Dr. Dawson, thank you for your guidance on this latest booster. My question is related to that. When you book an appointment at Walgreens to receive the new booster, one of the questions they ask is related to monoclonal antibodies. It asks if you have previously received monoclonal antibodies, and if yes, advises you to consult with your PCP to determine if you should receive the new vaccine. Is there an issue with the new booster and monoclonal antibodies?
Kristen -- the short answer is NO, there is NOT an issue between the new booster and monoclonal antibodies. This question appears to a legacy question... early on in the pandemic when monoclonal antibodies were being used as treatment, there was guidance that one should not get vaccinated until they were 90-days post-monoclonal antibody treatment. Monoclonal antibodies are NOT an approved treatment for COVID infection (any more). My guess is that this question appeared on the first book your COVID vaccine appointment forms and the pharmacies have failed to update them.
Two things -- first, monoclonal antibodies are not an approved treatment for COVID infection. And two, everyone (aged 6 months and older) are encouraged to get the COVID booster this fall. Regardless of whether or not they had monoclonal antibodies earlier in the pandemic.
Personally, wish that question was removed. It causes confusion in a moment that more confusion is NOT needed!
Thank you again for all of the work you continue to put into education and awareness regarding public health. I have been trying to get my soon to be 10 months old daughter vaccinated against COVID since she became eligible at 6 months. It has been an exercise in frustration and futility. Her pediatrician's office does not give them. Our hospital in Titusville will not be doing them and I am told pharmacies won't for her age. Do you have any thoughts on where to go from here? I've reached out to Crawford and venango depts of health and neither had any info. I'm hoping that since the CDC has ruled on the boosters they'll have a better idea of what will be going on.
Mara -- my hope is that with the new vaccine there will be an uptick in demand and pharmacies/hospitals/clinics will see the financial benefit of offering the shot. It will take time, as each institution will now need to order, purchase, and have the boosters delivered before they can be given. With the federal government out of the distribution cycle -- things are a little more complicated and completely different. I have taken a vow of patience for the next two weeks while the administrative work is completed. At that time we should have answers to your questions -- where and when will shots be available. So patience for now.
I am not surprised by two things -- first, that the "Depts of Health" in Crawford and Mercer have nothing. These are NOT departments of health (like the one in Erie). They are health centers staffed by public health nurses that work for the state Dept of Health. Pre-pandemic, they offered travel vaccines and sometimes a new baby class for parents. They are NOT departments of health. We are truly on our own out here -- and that should piss us all off. And we should be demanding that some form of a health department be staffed. At a minimum we need a health voice in Harrisburg and the funding that is available to the "real" county health departments across the state (there are only 11).
I will stay on top of this. Stay in touch! And congrats on the new-ish baby!
Dr. Dawson, thank you for your guidance on this latest booster. My question is related to that. When you book an appointment at Walgreens to receive the new booster, one of the questions they ask is related to monoclonal antibodies. It asks if you have previously received monoclonal antibodies, and if yes, advises you to consult with your PCP to determine if you should receive the new vaccine. Is there an issue with the new booster and monoclonal antibodies?
Kristen -- the short answer is NO, there is NOT an issue between the new booster and monoclonal antibodies. This question appears to a legacy question... early on in the pandemic when monoclonal antibodies were being used as treatment, there was guidance that one should not get vaccinated until they were 90-days post-monoclonal antibody treatment. Monoclonal antibodies are NOT an approved treatment for COVID infection (any more). My guess is that this question appeared on the first book your COVID vaccine appointment forms and the pharmacies have failed to update them.
Two things -- first, monoclonal antibodies are not an approved treatment for COVID infection. And two, everyone (aged 6 months and older) are encouraged to get the COVID booster this fall. Regardless of whether or not they had monoclonal antibodies earlier in the pandemic.
Personally, wish that question was removed. It causes confusion in a moment that more confusion is NOT needed!
Thank you again for all of the work you continue to put into education and awareness regarding public health. I have been trying to get my soon to be 10 months old daughter vaccinated against COVID since she became eligible at 6 months. It has been an exercise in frustration and futility. Her pediatrician's office does not give them. Our hospital in Titusville will not be doing them and I am told pharmacies won't for her age. Do you have any thoughts on where to go from here? I've reached out to Crawford and venango depts of health and neither had any info. I'm hoping that since the CDC has ruled on the boosters they'll have a better idea of what will be going on.
Mara -- my hope is that with the new vaccine there will be an uptick in demand and pharmacies/hospitals/clinics will see the financial benefit of offering the shot. It will take time, as each institution will now need to order, purchase, and have the boosters delivered before they can be given. With the federal government out of the distribution cycle -- things are a little more complicated and completely different. I have taken a vow of patience for the next two weeks while the administrative work is completed. At that time we should have answers to your questions -- where and when will shots be available. So patience for now.
I am not surprised by two things -- first, that the "Depts of Health" in Crawford and Mercer have nothing. These are NOT departments of health (like the one in Erie). They are health centers staffed by public health nurses that work for the state Dept of Health. Pre-pandemic, they offered travel vaccines and sometimes a new baby class for parents. They are NOT departments of health. We are truly on our own out here -- and that should piss us all off. And we should be demanding that some form of a health department be staffed. At a minimum we need a health voice in Harrisburg and the funding that is available to the "real" county health departments across the state (there are only 11).
I will stay on top of this. Stay in touch! And congrats on the new-ish baby!