Molinaro Updates Residents During Latest COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall Forum

Molinaro Updates Residents During Latest
COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall Forum

Health Commissioner addresses national Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause

Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro hosted his most recent virtual town hall forum regarding COVID-19 today, updating residents about the pandemic, the County’s response, and vaccine distribution, among other topics, while answering their questions. Dr. Anil Vaidian, commissioner of the County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) joined County Executive Molinaro to similarly answer residents’ medical queries.

The event is available to view on-demand on the County’s YouTube page, which includes an archive of all 65 online conversations County Executive Molinaro has hosted since March 2020.

Dr. Vaidian discussed the latest developments regarding the national pause on the use of COVID-19 vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson, explaining to residents:

• In accordance with CDC and FDA guidance to pause the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health will not be administering Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine until those federal health and safety agencies evaluate next steps.
• The pause follows reports of six U.S. cases that involved a rare type of blood clot after receiving J&J vaccine.  In total, nearly 7 million J&J doses have been administered in total nationwide.

• People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider immediately.

• Health care providers are asked to report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.htmlexternal icon.

Among the other highlights of today’s conversation:

• County Executive Molinaro updated residents on the most current data, as of April 5^th, available on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard:
  • 655,406 tests completed to date
  • 27,510 confirmed cases to date
  • 1,144 current active cases
  • 63 current hospitalizations
  • 432 deaths to date
  • Positivity Rate for Dutchess County (7-day rolling avg.): 4.28%
• Dutchess County vaccine metrics (as of today) from the State’s Vaccine Tracker:
  • 123,129 Dutchess residents have received at least one dose
  • 41.9% of population with one dose
  • 74,939 residents completed vaccine series
  • 25.5% of population with complete vaccine series

• County Executive Molinaro said this week, the New York State Health Department has allocated 3,600 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine have been to providers throughout Dutchess County. Allocations include:
  • The Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) is slated to receive 2,200 doses of Moderna vaccine and will be distributed as follows:
    • 1,500 doses will be administered through the County’s Fixed POD sites at JCPenney and  Dover.

• • • 700 doses will be distributed to primary care partner providers to vaccinate homebound patients, individuals with intellectual and developmental disorders and others.  SunRiver Health will host a vaccination clinic at the Family Partnership Center for City of Poughkeepsie patients/residents.

• • • Nearly 4,300 TOTAL first and second doses thru DBCH and partners this week.

• • 1,400 doses have been allocated by New York State to hospitals and pharmacies in Dutchess County; updates about these vaccine allocations are posted at www.dutchessNY.gov/COVIDvaccine.

• The County’s Community Pop-up vaccination clinics are currently on hold, following the J& J vaccine pause and the County awaits updated guidance from the CDC and FDA.   Those who had appointments for the two Community Pop-Up clinics originally scheduled for this week at Arlington High School and at the American Legion in Millerton have been provided appointment opportunities for Moderna vaccine at the County’s Fixed POD locations.

Additional vaccine doses are available at New York State-run sites, which includes SUNY Orange in Middletown and the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz. Some other locations in the county, such as CVS, Tops Pharmacy, and others, are receiving doses from the Federal Government and residents can use the CDC’s Vaccine Finder for information about these locations.

County Executive Molinaro will host his next Facebook Live Town Hall on Wednesday, April 21^st at 3 p.m. As always, residents are encouraged to watch live on the County’s Facebook page.