At vaccination clinics conducted throughout the community by the Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland, over 2,300 adults and children have received COVID vaccinations to
date. Of that total, 870 children have been immunized.

Many disabled and elderly members of the community, who might otherwise have not been able, received their shots at these clinics. All of the vaccinations were provided at Alyson’s Place, the medical clinic at JFSA in partnership with MetroHealth. “Kids and parents are thrilled to get their shots and the staff and the volunteers have been exceptional,” said Nata Mendlovic, chief operations officer of Alyson’s Place. JFSA caregivers and their families also received their vaccines at these clinics, insuring that JFSA clients could be safe and remain healthy.

Local physicians and nurses have volunteered their personal time to administer the vaccine shots, while community volunteers have also helped registering people and making sure the process is easy and efficient for everyone.

Registration is easy and quick. Sign up now before the clinic date fills up!

Upcoming JFSA Vaccine Clinics

• Sunday, Feb 13 at Mandel JCC – Click here to register
• Sunday, Mar 13 at Mandel JCC – Click here to register
• Sunday, Apr 10 at Mandel JCC – Click here to register
• Sunday, May 15 at Mandel JCC – Click here to register
• Sunday, June 16 at Mandel JCC – Click here to register

For more information, contact Nata Mendlovic at 216-755-1123.

The CDC on Monday, 12/28/21 updated its guidelines for quarantine and isolation. In many cases where the previous guidelines recommended 10 days the new guidelines recommend 5 days.

You can view the updated guidelines at www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html.

The new COVID variant, Omicron, is causing COVID cases to skyrocket, including in our community. Below is a summary of key things to know based on what we know so far. A more detailed report follows the summary.

Summary

Omicron is much more transmissible: 2x as much as the Delta variant, 4x as much as the original COVID. But cases rise exponentially, so each doubling of the transmission rate results in much more than a doubling of cases.

Omicron seems to be more mild, though we’re still figuring out how much is due to Omicron and how much is due to protection from boosters and more people with prior COVID infection. Even if more mild, with so many more cases it will stress the health care system.

Vaccination helps. Recent booster provides about 75% protection against getting infected, but probably over 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths. Two shots from a while back has much less protection against infection, but still reduces severe cases by about two-thirds.

Prior COVID infection and no vaccination – there are lots of reinfections, but they tend not to be severe cases. Less clear about people who had COVID as long ago as the first wave, March-May 2020.

Vaccination reduces spread by reducing the number of cases and for those getting infected anyway, by being infectious for a shorter amount of time.

Antibody treatments for previous COVID variants was very effective, but it seems that only one of the three treatments (sotrovimab – made by GlaxoSmithKline) works against Omicron and is in short supply already. This will be problematic for high-risk patients.

New Pfizer pill (Paxlovid)  was just approved and will work great against Omicron – but it will be a while before there is much supply. It won’t help much with this wave. The Merck pill (Molnupiravir) was also just approved – not as good as Pfizer’s and with more side-effects, but will help while supplies of Pfizer are limited.

Bottom Line

Even if we will all eventually get COVID, there’s value in boosters and mitigation methods, as excellent treatments are not far off. That’s aside from trying not to overwhelm the healthcare system, which can lead to worse outcomes for COVID and non-COVID patients and increase the incredible burnout rate in health care workers. And let’s not forget that there are people whose health prevents or limits benefit from the vaccine, so reducing spread protects them as well.

Vaccination and booster shots make a difference, both protecting yourself and others. People who are at higher risk for severe COVID should be more careful, e.g. consider wearing KN95 masks as opposed to surgical masks. It should be noted that some people don’t realize they are at higher risk, e.g. Age 55+ and very overweight. Also, with COVID rates high and rising in our community, people with even mild symptoms should be quick to suspect COVID and get tested.

Click here to read the rest of the update with more info and details

The doctors and nurses gave a joint press conference on Wednesday describing what they’re seeing on the frontlines.

Dear Friend,

With Covid-19 case numbers on the rise again, we feel compelled, as members of the Bikur Cholim leadership team, to reach out and share our thoughts regarding the current situation. Jewish Cleveland can and should take an active role in preserving the health of our community.

