Betsy Price June 20, 2022 Headlines, Health

Delaware’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines for young children were expected to arrive today.

Delaware’s pre-ordered COVID-19 vaccines for ages 6 months through 5 years old were expected to start arriving Monday, June 20.

They will go to medical providers who pre-ordered them, but not all did.

Parents of those children should be able to have the kids vaccinated starting Tuesday, the Division of Public Health announced, after the drugs were approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Friday and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Saturday.

Not everyone is a fan.

“Everything in medicine is a risk vs. reward calculation,” said Dr. Christopher Casscells at the Caesar Rodney Institute Center for Health Policy. “Since there is a 0.00% chance of infant death from COVID, there is no possibility of a relative benefit and a definite known risk. I would vehemently not let my grandchildren be vaccinated for COVID.”

Both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines were authorized for use for children.

Moderna’s is a two-dose series, and is one-quarter the adult dosage, for children ages 6 months through 5 years old.  Estimated effectiveness varies based on age, Public Health said.

The Pfizer vaccine is a three-dose primary series that is one-tenth the adult dosage and is authorized for children 6 months through 4 years old, as their vaccine for 5-year-olds is already approved. It has an estimated effectiveness of 80% after the third dose.

Side effects were generally mild, and no serious side effects were identified.

For Moderna, the most commonly reported side effects across all ages included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fever and underarm swelling/tenderness at the injection site.

For Pfizer side effects included irritability, decreased appetite, fever, headache, chills and pain, tenderness, redness and swelling at the injection site.

Public Health has published a chart explaining the differences between the two vaccines.

The division recommends parents contact their pediatric health care provider for specifics on scheduling and timing.

Parents can find a provider list on the website, too.

Vaccines will be available from pediatricians/primary care providers, Public Health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Some pharmacies, but not all, will vaccinate the younger children.

Vaccine supply and access are expected to increase as the week goes on.

“We are incredibly happy and relieved that a COVID-19 vaccine will now be available to our youngest population starting at 6 months old,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the department.

She said the department recognized the concern that parents with young children faced waiting for the vaccine to become available.

“It is our hope that parents will consult with their child’s provider or the appropriate medical facility to determine the best option for them,” she said.

While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill, the number of infants and children under 5 who were hospitalized during the winter Omicron surge was 5 times the rate of the fall 2021 Delta surge.

The CDC said 64% of hospitalizations in children under 5 years occur in those without other conditions.

Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.

Ethan Hinds came up with big plays all game long adding 24 points to win 61-47

  The DIAA baseball semi-finals both ended thrillingly Thursday Night. Appoquinimink held St. Mark’s to advance by a score of 3-0 and final between Caravel Academy and Delaware Military Academy would be even closer. DMA carried a one-run lead into the seventh inning but that’s when Caravel got hot. Ryan Lester, who pitched a great game for the Bucs, singled to tie the game. The Bucs scored their first two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Catcher Tyler August took off his gear to enter in relief for Second Team All-State Starter Kevin Williams. August would get the final out and strand runners on second and third for the Bucs. In the bottom half of the seventh, the Seahawks would answer the call. Junior Mason McCloskey led off the inning for DMA with a liner to center field but Caravel center fielder Anthony Nardo came charging from deep center to try and make a diving play. The ball bounced before he got there and rolled to the wall, allowing McCloskey to get all the way to third with a triple. Then Sophomore Logan Wiley drove Mccloskey home with a sac fly to center to tie the game at 2-2 in seventh. Later in the inning, with two  outs, leadoff hitter and UD commit Jackson Tyer doubled down the left-field line. Tyer advanced to third on a passed ball and set up  sophomore Drew Simpson to win the game for DMA. Simpson lined one into shallow right field, just out of the glove of Caravel’s second baseman Logan Boettcher for the game-winning hit. Ter would touch home and blow a kiss to the Caravel dugout, punching DMA’s ticket to their first-ever state title game. Kevin Williams went 6 ⅔ with 5 Ks and a no-decision as August gets the win on the mound for the Seahawks. Caravel’s Jared Hoffman doubled and tripled in the loss. Logan Boettcher also had two hits for the Bucs. Williams and Tyer doubled for DMA and McCloskey had the big triple. DMA now advances to meet defending State Champion Appoquinimink Saturday at Frawley Stadium with the first pitch set for 7 p.m., weather willing.  

