Paris, Tenn.–The Tennessee Department of Health has requested Henry County Medical Center to continue be a vaccine facility, receiving small shipments of 200 dosages a week.
Hospital Officials said, “We are excited to continue our assistance with the community and also be one of the few providers to offer the one dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
As reported earlier this week, the state is now in Phase 1c and serving those 16 and older with health risk factors.
At this time, hospital officials are asking that anyone interested in receiving either the one dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine or the two dose Moderna vaccine, to call the HCMC Find Line at 731-644-3463 to be put on the list to contact for an appointment.
When you call, be prepared to provide your name, phone number, age, and vaccine type. If no one answers, please leave a message with the required information and someone will contact you to set up an appointment as vaccine becomes available.
HCMC will be offering two options for vaccination in Classrooms 2 & 3:
- Monday, March 15, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Johnson & Johnson one dose vaccine
- Tuesday, March 16, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Moderna first dose vaccine
Appointments for both days are being filled based on the community list, state phasing, and availability. These community vaccinations are by appointment only, so please wait for HCMC to contact you for an appointment.
“HCMC is excited to be a community vaccine provider for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine,” said Paula Bell, Director of Pharmacy at HCMC. “We are hopeful to continue to receive a shipment of it and Moderna regularly as more vaccine becomes available. The COVID-19 numbers in Henry County are slowing down as more vaccinations are given by the community providers. Our citizens are doing an exceptional job helping us get the pandemic under control by doing their part to get us closer and closer to herd immunity.”
You may also register online with the Henry County Health Department at Covid19.tn.org or Wal-Mart to receive your vaccine. You may also call the state’s vaccine request line at 1-866-442-5301.
There are usually mild to moderate side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. The most common side effect caused by the vaccine includes pain at the site where the vaccine was given, which is in the arm. Other side effects may include a headache, fever, chills or muscle aches. Anyone receiving the vaccine needs to utilize the v-safe system as well as report any adverse reactions to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at https://vaers.hhs.gov as well as HCMC Infection Control at 731-644-8260 during regular business hours, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours, report to your primary care provider or the Emergency Department.
The biggest differences between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine besides dosage, are the technology used to develop the vaccine. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made using messenger RNA, or mRNA, which delivers instructions to activate the immune system to develop antibodies to provide protection from COVID-19.
The J&J vaccine uses a similar development approach to other vaccines including Influenza, Polio, and Hepatitis A to instruct human cells to make the SARS-2 spike protein, which then triggers an immune response. It is what’s known as a viral vector vaccine. A harmless adenovirus has been engineered to carry the genetic code for the SARS-2 spike protein. Once the adenovirus enters cells, they use that code to make spike proteins.
There is also a difference in the efficacy of the vaccines. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are around 95% effective while Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine is around 72% effective against the original variants in the United States. More information about all the vaccines continue to unfold as more studies, trials, and usage emerge.
HCMC continues to offer COVID-19 testing with a provider’s orders. Additionally, the Henry County Health Department continues to provide free COVID testing with new self-tests provided on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday by appointment. Regular nose swab tests will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. by appointment only.
HCMC Outpatient Infusion is offering by physician order, monoclonal antibody therapy, bamlanivimab as well casirivimab/imdevimab, for treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults with positive COVID-19 test results who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. These treatments are demonstrating great results for patients in our community.