As Yidden, we have long enjoyed certain freedoms, including davening in shuls and celebrating Yomim Tovim with family and friends.

Covid-19 threatens these very freedoms.

We see the vaccines as one of the strongest deterrents we have to curb the current spike in cases and to reduce hospitalizations and loss of life. Acting now may also help prevent the development of future variants and additional suffering.

The vaccines, which were developed using accepted scientific methods and have been endorsed by the FDA and CDC, have been proven safe and effective. Halacha obligates us to embrace established scientific practices that contribute to the well-being of all. It is considered a mitzvah to get vaccinated. This is supported by Gedolim and Rabbonim who guide Bikur Cholim in their activities.

We know these are difficult and stressful times for our community, and we want to remind you that Bikur Cholim is here for you to ease your healthcare burden.

K’Siva V’Chasmia Tova,

Boruch Hirschfeld
Rabbi, Congregation Ahavas Yisroel
Rabbinic Advisor, Bikur Cholim of Cleveland

Michael (Meir) Pollack, MD
President, Bikur Cholim of Cleveland

The CDC today issued updated guidelines on wearing masks outdoors. Fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks outdoors when in small groups, exercising, or dining.

But the C.D.C. is maintaining advice on other safety measures, saying [Read more…]

Summary:

The two agencies have determined the following:

• Use of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine should be resumed in the United States.
• The FDA and CDC have confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.
• The FDA has determined that the available data show that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.
• At this time, the available data suggest that the chance of TTS occurring is very low, but the FDA and CDC will remain vigilant in continuing to investigate this risk.
• Health care providers administering the vaccine and vaccine recipients or caregivers should review the  Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) and Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers, which have been revised to include information about the risk of this syndrome, which has occurred in a very small number of people who have received the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.

[Read more…]

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted provided an update on Ohio’s vaccination plans following this morning’s decision to pause the administration of the Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.

The majority of the Ohio’s Johnson and Johnson doses were [Read more…]

Our local CVS stores (Cedar/Green, Cedar/Lee) have opened up lots of appointments for COVID vaccinations. You can book appointments for as soon as tomorrow and up to 4 days ahead. At the same time you will book the 2nd shot for 3 weeks later (Pfizer).  Anyone age 16 and up is eligible. You will need your insurance and prescription cards handy when you book the appointments.

Get started at: https://www.cvs.com/vaccine/intake/store/covid-screener/covid-qns

Jordan and I want to express our tremendous hakoras hatov to Cleveland’s unbelievable Jewish community for davening for our son, Chaim Shmuel Dovid hakohen ben Tikvah Leah, Shmuel Schottenstein, for weeks on end.  Hashem has listened to all of our tefilos and I wanted to update you on his condition. B”H he is out of the COVID ICU and in the regular ICU. He was on an ECMO machine for about 6 weeks, a machine that pumps his blood and breathes for him so his lungs and body could rest and heal. They took him off the ecmo last Motza’ai Shabbos.  He still has a trache and they’re slowly weaning him off it and all the sedation he has been on.  Yesterday and today were the first days that he has begun to respond by blinking, moving his mouth, moving his head, and squeezing my daughter in law’s hand.  He’s still in a lot of pain and will have to undergo extensive rehab but B”H we are finally seeing some improvement.

We ask that you still take out a few minutes of your time to daven for him as he still needs many refuos and yeshuos.  If you want to join the Tehillim WhatsApp you can join on https://chat.whatsapp.com/Lmlaca2NOB60OWFXqU2mbs.

IY”H with our constant tefilos Hashem should give him a refuah shlaima bimheirah and return him to his wife and children.

FEMA will begin accepting applications for Funeral Assistance on Monday, April 12, 2021 through our dedicated call center. More information will be available on this page soon.

To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions:

• The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
• The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
• There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

More information at https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

by Ira B Taub MD, FAAP, FACC

My name is Ira Taub and I am a pediatrician who specializes in heart disease in the young. I am writing to inform the community about a COVID19 related condition called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). This condition, first [Read more…]

In my last post, my COVID-19 vaccine advice was to chill. Only health care workers and the highest risk group were eligible to be vaccinated and for them the choice was easy. Others had the luxury of [Read more…]