Vaccinations decline in Washington County

The number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Washington County has dropped continually during April.

At Tuesday’s Washington County Board of Supervisors, Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski reported that, to date, 15,928 vaccines have been administered to Washington County residents.

Last week, Pettit-Majewski reported 15,060 total vaccines administered, meaning 868 vaccines were administered in the past week.

From April 6-13, 1,474 vaccines were administered, while 1,197 vaccines were administered from April 13-20. From April 20-27, 1,056 vaccines were administered.

All of those numbers include Washington County residents who have received vaccines either in Washington County or elsewhere.

“We’ve seen a reduction in demand,” Pettit-Majewski said. “We’re also seeing slowdowns from the retail pharmacies, who get their vaccines directly from the federal government.”

As a result, the Washington County Department of Public Health is not planning any more primary vaccine clinics at this time, Pettit-Majewski added.

However, there may soon be an uptick in demand.

Pettit-Majewski reported that the FDA is expected to approve expanded use of the Pfizer vaccine for people age 12-15.

She said that the studies have shown 100 percent efficacy of the vaccine in people in that age group.

In addition, both Pfizer and Moderna are working on a vaccine that could be used on preteens, and that could get FDA approval by the end of the year, according to Pettit-Majewski.

Supervisor Marcus Fedler questioned the county Board of Health’s position on the use of vaccines in people age 12-15.

“Is it the county Board of Health’s position that we should vaccinate people of that age even though (COVID-19) doesn’t affect them?” Fedler asked.

Pettit-Majewski said that the Board of Health has not met since the news broke that the FDA may approve the use of the Pfizer vaccine in teenagers.

“They can transmit (COVID-19) as much as anybody else,” Pettit-Majewski said. “I don’t believe that it’s a fair statement that it doesn’t affect them.”

Fedler responded, “Just to clarify — they don’t die.”