Vaccine Misinformation is Dangerous

The OOA supports science and evidence based medicine.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have been using our social media channels to amplify safety protocols—based on science—like hand hygiene, social distancing, and mask use. When the vaccines became available in December we started to encourage Ohioans to get vaccinated and provided factual information about their safety and efficacy.

In OSTEOFACTS we’ve stressed the role of physicians and how you play a vital role to provide patients with accurate information. We’ve posted physician vaccine selfies to show Ohio DOs are leading by example.

Misinformation is a serious and dangerous threat to personal and public health and it must be rejected. This includes the false and completely unfounded claims made by Sherri Tenpenny, DO, during the June 8 Ohio House Health Committee hearing on HB 248 (see blurb below).

When it is someone of your own profession who spreads such misinformation, it is disappointing and embarrassing. While we prefer to focus on the science and not the person, it was deemed necessary to make a public statement and disavow Dr. Tenpenny’s testimony.

Read the statement from OOA President Henry L. Wehrum, DO, on the OOA website.

HB 248 Hearing Goes Viral

The Ohio House Health Committee hearing this week on HB 248, the far-reaching vaccination bill that would destroy the  current public health framework that prevents outbreaks of potentially lethal disease, was mocked across the country in newspaper articles, social media sites, and TV news.

The Vaccine Choice and Anti-Discrimination Act has been framed as a bill to stop the COVID-19 vaccines from becoming mandatory, but it would actually apply to all immunizations including childhood vaccines. A coalition of nearly 90 organizations, including the OOA, and representing more than 1.7 million Ohioans issued a letter this week to Health Committee members urging opposition to the bill. It reads in part:

If passed, this legislation has the potential to reverse decades of immunity from life-threatening, but vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, hepatitis, meningitis and polio.

As current Ohio law allows for school immunization exemptions to decline vaccinations for medical, religious, or reasons of conscience (known as the philosophical exemption), and most businesses allow for flexibility in regard to vaccinations, we question the need for HB 248-11. This overly broad proposal would further strip away accountability and compassion for our fellow Ohioans, and cause severe disruption to our state’s health, economy, and way of life. It is our urgent plea that HB 248-11 be rejected, to protect the vitality of Ohio’s children and families and avoid disastrous consequences for the future of our state.

The Committee hearing went viral due to false and unfounded claims from two health professionals: a registered nurse and Sherri Tenpenny, a Cleveland-area DO who said COVID-19 vaccines magnetize people, causing metal objects like keys and silverware to stick to their bodies. Tenpenny also suggested the vaccines contain particles that can connect with 5G wireless technology. She was invited to testify as an ‘expert witness’ at the request of bill sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester), who is a nurse practitioner.

OOA members are encouraged to contact their state representative about the dangers of HB 248 (draft #11). Send your email quickly and easily using the OOA website. In addition, members who are interested in taking an active role on this and other legislative issues can complete the Special Advocate form on the OOA website.

In other Statehouse news, the Senate passed the $75 billion state budget bill this week. It was a 25-8 party line vote. The Senate version of HB 110 differs from the House version in several significant ways, namely school funding and income tax cuts. The two chambers will sort out differences during conference committee and have until July 1 to develop a compromise bill to send to Gov. Mike DeWine.

SMBO Approves Three New Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions

The State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) met virtually on June 9 and discussed the petitions to add six new qualifying conditions to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP). After the discussion, the full board voted to accept four petitions and add Huntington’s disease, terminal illness (two petitions) and spasticity as qualifying conditions, effective immediately. The board also voted to reject the petitions for autism spectrum disorder, restless leg syndrome, panic disorder with agoraphobia and spasms.

With this approval, there are now 25 qualifying conditions in the OMMCP: AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cachexia, cancer, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy or another seizure disorder, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, hepatitis C, Huntington’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable, Parkinson’s disease, positive status for HIV, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, spasticity, spinal cord disease or injury, terminal illness, Tourette’s syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and ulcerative colitis.

The next submission period is scheduled for November 1–December 31, 2021. Anyone may submit a petition requesting a condition be added to the OMMCP. If a condition has been previously rejected by the board, the new petition must contain new scientific information that supports the request. Details about the process can be found here.

Physicians who want to recommend medical marijuana to their patients must have an active Certificate to Recommend (CTR) from the State Medical Board of Ohio. Annual completion of a two-hour certification course is required to apply for a CTR. The OOA offers the certified course online. OOA members receive a discounted registration fee of $175.

Infection Rate Continues to Fall, Deaths Surpass 20,000

On Saturday, the two-week statewide average of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents dropped to 49.5. That’s the benchmark Gov. Mike DeWine originally set for removing COVID health orders.

