Seventy- five percent of the United States adult population has now received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot. The country met this milestone as the pace of vaccination has increased to more than 900,000 shots per day after a low of nearly 500,000 daily shots in mid-July.
Parents and children across the country are getting ready to return to school amidst the COVID-19 surge caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant. The overwhelming majority of new COVID-19 cases and serious infections are among people who have not yet been vaccinated, and children 12 years old and younger who are not yet eligible.
On Aug. 23 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had granted full approval of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for people 16 years and older. The drug will be marketed under the name Comirnaty, the FDA said in its announcement. Of the more than 170 million people in the U.S. vaccinated against COVID-19, 92 million have received the Pfizer vaccine.
The Biden Administration announced on Aug. 18 that it will begin offering coronavirus booster shots the week of Sept. 20. The boosters are initially set for Pfizer and Moderna vaccine recipients, with Johnson and Johnson recipients expected to follow.
The delta variant is creating a surge of new COVID-19 cases across the country, particularly in states and regions where fewer people are vaccinated. The variant now accounts for over 82 percent of all new cases.
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that people vaccinated against the coronavirus resume wearing masks in schools and in public indoor spaces in parts of the country where the virus is surging.
In a sign of how well the Biden Administration has tackled the pandemic, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged schools to reopen in the fall.
IN A HOLIDAY WEEKEND SPEECH THE PRESIDENT LAUDED PROGRESS AND URGED CAUTION. Speaking from the White House over July 4 weekend, President Biden urged the country to do its patriotic duty by getting vaccinated. Twenty states have reached the Biden administration’s goal of having at least 70 percent of adults at least partly vaccinated by July 4.
New evidence suggests the vaccine may provide longer-term protection than first thought. Health experts originally speculated that we may need an annual or occasional “booster” shots to maintain Covid-19 vaccines’ effectiveness at protecting us from the illness.
In early June, New York Presbyterian Hospital announced plans to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for all staff. In response, 199SEIU President George Gresham released the following statement: “We are not in agreement with a mandate of the COVID-19 vaccine
While fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 compared with adults, children can become infected, can get sick, and spread the virus to others. As we move into summer, we need to think about how we keep our children and ourselves safe.
President Biden’s Center for Disease Control announced recently that everyone 12 years and older is now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. This is great news for families with children and will help keep loved ones safe as we begin to spend more time with friends and family.
It’s roughly one year after the COVID-19 pandemic peaked in New York and the state continues to make good progress vaccinating all New Yorkers, particularly health care workers. Nursing home workers are getting it done! Currently, 87% of nursing home residents and 58% of staff are fully vaccinated.
Now that more of us are vaccinated, it is time to think about what we can do while staying safe. You are fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and two weeks after the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If you have not completed ALL of these steps, you are NOT fully vaccinated and you should continue taking all precautions. But if you are fully vaccinated or on your way—congratulations*.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday issued new interim public health guidance for the fully vaccinated. This guidance applies to COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization. Fully vaccinated people can now unmask at small outdoor gatherings, or when dining outside with friends from multiple households.
The Black Coalition Against COVID and the Kaiser Family Foundation have launched a new campaign to provide Black communities with credible information about COVID-19 vaccines
Each week, more of us are becoming eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Soon, nearly 40 percent of us will have at least one vaccine shot. In New York State, nearly 60 percent of nursing home workers and 80 percent of hospital workers have taken their shots. Despite all this good news, we all know someone who is still reluctant to get vaccinated.
Despite the recent success with vaccinations, we know there are still many people who are reluctant to take the shot. A recent poll found 32 percent of the US population may not get the vaccine. And we know to fully protect everyone we need to reach at least 75 to 85 percent of us. We’ve all heard some of the reasons why people are hesitant—the technology is too new, steps must have been skipped, we don’t know the side effects, and others.
I got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine last week. I walked away feeling fine. And grateful. Like all of us, I am missing so many of the important people and things in my life. 1199ers have surely been through hell over the last year. Recently, we were starting to see the light. We could think with genuine hope about returning to our lives. Grandparents could hug their grandchildren. We could spend time with old friends. No more Zoom birthday parties!
We are making incredible progress. Each week, vaccine supplies are increasing and more and more of the population is becoming eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. 1199ers are playing a central role in educating our co-workers and our communities about the vaccines. Vaccination rates are going up and hesitance is going down.
Hello 1199 Family. I am very excited to report that last week I received my first vaccination. The process could not have been easier. The staff were fantastic, and I feel fine. I’m thrilled to be part of our increasing vaccination numbers in Upstate/Western New York State. Also, in our region (as across the country) case numbers, hospitalizations, and death tolls are continuing to decline.
Last week, I received my first vaccination at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. (And I feel great.) 1199ers at Interfaith have been doing incredible work throughout this vaccination effort. Central Brooklyn was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and it was wonderful to see Interfaith caregivers, who have given so much, working to restore the health and wellbeing of thousands of Brooklynites. Interfaith 1199ers and hundreds of thousands of caregivers like them have been playing central roles in vaccine rollout programs that protect our communities.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, adding a third vaccine to those available in the United States. All three vaccines have been approved by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). An EUA makes the vaccine available for public health emergencies with continued use if people benefit from it.
Dear Sisters and Brothers, I am happy to report that I will be receiving my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday, Feb. 25 at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn. I’m relieved and grateful that I will be protected from COVID-19. It has been very painful to watch so many seniors (and their families) in our communities be affected by this deadly virus. What’s as concerning is the number of seniors and retired people I’ve spoken with who don’t want to take the vaccine. They have been frightened by lies and misinformation
The demand for COVID-19 vaccines far outstrips current supplies and the Biden-Harris administration has made increasing supplies part of his new comprehensive strategy to combat the virus. The administration’s goal is to deliver 100 million shots in 100 days and expand access to vaccines to more Americans in the coming weeks by expanding the vaccine supply and creating more vaccination locations through a Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.
Dear Sisters and Brothers, thank you for all you are doing on the front lines of healthcare. Your commitment to our patients and our communities is, and has always been, exemplary.
I recently received the COVID-19 vaccine. I got vaccinated because I believe in science and because of my patients and my community. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and is the result of groundbreaking research and tireless work of scientists. I encourage you to get vaccinated. As health workers, we have been at the forefront of this pandemic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease is America’s leading expert on COVID-19. Dr. Fauci’s decades of experience, dedication to science, and steady demeanor have made him a trusted voice in the U.S. and around the world throughout the pandemic. He has advised eight presidents on infectious disease and global and domestic health issues.
I am very happy because this morning I received my rst dose of the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine. I hope our members and retirees will also embrace the vaccine to protect themselves and their families. For the last year, we healthcare workers have seen this deadly virus take the lives of our patients, co-workers on the frontlines, and our family and friends.
As you know, healthcare workers are at an increased risk of contracting the virus and unknowingly passing it along. We know it has been especially challenging to protect yourself and your family as flu season and the surge in the ongoing pandemic have collided, creating the potential for a “twindemic” that threatens to pressure our already stressed healthcare system.
As promised, 1199SEIU is doing all we can to provide education and resources to keep our membership informed and updated about COVID-19, vaccinations, and the guidelines and protocols necessary to keep us safe and healthy.
