Issue 9 Fall 2021

School and Childcare COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

On August 18, 2021, Governor Inslee added Washington State’s child care providers and K-12 school employees to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. They must be fully vaccinated by October 18 as a condition of employment. See the chart below for dosing schedules for the different vaccine presentations. The mandate covers public, private, and charter schools and most child care and early learning providers who serve children from multiple households. Contractors, volunteers, coaches and support staff are included in the mandate. This mandate does not apply to:

• Students of any age

• Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers, including those that accept child care subsidy, at this time

• Tribal or federally licensed programs

• Programs offered on-site at religious organizations (such as Sunday school)

To find a vaccine visit: How to Get Your Shot | Snohomish Health District
For more information visit:
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for School Employees: Frequently Asked Questions

Community-based Vaccination Clinics Available at Schools, Farmers Markets, and Fairs

Vaccination remains our best defense against COVID. Vaccination offers protection from the virus, including delta and other variants. We are seeing the impacts of COVID vaccination right here in Snohomish County. Unvaccinated individuals the county during the month of July were roughly 10 times more likely than vaccinated individuals to get COVID, be hospitalized due to COVID, or die of COVID-19.

Community-based clinics for free vaccination will be available this summer and into the fall in partnership with schools and events. Generally, these clinics are for ages 12+ (Pfizer) and 18+ (Pfizer or J&J), with a parent or guardian accompanying anyone ages 12-17. No insurance or appointment required.

A calendar is available at www.snohd.org/community-vax-clinics. This calendar will be updated frequently. Among the events where vaccination will be available are the Evergreen State Fair, farmers markets, and back-to-school events.

For more information on where you can get vaccinated quickly, conveniently and free of charge, please visit www.snohd.org/covidvaccine, call 425-339-5278, or text your ZIP Code to GETVAX (438829).

Promoting Vaccine Acceptance

Vaccine development is considered one of the top 10 Public Health achievements of the 20th century¹. The World Health Organization identified vaccine hesitancy as a Top Ten threat to global health in the first decades of the 21st century². Public health works to combat vaccine hesitancy and ensure that eligible people receive COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to school as safely as possible.

Disease outbreaks at schools from measles, mumps, and chickenpox have nearly disappeared in the United States. School vaccine requirements and programs that assure access to childhood vaccines keep immunity levels high in school communities. While most Snohomish County parents fully vaccinate their children, others hesitate to follow recommended schedules. A small minority refuse all vaccines. Many people have questions about vaccine safety and effectiveness, the number of vaccines administered at one time, and resist mandates and requirements.

Here are a few resources to help provide answers and promote vaccine acceptance.

• Vaccine Facts: Washington State Department of Health

• Teens Asked, We Answered: The Truth About COVID-19 Vaccines

• Current Issues in Vaccines webinar: Myths and Misinformation Surrounding COVID-19 Vaccines. September 22 9-10:00 Pacific Time. CE Credits available
Register here

• Ask a Scientist: How Does My Body Fight Disease? An historical graphic novel showing how the immune system reacts to invaders. High School reading level, but format helps understanding.

• Ask a Scientist: How Do People Become Infected With Germs? This graphic novel uses a futuristic setting to educate about how the immune system reacts to invaders. Reading level is at high school, but younger students will be drawn in by the story and illustrations.

¹ Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999 Impact of Vaccines Universally Recommended for Children -- United States, 1990-1998 (cdc.gov)

² Ten threats to global health in 2019 (who.int)

I'm fully vaccinated. What's next? Third Dose/Additional Dose vs. Booster Dose

As of August 26, 2021, 72.2% of Snohomish County residents age 16 years and older have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series¹. The percentage dips to 65% when 12-15 year-olds are added¹. News of breakthrough cases in fully vaccinated people and reports of COVID-19 variant strains have many asking if more doses would give us better protection.

Manufacturers are conducting trials to expand the use of currently available vaccines for younger age groups and additional or booster doses for vaccinated individuals. Licensing parameters, age, and dosing recommendations are expected to change as trial data is published. There is some confusion on the difference between the 3rd/additional dose and a booster dose. The terms are not interchangeable:

• The 3rd/additional dose of vaccine is intended for someone who has received 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer,) but did not develop adequate immunity². The dose, to be administered at least 28 days after the 2nd dose, is now recommended for moderately to severely immunocompromised persons.

• Booster doses are being considered, but recommendations have not yet been finalized and published³. These are for persons who did develop immunity following 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine and could benefit from another dose as the immunity wanes.

• There are no recommendations for additional or booster doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at this time.

Vaccines will continue to be an important tool in the fight to end the COVID-19 outbreak. As data emerges, agencies will work together to maximize their use to protect more segments of the population. Stayed tuned for the latest information.

¹ COVID Vaccine Info and Data | Snohomish Health District
² COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People
³ COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot

Kids and Face Coverings

Kids can help keep our community safe and have fun, too! This video shows some tips about how to make wearing face coverings easier on everyone. Remember, children over the age of 2 should be wearing a mask while in public and unable to safely social distance.

Upcoming NARCAN Training

This fall, Snohomish Health District is offering an online training aimed at educating high school nurses and staff to respond to opioid overdoses using Narcan. According to state legislation and OSPI guidance, high schools with more than 2,000 students will need at least one person trained to administer Narcan (school nurse, health care professional, or designated school personnel), although it is recommended that schools have multiple trained staff members.

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our pilot training this past spring and provided valuable feedback that helped make this training opportunity possible. To access this training, go to https://healthycommunities-snohd.talentlms.com/ and make an account. The course is called Opioid Overdose Reversal – Narcan Training. It takes less than one hour, and upon completion, each user can download a certificate.

If your school needs to obtain Narcan doses, or your district has yet to draft an official overdose reversal policy, the manufactures of Narcan provide resources on their website. They have an online toolkit to assist with drafting policies and have a program that allows each high school to order a free kit of Narcan (two doses). Visit the Narcan website for resources.

Please email Brenna Smith at BSmith@snohd.org if you have any questions regarding the school Narcan training or obtaining free Narcan kits from Emergent BioSolutions.

Not in Our House: Educating Parents to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse

This recorded training features an interactive scavenger hunt guiding parents through a bedroom to find places where teens might stash substances. After the scavenger hunt, specialists from the Snohomish Health District give updates on current trends in youth vaping and substance use. Tools and resources to guide conversations with teens are included.

This community presentation, recommended for parents and other concerned adults, can be accessed under the "Resources" menu on the Snohomish Overdose Prevention website: https://snohomishoverdoseprevention.com/community-presentations/