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Merit Family,
As many of us are now eligible (or soon will be) for the COVID-19 vaccine, I want to share some educational resources on getting vaccinated, including recordings
of a recent presentation our Merit Salt Lake employees enjoyed. For those who have already been infected by the virus, I want to provide information as to why you should still plan on getting a vaccine.
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As of March 22nd, 2021,
over 447 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in 133 countries—approximately 11 million doses per day. At the current pace, it will take years to achieve a significant level of global immunity. The rate, however, is steadily increasing,
and new vaccines by additional manufacturers are coming to market. The introduction of Johnson & Johnson's one-shot option in March is speeding up vaccinations and making it easier to vaccinate hard-to-reach populations.
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So far in the US, 124 million doses have been given, according to a state-by-state tally. In the last week, an average of 2.49 million doses per day were administered.
At this rate, it will take an estimated 5 months to cover 75% of the population with a two-dose vaccine.
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It takes about two weeks after a final vaccine dose for immunity to fully develop. After that, a person can safely meet indoors with other vaccinated people without
wearing masks, according to CDC guidance issued in March. Even for people fully vaccinated, some restrictions remain in place while the virus still circulates across the country. The CDC advises against travel and recommends wearing masks and social distancing
while in public.
Once we're vaccinated, it's still important to wear masks, avoid gathering, and practice social distancing.
Experts stress that until we see a significant reduction in transmission, illnesses, and deaths, we should still abide by these guidelines.
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VACCINE EDUCATION AT MERIT
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Last week, Merit Salt Lake partnered with the Salt Lake County Health Department to bring COVID vaccine education directly to our employees. With their help, we
were able to schedule over 200 vaccine appointments for eligible employees and their dependents. I want to encourage every employee to watch the presentations, recorded by Justin Gomes. They are available in both English and Spanish.
Thank you for your dedication in making Merit a safe, healthy place to work.
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ALREADY HAD COVID-19? GET THE VACCINE ANYWAY, EXPERTS SAY
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As the vaccine rollout progresses, many may be wondering if they need the vaccine even after being infected by the virus. While the natural immunity provided by a first COVID-19 infection is "robust" for relatively young people, it is less effective for those 65 years and older and isn't as protective as a vaccine.
Researchers in Denmark
found that 80% or more of the naturally infected population who are younger than 65 were protected against reinfection for at least six months. This is good, but not as good as some vaccines that provide more than 90% protection for people with no prior infection.
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The researchers also found that previous infection provided less than 50% protection for people 65 years and older. Since that group is also more prone to a "serious clinical course of illness," the researchers urged protective measures for the elderly in the form of effective vaccines and enhanced physical distancing and infection control.
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"Furthermore, our data indicate that vaccination of previously infected individuals should be done because natural protection cannot be relied on," the researchers said.
Learn more here.
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HEALTHY RECIPE OF THE WEEK
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To help you get through the season in a COVID-19-friendly way, in each newsletter I'll provide a new healthy recipe to try. This week?
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Pistachio Oat Squares
Searching for a snack? Try these pistachio oat squares! Pistachios have been shown to
lower the amount of fat and sugar (glycemic index) in your blood, and they're full of fiber and protein. This recipe combines them with heart-healthy oats and olive oil, with a sweet maple syrup finish for a delicious
afternoon snack.
Get the recipe here.
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It seems like every day (COVID-19 or no) we're bombarded with frightening and worrisome news. But the truth of the matter is, good things are happening all around us—we just have to look
First Baby in US Born with Protective COVID-19 Antibodies
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At 36 weeks pregnant, a Florida frontline healthcare worker received her first shot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. She gave birth three weeks later to a healthy baby girl—with COVID-19 antibodies.
Doctors believe the newborn marks the first known case of a baby born with coronavirus antibodies in the US, which may offer her some protection against the virus. Dr. Paul Giblert and Dr. Chad Rudnick found that the antibodies were detected at the time of delivery, after analyzing blood from the baby's umbilical cord taken immediately after birth and before placenta delivery.
"We have demonstrated that (COVID-19) antibodies are detectable in a newborn's cord blood sample after only a single dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine," they concluded. "Thus, there is potential for protection and infection risk reduction with maternal vaccination."
Read more on this story
here.
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UPDATE ON COVID-19 AT MERIT
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We've now identified 496 cases of COVID-19 among the Merit family of approximately 6,100 (383 in the United States, 52 in Mexico, 25 in Ireland, 10 in Sales-EMEA, eight in Brazil, seven in The Netherlands, three in France, three in Sales-LAM, three in Sales-APAC, and two in South Africa). Employees are recovering at home or at the hospital. Many employees who have recovered have returned to work.
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All facilities have implemented stringent COVID-19 protection measures to prevent any spread of the virus among Merit employees.
The Merit Care Clinic is now offering a rapid COVID-19 test for people having symptoms. Please call the
Merit Care Clinic to see if you're eligible for this type of testing.
Please visit the Merit Metro (for employees who have Merit email addresses) or
www.merit.com/covid-19-response-resource-page/ for the most updated information on Merit and COVID-19.
Please stay safe. Please stay positive (and keep smiling from 6 feet). I look forward to sharing more information with you soon.
Regards,
Dr. Nicole Priest, MD
Merit Medical Chief Wellness Officer
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This communication is for internal distribution only. You may discuss appropriate content of the communication with individuals outside of Merit, but may not distribute
the communication itself to individuals outside of Merit.
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