SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN approximately a year ago, we’ve been faced with more questions than answers: How long will this continue? How can we protect ourselves? How many people will get sick? How many will lose their lives? Then, toward the end of the infamous year 2020, we finally got one of the answers we were hoping for in the form of two very safe and effective vaccines against COVID— one produced by Pfizer, the other by Moderna, with still others in the pipeline.
At this writing, the vaccination roll-out is well underway with many of the most vulnerable in our community already fully protected. Unfortunately, alongside those who are anxiously awaiting their turn to be vaccinated are many who are wary of the vaccine and reluctant to receive it, whether due to the surprising speed at which the vaccines were developed, the novel nature of the vaccines, social media disinformation, or other factors.
Recognizing that vaccination represents our best hope for defeating COVID-19 and regaining some degree of normalcy, Sean Savage of Savage and Associates, in collaboration with numerous other community leaders, founded the V Project with the goal of increasing acceptance of the vaccine and removing barriers that might limit access to it.
Savage explains, “Since back in November, I’ve been studying COVID and looking at the different vaccines in production, and it was such great news to hear about the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. However, polling data shows that only 55 percent of the public is accepting of the vac cines—yet we need to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the population to reach herd immunity. That gap was bothering me, so I started reaching out to leaders in the community to put together a coalition.”
The response to Savage’s overture was overwhelmingly positive, with local businesses, not-for-profits, faith leaders, healthcare providers, government officials, health departments, and other entities answering the call and coming together with two shared, measurable objectives: get the community to herd immunity and be a leading county in Ohio and the Midwest in terms of numbers vaccinated. “We’re supporting this mission through communication and marketing as well as by supporting logistics efforts,” Savage adds.
Overcoming vaccine resistance may be an uphill battle in some cases, but it’s one well worth fighting. Savage points out that those who refuse the vaccine are putting themselves at very high risk because they have no way of knowing how severe their body’s response to the virus will be if infected. “I know people who have died from COVID and people who have been hospitalized in very serious condition. Then there are those who have mild symptoms or don’t even realize they have the virus. The problem is, there’s no way to know where you’ll fall on that spectrum. I’m not personally willing to take that chance,” he says.
Kevin Casey, DO, Chief Clinical Officer of Mercy Health – Toledo and a member of the V Project, agrees that vaccination is of paramount importance if we hope to move beyond the pandemic. “I think vaccination is the only way we’re going to beat this thing,” he emphasizes. “Wearing masks, physical distancing, practicing personal hygiene, and avoiding congregating will all help reduce the amount of transmission, but these measures don’t prevent infection the way vaccination does. It’s really our only way out of this.”
One concern on many people’s minds right now is the appearance of new COVID strains and whether they’ll be covered by the current vaccines or whether they’ll take us right back to “square one” in terms of the pandemic. Dr. Casey notes that, according to studies, the new strains that have been identified so far are similar enough to the original strain that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should still provide immunity against them.
Worry over potential side effects may also discourage some people from getting vaccinated. However, Dr. Casey points out that, as of this writing, Mercy Health alone has already administered over 25,000 vaccinations with minimal side effects, and any side effects that have occurred have been relatively mild, such as fatigue and muscle aches. “Also, keep in mind that side effects are, for the most part, a good sign. They mean your body is recognizing the vaccine and responding to it. I compare it to being home alone at night and hearing a noise in the dark.
You jump out of bed with your heart racing and your palms sweating, but once you realize there’s no actual threat, your body soon calms right back down again,” he says. It’s also important to understand that it’s impossible to get COVID-19 from either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. In fact, neither vaccine actually contains the virus. Whether vaccinated individuals can still carry the virus and unwittingly transmit it to others is not certain, but according to Dr. Casey, if they can be carriers, they will likely have a lower viral load and will, therefore, be able to spread the virus for a relatively brief period.
Asked to characterize where the V Project currently stands in terms of meeting its goals, Savage replies, “I’d say we’re in the second inning of a nine-inning game. Early signs are very positive, and I believe our community is doing very well in administering the vaccine considering the limited supply, but we know there’s significant work to be done in the coming weeks and months—and we’re planning and lining up our resources in preparation.”
One exciting element of the work that lies ahead for the V Project is a special event called V Day Weekend, which will likely be held in late April or early May, depending on when a ready supply of the vaccine is available. This will be a community-wide weekend with “boots on the ground,” pop-up tents in neighborhoods, and people going door to door educating the community in coordination with medical providers administering the vaccine.
“We’re also intensely focused on creating the biggest ‘tent’ possible, ensuring everyone in the community has access to the vaccine when they become eligible—as well as any assistance they might need in getting it—regardless of their economic or ethnic background,” Savage says.
For more information on the V Project, visit vproject.org.
