LYNN — Marita Gove, the nurse practitioner at the Lynn Community Health Center coordinating the COVID-19 vaccine distribution at Lynn Tech and elsewhere, is concerned about reports of blood clots connected with the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.
It’s not so much that people will get blood clots, because they are extremely rare thus far. It’s more because of what those reports will mean to people who have been reluctant to get on board with the coronavirus vaccine as it is.
“About six people out of the 6.8 million who have taken it have had blood clots,” said Gove. “I was reading the New York Times today and saw an article that said that roughly 125 people per million, between the ages of 18 and 48, have died from COVID.
“So, you’re talking about one out of a million people who have had blood clots, while 125 out of a million die from COVID. That’s the message we are trying to get across.”
All six victims are women between the ages of 18 and 48, according to reports. One woman from Virginia died and a second woman from Nebraska was hospitalized in serious condition.
Because of the reports of blood clots, national federal health agencies Tuesday called for a temporary halt in distribution of the J&J vaccine. The temporary halt in distributing the vaccine to Massachusetts has had its largest impact on the Lynn Community Health Center’s mobile outreach clinics, Gove said.
“It’s better for us to give the J&J vaccine, where it’s only one dose, to the people we’re reaching out to, like when we go to churches or other sites,” she said. “If we’re only giving them one dose, that means we don’t have to worry about scheduling them for their second dose, and making sure they get there.”
However, Gove doesn’t see any interruption in administering vaccination shots.
“It’s more work on our part,” she said, “but we’re keeping up. Right now, we have a lot. Last week, we gave 6,000 shots at Lynn Tech. Now, you know that’s going to dwindle down as more and more people get vaccinated.”
Gove said it’s important for some people in Lynn to have access to the mobile sites.
“A lot of people need a comfortable environment,” she said. “It’s important. For this (vaccine) to be effective, we need about 80 percent for herd immunity. We’re not close to that yet, but we’re getting there. We have a lot of work to do.”
In February, Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, CEO of the health center, said it was vitally important to gain the trust of some people in Lynn who had apprehensions about taking the vaccine, based on their past experiences with the medical profession.
Education is the key, Gove said, noting that the LCHC still has about 10 more outreach clinics scheduled.
Gove said she hasn’t heard anyone use the J&J situation as an excuse for refusing the vaccine.
“Not personally,” she said, “but I’m sure it’s happening. However, I’m sure that if you look at the data from this state, and you compare it to some other rollouts in other states, we’re doing all right.”
Another question Gove hears a lot is whether these vaccination shots will require boosters in the future.
“We have a lot to learn about that,” she said. “But there will probably need to be a booster at some point.”
Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].
