A call to arms — your arms! | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Vashon used to be one of the most vaccinated communities in America.

During the pandemic, Vashon had the lowest COVID-19 case rate in King County. Our hospitalization and death rates were also among the lowest in the county, even though we had more seniors for our size than any community in the region. In 2022, 90% of Vashon’s over-65 population received a booster.

That was a victory and proof that Vashon listens to and trusts vaccine science.

But somehow, we’ve slipped. According to the Washington Department of Health, Vashon’s adult vaccination rates for COVID and flu have dropped by 30% over the past two years.

There are probably several reasons for this, but complacency is likely one of them. It’s understandable given how exhausted we all are from the pandemic, but it’s also dangerous. Last fall and winter COVID still killed 800 people per week in America, and sent another 7,000 people to the hospital each week.

This has us worried.

Over the past six months, the Trump administration has taken radical steps to diminish U.S. public health infrastructure.

The administration’s budget cut public health funding by half, while DOGE fired at least 30% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) workforce. HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. unilaterally removed longstanding recommendations for COVID vaccination of children and pregnant women without consulting the CDC’s own advisory group of vaccine experts (called ACIP), whom he then dismissed and replaced with vaccine skeptics.

Then he fired the CDC’s director, Susan Monarez, when she refused to implement his deceitful campaign against COVID vaccines. The CDC’s remaining senior leadership resigned in support of Dr. Monarez. The newly constituted ACIP will consider new recommendations this month. We are not optimistic they will resist Mr. Kennedy’s march to limit COVID vaccine availability.

While it is clear to us that the CDC can no longer be considered a trusted source of public health guidance, these actions are very likely to make many people question the value of respiratory virus vaccinations this fall. The regulatory uncertainty has already led major pharmacy chains to decide not to carry or to limit COVID vaccines in multiple states.

The result will be fewer vaccinations, more severe disease, and more preventable deaths. Especially at risk will be senior citizens, very young children, pregnant women, and anyone with pre-existing health conditions including heart disease, asthma, diabetes, obesity/overweight, immune deficiencies, and others.

Fortunately, other experts have stepped up to fill the void.

The nation’s premier medical associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Disease Society of America, have recommended COVID vaccination. These recommendations emphasize the importance of COVID vaccinations for young children and pregnant women, groups whose risk of severe disease rivals that of the elderly.

This summer, Washington’s Vaccine Advisory Committee voted to continue to recommend COVID vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older. The Department of Health adopted this recommendation, and recently announced a statewide standing order that allows pharmacies to provide COVID vaccination without a prescription for anyone older than 6 months who seeks it.

So, what will Vashon do this fall and winter? Will we be Florida, where it’s now everyone for themselves, or will we be the Vashon that kept the pandemic at bay by getting vaccinated and following public health guidance for masking, testing and staying home when sick?

The Vashon Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) calls on Vashonites to join the fight against RFK Jr’s vaccine disinformation campaign.

Taking action is easy. Updated COVID and flu vaccines are now available, on island and off, without a doctor’s prescription, and are recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. Beginning September 30, Vashon Pharmacy will again collaborate with VashonBePrepared and the MRC to provide COVID, flu and RSV vaccinations.

To date, Washington’s health insurers have continued to cover COVID and flu vaccinations for everyone who is eligible, and we urge them to continue to do so. For those without insurance coverage, VashonBePrepared is once again working with Vashon Pharmacy to help pay for vaccination of those who can’t afford it.

You can contribute by making a tax-deductible donation to the vaccination effort at VashonBePrepared.org. Vashon Pharmacy will match the first $2,500 donated.

Islanders take pride in our pandemic success and in doing what’s right. So, let’s all make it a point to buck the national trend while protecting ourselves, our loved ones, and our community by rolling up our sleeves to get vaccinated against COVID and flu this fall.

Clayton Olney is a staff neonatologist at Madigan Army Medical Center. Jim Bristow is a retired pediatric cardiologist and genome scientist, now focused on public health issues. They have been leading Vashon’s Medical Reserve Corps since 2020.