As the state of Utah continues its COVID-19 vaccination program, the Utah Poison Control Center has partnered with the Utah Department of Health to help the public get advice on any side effects they may experience from a COVID-19 vaccine.

Recently, rumors on social media have circulated that poison centers say that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe.

At the Utah Poison Control Center, our team of physicians, pharmacists, and nurses trained in toxicology all fully support the ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccinate all eligible individuals in Utah.

The American College of Medical Toxicology and American Academy of Emergency Medicine, two nationally-recognized physician groups, announced their support for COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective.

We echo their statement and also strongly recommend vaccination with the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

While the vaccines do cause side effects such as pain, swelling, fatigue, and fever, these symptoms are generally mild and go away within 1-2 days.

Rarely, vaccines may cause severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis. The number of patients experiencing anaphylaxis from COVID-19 vaccines is similar to other vaccines such as the influenza vaccine (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7008e3.htm).

The Utah Poison Control Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by healthcare professionals trained in toxicology and vaccine side effects to answer questions about adverse effects from COVID-19 vaccines.

Additionally, patients may use the CDC V-safe platform (vsafe.cdc.gov) to report side effects to the CDC. We encourage healthcare professionals to use the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS vaers.hss.gov) to report adverse events related to COVID-19 vaccines.

The Utah Poison Control Center can be reached at any time at 1-800-222-1222.

State officials have published a new health guidance document entitled Striving Towards Equity: Utah’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Roadmap. This roadmap is a dynamic, living document that aims to outline a fair and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) hopes it will help providers, local officials and community groups ensure all Utahns have a fair opportunity for vaccination.

This new document uses a data-driven, science-based, and best practices approach to make sure all Utahns have equal access to vaccines; especially our vulnerable populations who may be at higher-risk of severe illness. Early in the pandemic, the UDOH started tracking COVID-19 cases. This data has helped shape the state’s response to this point and has shown that COVID-19 has not impacted all groups the same. This new distribution roadmap continues using case counts data and incorporates social determinants of health data to look at which populations are being the most impacted so that resources can be allocated, or re-allocated to those communities hit the hardest by the pandemic and most likely to experience inequities.

The document was created with the support and input from local health departments, healthcare networks, retail pharmacies and several other community groups. State leaders see this plan as a commitment from those partners to incorporate equity in their vaccine distribution and make sure everyone has a fair opportunity to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

This document is built on four ethical principles identified by the CDC which should help guide the distribution process, especially when vaccines are limited. These principles are: 

• Maximize benefits and minimize harm
• Mitigate inequities
• Promote justice
• Promote transparency

Based on those guiding principles, state officials have identified five specific efforts which work toward a more equitable distribution of vaccine:

1. Identify priority and higher-risk populations
2. Develop messaging that works for all Utahns
3. Reduce barriers at vaccination clinics
4. Create vaccination sites at locations within the community and routes for mobile vaccination units.
5. Make vaccination data available to the public

Many of these efforts are already underway. For example, the UDOH is updating vaccination data daily on our vaccine information page. Additionally, the state has partnered with Nomi Health to bring mobile vaccination clinics to rural and higher-risk populations.

State officials see the COVID-19 Health Equity Plan as a living document that will change as the needs of the state change. They’re looking to work closely with community organizations to constantly refine the state’s response.

Read the full document here. 

This change only applies to those individuals aged 65 and older right now.

Consistent with previous vaccine distribution guidance, individuals with certain underlying medical conditions will be eligible starting on March 1st. 

To see which underlying medical conditions will be included in this next phase of vaccine distribution, please visit https://coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine-distribution/#eligibility. 

As a reminder, the following groups of people are currently eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine:

• Healthcare workers who have contact with patients (like dentists, physical or occupational therapists, front office staff in a clinic, medical aesthetics, home healthcare workers, etc.)
• Long-term care facility staff and residents
• First responders like EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, dispatchers, and corrections officers
• K-12 school teacher or staff
• Utahns 65 years and older 

Appointments are available at local health departments and select local pharmacies across the state. Please note that due to the demand and variable supply of vaccine doses, it may take several tries to get an appointment. We anticipate more vaccine providers will be added in the coming weeks/months as supply increases.  

For more information on Utah’s vaccine distribution plan, please visit our vaccine distribution page.

The State of Utah has made intentional efforts to start to combat these disparities including through the creation of the Multicultural Advisory Committee, first formed by Governor Gary R. Herbert. This partnership has continued with Governor Spencer Cox’s administration. The group aims to address disparities and systemic barriers for underrepresented groups as it relates to COVID-19 and beyond by elevating best practices to engage, inform, and empower communities so that an infrastructure for future crisis and resource delivery can be founded on serving the needs of those most vulnerable. 

The statement released by the Utah Hospital Association and partners marks future steps to combat racism in all forms so that “everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live a healthy life”, and in so doing, creating a thriving Utah that is a welcoming place to all. It’s never too late to stand against racism and injustice, and it requires collective voices and actions to make a difference. 

To read the full statement visit: https://www.utahhospitals.org/blog/item/212-uha-hospital-systems-announce-statement-on-racism-and-health

Gov. Cox set a goal of fully immunizing all health care providers, long-term care facility staff and residents, first responders, public and tribal health frontline workers, K-12 teachers and school staff, and adults older than 70 by the end of February. Approximately 412,000 Utah residents from these population groups are expected to be vaccinated.

