International Nurses Day is May 12; Written by Putnam County
Nurses Lead the Way, Provide Vision for Future
May 12 is International Nurses Day, celebrated annually on the birthday of the legendary Florence Nightingale. Known by many as the “lady with the lamp,” Nightingale is credited with ushering in the age of modern nursing, due to her lasting contributions in public health.
On this occasion, Putnam County Executive, MaryEllen Odell, is praising the nurses and nursing staff at the health department, saying, “Our public health nurses have showed a devotion to our residents and endurance to the task at hand, not witnessed often. Our community and our economy are headed in the right direction, and it is through their hard work, and their leadership and collaboration with other agencies and partners that we have been able to achieve this.”
Instead of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, they were offered a dose of the two-shot Moderna brand.
Putnam County officials had planned on giving out both at two vaccination clinics in Garrison Tuesday. That changed abruptly when the Federal Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a joint recommendation to pause administering Johnson & Johnson.
“People who have been coming in today that were expecting the J and J with our quick change really handled it well. Most of them did stay for the Moderna and were thankful and it wasn’t a negative experience at all it all turned out pretty well,” said Kathy Percacciolo, Putnam County Health Department’s supervising public health nurse.
Vaccination Numbers Rise Along with Variant Concerns Written by Putnam County Health Department
COVID case numbers in Putnam County remain high, and this raises concern among local health officials. Increasing case numbers in March, after an all-time high in January, are especially worrisome given the backdrop of more transmissible virus variants spreading across the country. Officials everywhere are hoping the race to vaccinate can outpace the rise in case numbers.
“Rising case numbers cause concern for setbacks in reopening,” said Alison Kaufman, DVM, MPH, the new epidemiologist, recently welcomed at the Putnam County Department of Health. The science of epidemiology, which is essentially the study of community disease patterns in a search for causes and solutions, is the backbone of evidence-based public health practice. Dr. Kaufman, who holds a doctorate of veterinary medicine, in addition to a master’s degree in public health, joined the staff in March.
State gives Putnam only 200 doses of Covid Vaccine this week for over 25,00 eligible recipients Written by Office of the Putnam County Executive
It should be easier and faster to get COVID-19 vaccine, but the hard truth is that a lot of our most vulnerable residents are having to wait too long to be vaccinated, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said.
Putnam County has almost 18,000 residents aged 65 or older. An estimated 2,600 residents work in law enforcement, firefighting or other protective service occupations. Another 6,200 or so residents work in education and libraries, which the Census lumps together. Then there are 3,900 healthcare practitioners, technologists and technicians. And don’t forget nursing home and group home staff and residents. All of those residents and more are eligible for vaccination under state rules.
UpdatedThu, Jan 7, 2021 at 5:18 pm ET
Replies(2)
Putnam County will begin vaccinating workers and residents of certain congregate living facilities this week. (Shutterstock)
PUTNAM COUNTY, NY The Putnam County Department of Health received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines Tuesday and will begin vaccinating workers and residents of certain congregate living facilities this week. This is what we have all been waiting for, said Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell in an announcement. At last, the vaccine is in the hands of our county health department and will be going into the arms of our healthcare providers and most vulnerable citizens.
The coronavirus surge continues in Putnam, one of the hardest-hit in the Hudson region over the holidays.