had vaccinated 121 teens in the new age range with the Pfizer vaccine. Schepici estimates that’s out of 600 eligible Island children. “This is another important step in preventing the spread,” Schepici said.
Meanwhile, the mobile COVID-19 vaccine bus wrapped up its final day of administering vaccines as The Times went to print Wednesday.
In four days, the bus administered 381 vaccines — 107 on Saturday, 59 on Sunday, 103 on Monday, and 112 on Tuesday. The bus offered both Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines, and is expected to return to administer second doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Propaganda strikes deep..
into your life it will creep..
Leave the actual lyrics alone, Martha, since they are more apt: “Paranoia strikes deep, into your life it will creep.”
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/18/opinion/covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy.html?smid=fb-share&fbclid=IwAR0k1OUm
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The NY Times article breaks into groups the people who are still not vaccinated, explaining what their “hesitancy” is about. There is crossover between groups. Sometimes the issue is simply logistics, which is why the vaccine bus is so great for the island. However, those firmly entrenched in the Covid Skeptics group are the least likely to ever get the vaccine, and in my view, are the biggest menace to the community’s health, worse even than those who believed Trump was a hero, though there is definitely cross-over there, too. There is absolutely no reasoning with people who hold onto conspriracy nonsense for dear life, and it is useless to try. For everyone else who is hesitant, there is hope they will be the good citizens I know they can be and get vaccinated.
“Covid Skeptics are at the far end of the spectrum as the least likely to get vaccinated. The primary barrier for people in this group are their specific, deeply held beliefs about Covid-19. EVERYONE IN THIS GROUP BELIEVES AT LEAST ONE CONSPIRACY THEORY RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC (caps mine) whether it’s that microchips are implanted with the Covid vaccine; Covid-19 has been exploited by the government to control people; or that the pandemic was caused by a ring of people who secretly manipulate world events.”
Ok — I guess that when I wrote what I really thought about people who are “hesitant” about getting a covid shot, The editor didn’t like it. So let me try again.
For the last year covid deniers have been telling responsible, concerned people to hide in their basement, and let everyone else be free to go mask less, with no restrictions and try for Darwin awards.
But the tables have turned a bit–
If you are afraid of the shot– stay in YOUR basement and let the rest of us live our lives mask free and without fear of being infected by what I now personally consider to be dangerous people.
I understand that 95% efficacy is not 100 % — I also understand about breakthrough cases and an evolving virus that naturally mutates.
The problem with expecting the unvaccinated “Covid Skeptic” group to be honorable— either wear a mask or stay home— is that they wholeheartedly believe lies and help spread them. They hold onto conspiracy lies as their religious obligation. (I know an antivaxxer who promotes nutty conspiracies and screams bloody murder at the thought of vaccine passports, but she and her ilk run to our ER—with no health insurance- to get doxy if they get a tick bite. Last time I saw the screamer she had ugly, oozing, painful sores all over [shingles]. There’s a vaccine for that. But I digress.)
The reason vaccinated people will continue to wear masks indoors is because unvaccinated people will lie and say they are vaccinated and continue to contract and spread disease. Some “true patriots” have raced to be first to get their vaccine so they could gloat in front of those who waited their turn. But the most hesitant ones, the ones who truly believe vaccines are poison, are hopelessly enmeshed in an unreality that no one can crack. Their mooching off the vaccinated good citizens will benefit them without having to do their part, and this will embolden their stupid conspiracies because we will have enough herd immunity to put this pandemic behind us.