Town Of Dedham: A Message From The Board Of Health - August 27, 2021

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

08/27/2021 8:30 AM

The Board reports that as of Thursday, August 26th, there have been 2,555 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Town. This is an increase of 23 cases from last week’s update. Currently, there are 26 active confirmed cases. The Commonwealth is not sequencing all positive COVID-19 specimens, and as a result, it cannot be determined that all cases are related to the Delta Variant. 

COVID-19 Vaccine

The Board encourages anyone who is eligible and unvaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone 12 years and older is eligible for the vaccine. The vaccine is safe, free, and effective – even against the Delta variant. Getting vaccinated will help Dedham get back to normal.  

Go to Vaxfinder.mass.gov or contact your local pharmacy or healthcare provider for information about getting the vaccine. 

FDA Pfizer Vaccine Approval

On August 23rd, the FDA approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, which will now be marketed as Comirnaty, for individuals 16 years and older. The vaccine remains available to individuals 12 years to 15 years under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).  At this time, the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have not been approved beyond EUA, but it is likely that they will be approved soon. 

Third Dose for Immunocompromised Individuals

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends a third dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine for some individuals with compromised immune systems. This recommendation is for people with the following conditions: 

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Residents who have questions about whether a third dose of vaccine is recommended for them should contact their healthcare provider to discuss these recommendations.

Booster Dose for the General Public

More guidance from federal authorities is needed before administering booster shots to the general public.  At this time, a booster for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has not been recommended. The Board will continue to update residents as more information becomes available.

Board of Health Vaccine Clinics

Currently, there are no scheduled COVID-19 vaccination clinics through the Board of Health. When more guidance about booster shots is available, the Board will look into holding clinics. Flu clinics are in the process of being planned. The Board will send out notification once the flu clinic schedule has been finalized. 

Face Masks Required in All Town of Dedham Municipal Buildings

Effective August 10th, face masks are required inside municipal buildings for all individuals aged 2 years or older, regardless of vaccination status. Individuals unable to wear a face mask due to a medical condition or disability are exempt. According to the CDC’s Risk Map, Norfolk County remains at substantial risk for COVID-19 transmission.

Face Masks for the 2021-2022 School Year:

On August 25th, the State’s Education Commissioner Jeff Riley issued an indoor mask mandate across the Commonwealth for all staff and students aged 5 and above in public schools through October 1st. The Commissioner will provide additional guidance in the weeks leading up to October 1st. On the evening of August 25th, the Dedham School Committee voted in favor of Superintendent Michael Welch’s recommendations for the 2021-2022 school year. His recommendations require masks indoors for all students PreK-12 so that students younger than 5 years are also masked. Additional recommendations included staff providing COVID-19 vaccination status or consenting to COVID-19 testing twice per week and social distancing measures for students during indoor lunches when feasible. Individuals with medical conditions or disabilities who are unable to wear masks are exempt from wearing masks.

MassNotify

MassNotify is a tool that works through smartphones to privately alert users who may have been exposed to COVID-19. You can enable MassNotify on your iPhone or Android phone to add another tool to our fight against the spread of COVID-19.

• By opting in, your smartphone will share anonymous codes with other MassNotify users using your phone’s Bluetooth.
• MassNotify codes contain no personal information or location data and are completely anonymous.
• If another user you’ve been near tests positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period, you will be notified. If you test positive, you can easily and anonymously notify others to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Stay safe and be kind!

Respectfully submitted by the Board of Health,
Leanne Jasset, Chairman
Mary Ellard, Vice-Chairman
Noreen Guilfoyle, Member

This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.