City Of Louisville: Vaccines For Kids 5-11 Are Safe And Effective, Louisville Medical Experts Say

Press release from the City of Louisville:

November 09, 2021

Call the LOU HEALTH helpline 502-912-8598.

An uptick in COVID-19 cases puts Louisville back in red-alert status

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2021) – Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) Associate Medical Director Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage today was joined by Connie Mendel, the department’s deputy director, Dr. Beverly Gaines, owner and pediatrician at Gaines and Associates, and Tonia Myers, advance practice family nurse practitioner at Family Health Center Iroquois, to discuss the rollout of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 and an update about COVID-19 in the community.

– Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) Associate Medical Director Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage today was joined by Connie Mendel, the department’s deputy director, Dr. Beverly Gaines, owner and pediatrician at Gaines and Associates, Family Health Center

Dr. Hartlage reported that Louisville is back in the red zone for COVID transmission, the city’s data showed. The city’s case rate increased by 1,662 new cases and 13 deaths last week.

Dr. Hartlage reported that Louisville is back in the red zone for COVID transmission, the city’s data showed. The city’s case rate increased by 1,662 new cases and 13 deaths last week.

“It takes no time at all for our numbers to go up and takes a long time for them to trail back down,” she said.

“It takes no time at all for our numbers to go up and takes a long time for them to trail back down,” she said.

Vaccines

Last week, the CDC gave parents of children ages 5-11 the green light to get a vaccine, paving the way to prevent the spread of the virus to millions of young Americans.

Dr. Hartlage thanked LMPHW, Kentucky Nurses Association and the Smoketown Family Wellness Center for providing the first vaccinations to children in that age group and adults yesterday at the vaccine clinic held at the wellness center.

“This vaccine is really impressive because the efficacy is quite high, and the side effects are low. Last night was a great event, and we gave 122 vaccine doses including 86 children,” she said. “And although I’m a physician, my most important job is being a mom. I was happy to get my 6-year-old vaccinated there last night, and it’s a real relief for my husband and me because we have done everything we can to try and protect her.”

Although the American Academy of Pediatricians and the American Academy of Family Physicians have heartily endorsed the vaccine for children, a recent study revealed that many parents have expressed vaccine hesitancy, especially in the Black and brown communities.

But Myers assured that Family Health Centers is ready to answer any questions or concerns that parents might have about the vaccine.

“We have multiple interpreters available that can answer questions about the vaccine in any language and we do a lot of reassuring to our parents that the vaccines are safe. But I also seen parents who are excited to get the vaccine,” she said. “One parent told me that her 5-year-old wants to get the vaccine because he’s ready to be done with masks.”

Myers said anyone 12 or older can schedule a vaccine appointment with Family Health Centers; however, they are prioritizing vaccinations their own patients in the 5 to 11 age group right now.

Dr. Gaines, an early COVID vaccine provider, also emphasized that the vaccines are no different racially in profiles and safety.

“The majority of my patients are African American, and we have a long history of health disparities, where if one population gets a cold, we get pneumonia,” she said. “I try to explain to my patients about how the FDA, CDC and other advisory panels are all put in place to make sure that nothing untoward happens to one population. I also reassure them that my kids are getting the vaccine.”

Dr. Hartlage noted that leading by example is important to decrease vaccine hesitancy.

“There’s a group of physician moms in our city who are excited to get their kids vaccinated,” she said.

Dr. Hartlage reminded residents and parents they can go to vaccines.gov to find vaccine providers by the preferred vaccine in their ZIP code.

Final week for Say Yes to Covid Test program

Residents of some Louisville areas have through Thursday to order free and rapid at-home COVID-19 tests while supplies last, Mendel said. The Say Yes! COVID Test is offered in partnership with the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, the CDC, and the National Institutes of Health.

“So far we have distributed 304,000 tests to residents by mail and our community partners,” she said.  “It has been a successful program. Being able to screen at home is a great way to identify COVID if you’re not feeling well.”

Frequent testing, combined with vaccination, wearing a mask, hand washing and social distancing, can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The home tests do not replace workplace, travel or school testing policies.

To learn more and order the free tests, visit covidhometestlouisville.org or call the LOU Health COVID Helpline at 502-912-8598.

View this week’s COVID-19 briefing with public health officials here.

The city’s COVID-19 data dashboard, a complete list of COVID-19 testing sites, vaccine information, prevention and contact tracing can be found at www.louisville.gov/covid19. The LOU HEALTH COVID19 Helpline is also available: 502-912-8598.

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This press release was produced by the City of Louisville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.