02/01/2021

For you...the most up to date information concerning the COVID-19 vaccine

The following information is provided by our synod health advisor, Dr. Curt Passafume, PharmD. Curt has worked with the Bishop over the past year to provide faithful and science-based recommendations and guidance for our leaders and congregations. Now that we have begun the vaccination phase of the pandemic, Curt provides the following COVID-19 information to assist us in our journey together through this time. As always, the Bishop's Office thanks Curt for his expertise and faithful commitment to being Stronger and Better Together.

To educate our congregations, leaders, and members, we are distributing the most up to date information concerning the COVID-19 vaccine. Please use this as a source of information in your conversations and communication with members, the community-at-large and your families. As with all information we have presented concerning the coronavirus this is simply for your education and does not indicate any direction or recommendation from our office.

1. Get a COVID-19 vaccine, wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet apart, avoid crowds, and wash your hands to protect against COVID-19. This remains the mainstay of information around the pandemic and needs to be continually reinforced even as we hope to be at the apex of cases in our region.
2. We understand that some people may be concerned about getting vaccinated now that COVID-19 vaccines are available in the United States. While more COVID-19 vaccines are being developed as quickly as possible, routine processes and procedures remain in place to ensure the safety of any vaccine that is authorized or approved for use. Safety is a top priority, and there are many reasons to get vaccinated. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html
3. The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Safety is a top priority while federal partners work to make this and other COVID-19 vaccines available. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety.html
4. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html
5. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had a COVID-19 infection. If you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html#accordion-6009c3b27c82e-card-2
6. While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic.
7. Ohioans age 80 and older were the first group eligible. Weekly age groupings, outlined below, start with the most vulnerable to allow for a smooth opening to Phase 1B, gradually adding more eligible Ohioans each week. Please visit the COVID-19 Vaccination Program webpage for more information on Ohio’s Phased Approach for vaccine distribution. Phase 1B of vaccine distribution will include the following audiences. When a new age group begins, vaccinations may not be complete for the previous age group. It will take several weeks to distribute all the vaccine given the limited doses available. Someone in the first age group, for example, will still be able to be vaccinated once the next group begins.

1. The week of Jan. 19: Ohioans 80 years of age and older.
2. The week of Jan. 25: Ohioans 75 years of age and older; those with severe congenital or developmental disorders.
3. The week of Feb. 1: Ohioans 70 years of age and older; employees of K-12 schools that wish to remain or return to in-person or hybrid models.
4. The week of Feb. 8: Ohioans 65 years of age and older.
5. https://vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov            

8. There are currently two vaccines approved by the FDA for use in the United States. There are also three additional vaccines in final phases of clinical trials for use. These additional vaccines are in various stages of testing and some will not make it to market. If you are a science junkie here is a description of how the various vaccines work. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html
9. Here is a brief explanation of what to expect during your vaccine appointment. By now there are enough citizens that have begun to get vaccinated that stories may be running rampant. This is a source of truth rather than relying on anecdotal reports. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect.html
10. As with any vaccine or other healthcare treatment there will be side effects involved. The body must respond to the vaccine to produce the needed antibodies and that response is the main reason we have side effects. It is NORMAL and EXPECTED. Here is some information on what side effects to expect and how to minimize their effect. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html
11. There is just too much information concerning the vaccine and how each state is implementing it’s vaccination program to address in a singe communication. Below is a link to many of the frequently asked questions. As always if you have specific additional questions that cannot be answered by this information please forward your question to the synod office and we will seek to obtain an answer and communicate it back to you in a timely manner. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html#accordion-6009c3b27c120-card-3

As you will note, this information was drawn almost exclusively from the CDC along with Ohio Public Health. We remain committed to using only reliable and trustworthy sources for any information we disseminate out of this office. While we will never make specific action mandates to the congregations in our synod we make one simple ask--When confronted with questions or concerns from your leaders, members or colleagues please always rely on evidence-based information to form your response. We remain in a highly polarized community environment and now is not the time to spread inaccurate or disinformation. We will get to the other side of this pandemic by following the science, supporting one another in faith and grace and continuing to lift each other up in prayer. It is our sincere hope that this information will assist you in doing your part in helping to get us all beyond the fear of pandemic and its devastating impact on our complete community.