The Brandywine Valley SPCA hopes to vaccinate more than 500 pets during a free clinic in Harrington Saturday. Photo/BVSPCA.     The Brandywine Valley SPCA will hold a free pet wellness day on Saturday, March 12 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. Two doggos await their vaccination during a previous BVSPCA drive-thru clinic. The event will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. No advance registration is required. Free services will include vaccinations for rabies, distemper and FVRCP. There will also be a drive-through pet food pantry. Annual rabies and distemper vaccinations protect pets against the most common potentially fatal infectious diseases. For puppies and kittens, distemper vaccinations should begin at six weeks of age followed by a series of boosters, then a rabies vaccination at three months of age. BVSPCA hopes to vaccinate more than 500 pets during the event in conjunction with Petco Love, the nonprofit wing of Petco.  “Considering the significant increase in families struggling financially recently, we put together free vaccine clinics with pet food pantries to help alleviate the stress of caring for the dogs and cats they love,” said Adam Lamb, CEO of BVSPCA. “No family should have to give up their pet to a shelter or trim back on basic, essential care simply for financial reasons.” The clinic will be held in a drive-through format. Attendees should bring their pets in a car, drive up to a check-in station, then drive up to an outdoor vaccination station. Pets will be vaccinated while in the car if possible. Cats should be in carriers, and dogs should be leashed should they need to come out of the car for their vaccinations. More information on this and other BVSPCA free vaccine clinics being held this month can be found at this link. 

The event is offering 200 meals to go and may expand that number if there’s a big enough demand.

Photo/senatorbrucecennis.com State Sen. Bruce Ennis will retire at the end of his term in November after spending forty years in the General Assembly. Ennis, a Democrat from Smyrna, said he would be stepping down in order to spend more time with his family. “Serving in the Delaware General Assembly has been a great privilege and honor that I will cherish,” Ennis said. “Knowing that the people placed their faith in me to represent their interests in so many different ways, on so many important issues, is both humbling and gratifying.”  After graduating from John Bassett Moore High School, Ennis joined the Delaware Air National Guard where he rose to the rank of sergeant. He would go on to spent 20 years as a Delaware State Police Trooper, retiring in 1982 at the rank of staff captain. First elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in 1982, Ennis succeeded the late Speaker of the House Robert W. Riddagh. He won re-election to the seat 12 times.  He then transitioned to the Delaware Senate after winning a 2007 special election to succeed the late James T. Vaughn, Sr. The voters of the 14th District re-elected Ennis to that seat four times.  Ennis is also a life member of Citizens’ Hose Company in Smyrna, where he has served as Fire Chief, President, and numerous other administrative and line officer roles throughout the past 63 years.  Widely regarded as one of the General Assembly’s strongest advocates for first responders, veterans and state pensioners, Ennis’s legislative accomplishments include his central role in the creation of Delaware’s modern emergency response and statewide paramedic systems.  During his lengthy career, he also sponsored legislation that created a statewide paramedic program, instituted an inclusive statewide trauma system, improved Delaware’s EMS operations, upgraded emergency communications, initiated the state’s “Gold Alert” system and placed flashing lights on the back of school buses. He also has been a champion for Delaware’s open spaces, farm families, manufactured housing residents, outdoorsmen and its horse-racing industry.  “Bruce Ennis is one of the most honorable and kind-hearted people I have had the honor to serve alongside here in the Delaware General Assembly,” Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola, D-Newark, said. “His generosity and dedication to his constituents are as legendary in this building as his unwavering commitment to the public and the small-town way of life he has worked so hard to preserve in Kent County.”  Sen. Nicole Poore, D-New Castle, said Ennis will be deeply missed by his colleagues and the people of Delaware alike.  “Bruce is a friend to all, regardless of party affiliation or address,” she said. “What he cares about is you as a person, is your family well and what he can do to help. His retirement will be a loss to all of us who have come to depend on his advice and guidance, but a well-deserved reward for him and his family.” 

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