“When I announced this goal on March 4th, I said that reaching 50 cases per 100,000 would mean we were entering a new phase of this pandemic,” DeWine said. “Vaccinations are working. That’s why cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are down.”

Case rates per 100,000 residents have been monitored throughout the pandemic and were as high as more than 900 cases per 100,000 residents in data from December 14, 2020. Specifically, 939.1 cases per 100,000 were reported for the period of November 30-December 13, 2020. Prior to Saturday’s report covering May 22-June 4, the last time Ohio fell below the 50-case threshold was June 25, 2020, when 49.7 cases were reported for the period of June 11-24, 2020.

Case rates per 100,000 residents are calculated as an average over a 14-day period, and exclude cases among incarcerated individuals. The data is calculated based on illness onset date, not report date. Each day, when new cases are added to the COVID-19 dashboards, they are attributed to the date of illness onset.

On Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health reported 41 coronavirus deaths, putting the mortality count at over 20,000 total deaths in the state. Since the pandemic began, 20,021 Ohio residents have died and 20,009 deaths have been recorded in the state.

According to state data, December was the deadliest month with 5,520 deaths. Those numbers  fell sharply in January and February after nursing home residents were vaccinated.

Deaths are often reported in the state’s coronavirus stats weeks and sometimes months after someone dies. Other states do not send death certificates to ODH on a regular schedule and therefore fluctuations are reflected in reported mortality data. In addition, death certificates may be completed up to six months after someone dies.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

As of this afternoon, 46.50% in Ohio have started the vaccine process. That equates to more than 5.43 million Ohioans. Over 4.8 million, or 41.66%, have completed the vaccination series.

Vaccinations in Ohio surged after Vax-A-Million, the incentive program to give away $5 million and college scholarships, was first announced last month. Gov. Mike DeWine said Ohio continues to see increases in vaccine uptake across the state. Ohio counties that have experienced an increase in vaccinations include Crawford, Fayette, Hocking, Jackson, Paulding, Pickaway, Ross, Seneca, Warren, and Wyandot. 

For this week’s Vax-a-Million drawing, 3,362,203 vaccinated adults entered for a chance to win $1 million and 143,604 vaccinated youth entered for a chance to win a college scholarship. This is an increase in 136,414 adult entries and 10,701 youth entries over last week. 

DeWine noted the threat of the virus remains and unvaccinated individuals should continue to wear masks indoors and in crowded settings where social distancing is not possible. Businesses and organizations can continue to require masking regardless of an individual’s vaccination status, including in health care settings.

With approximately 200,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine set to expire on June 23, DeWine issued an urgent appeal on Monday urging Ohioans to get vaccinated and asking vaccine providers to distribute as many doses as possible as quickly as possible.

At this time, Ohio does not have legal options for sending the vaccine elsewhere, either to other states or other countries.

To identify tactics to use as many doses before they expire, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has directed all providers to follow a first-in, first-out process for vaccine to ensure doses with the soonest expiration dates are being used first; formed community partnerships to offer special vaccination clinics; offered more mobile vaccination opportunities at community events and for homebound individuals; and offered the vaccine as part of ongoing maintenance programs with congregate setting staff and residents, as well as correctional/detention centers.

Details are here to become a COVID-19 vaccine provider.

ODH Updates Hepatitis-A Statewide Outbreak

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) declared a statewide community outbreak of hepatitis A in June 2018 after observing an increase in cases. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver disease that usually spreads when a person ingests fecal matter - even in microscopic amounts - from contact with objects, food or drinks contaminated by the stool of an infected person. Hepatitis A can also be spread from close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sex. The statewide community outbreak is spread through person-to-person contact.

ODH posts weekly case statistics on its website every Monday

In May 2019, the CDC provided an updated case definition resulting in an increase in the number of outbreak cases in Ohio. ODH and local health departments continue to investigate reported hepatitis A cases.

The high-risk populations for hepatitis A in this outbreak include:

• People who use drugs (injection or non-injection)
• People experiencing unstable housing or homelessness
• People who are currently or were recently incarcerated
• Men who have sex with men
• People with chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C

Symptoms of hepatitis A include fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, clay-colored stools and jaundice. People with hepatitis A can experience mild illness lasting a few weeks to severe illness lasting several months.

Buy a Coat, Welcome a Medical Student

All first-year medical students at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine receive their short white coat compliments of the OOA and Ohio Osteopathic Foundation. It is a gift from their professional family to commemorate the beginning of their academic career as an osteopathic medical student.

OOA members and friends are invited to personally welcome the new students by sponsoring the purchase of a coat and writing a short note to the recipient. Your message will be printed on an OOA notecard and tucked into the coat pocket.

Make your donation online in an increment of $45 to the Student White Coat Fund and write your message in the comment box.