School districts have been working with their local health departments and other providers in their areas on plans for vaccinating their staff. Districts and administrators will communicate directly with their employees on how, when, and where to be vaccinated.

“We know there is tremendous demand among teachers for the vaccine, and we are thrilled to be able to accelerate the timeline for immunizing teachers,” said Gov. Cox. “There’s no part of our society that COVID-19 has impacted more significantly than education. Getting the vaccine out to teachers and school staff will provide stability in our schools and improve the educational experience of our students.”

Utah’s 13 local health departments have already vaccinated tens of thousands of Utah health care workers and first responders, and will also be responsible for vaccinating older adults. Older adults or their caretakers should contact their local health department late next week to learn about how to make an appointment.

“Providing vaccines for these additional groups is exciting, but it is important to manage expectations,” said Rich Saunders, Utah Department of Health executive director. “We are still receiving a limited number of doses each week, and demand is likely to outpace supply initially. Not everyone will be able to schedule an appointment next week, but we ask them to be patient and keep trying. We will have enough doses to eventually vaccinate everyone in these groups.”

Originally, teachers and school staff were anticipated to receive vaccinations later in January, and older adults in mid-February. Based on current vaccine administration progress, anticipated supply over the next several weeks, the important role schools play in society, and the severity of disease older adults experience, Utah’s Unified Command group recommended accelerating the vaccination timeline.

Subsequent populations being considered for vaccination priority include prioritization by additional age groups, residents with certain underlying medical conditions, and certain residents who live in congregate settings.

More details about the COVID-19 vaccine, and Utah’s distribution plan, can be found at coronavirus-stage.at.utah.gov/vaccine.

Executive order

The governor’s executive order, describes vaccine eligibility and vaccine provider requirements, including not administering the vaccine to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days, administering each COVID-19 vaccine within seven days of receiving the vaccine; and reporting data each day by 6:59 a.m.

It also states that a vaccine provider that does not comply with the Order may be subject to a reduced COVID-19 vaccine distribution or no distribution for future distribution periods. A COVID-19 vaccine not used within seven days of distribution is subject to redistribution. 

The Order states the Utah Department of Health shall coordinate with local health departments to establish procedures to offer monoclonal antibodies to residents of long-term care facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19.

For more information on the state’s vaccine distribution plan, please visit our vaccine distribution webpage.

The updated order allows for the resumption of some elective procedures pursuant to guidelines established in consultation with the Utah Hospital Association, the Utah Medical Association, the Utah Dental Association, and other medical providers. 

“I would like to express my gratitude to Utah’s medical providers for their understanding and willingness to postpone procedures in order to conserve equipment, medications and hospital space,” Gov. Herbert said. “While we are not out of the woods yet, we also understand that many of the procedures that have been postponed are medically necessary. At this time, we believe we can cautiously resume certain procedures.” 

Utah’s hospitals, doctors, dentists and other providers began, on their own accord to postpone elective procedures over one month ago in order to conserve hospital space, medications, as well as the masks, gloves, gowns, and other protective equipment Utah might need in preparation for a surge of COVID-19 patients. 

“This updated order allows for some medical procedures to resume in a measured and cautious way,” said Gen. Jefferson Burton, interim executive director of the Utah Department of Health. “Major hospital systems report sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) to meet near term needs, and data show the growth in new hospitalizations due to COVID-19 has decreased and the statewide percentage of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds has stabilized below 20 percent.” 

You can view the full order, and its guidance regarding procedures, here. You can also view the Utah Hospital Association’s roadmap for resuming elective procedures here.  

ProjectProtect is a grassroots collaboration between Intermountain Healthcare, the University of Utah Health, Latter-day Saint Charities, and several Utah nonprofits are leading the effort. And they’re looking for volunteers.

The goal is to engage 10,000 volunteer sewers each week to produce more than five million medical-grade face masks that will be distributed to frontline health workers at two Salt Lake City-based health systems.

It’s being called the largest Utah-based volunteer effort since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

ProjectProtectis also helping to produce reusable isolation gowns and more than 50,000 face shields, which are already being deployed to frontline caregivers for use while caring for patients.

Latter-day Saint Charities has worked with healthcare experts to create educational content and instructions for sewing the masks, while the Relief Society organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has tapped into its network of thousands of volunteers from around the world. 

“Four weeks ago, I got a call from a University of Utah doctor asking if we might consider sewing medical masks to address a looming shortage in the hospitals,” said Sharon Eubank, president of Latter-day Saint Charities and first counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency. “From that initial call, an important partnership was born. This team, from multiple organizations and a variety of professions, has moved mountains to make ProjectProtect possible. If such a feat is possible anywhere in the world, it’s here in Utah. We’re so happy to be a part of this community effort!” 

ProjectProtect will enlist an estimated total of more than 50,000 volunteers to sew clinical face masks in their homes — and more volunteers are invited to take part.

Details about what volunteers will be asked to do:

– They need the ability to follow detailed instructions and use a sewing machine.

– They need a sewing machine, thread, scissors, and pins. Material and instructions will be provided.

– Each volunteer will be asked to make 100 masks. Depending on the sewer’s level of experience, each mask will take five to 10 minutes to sew.

– Volunteers should expect to spend 10 to 15 hours sewing, plus they’ll need to pick up the materials and drop off the finished masks.

Since the idea for the ProjectProtect collaboration surfaced last month, experts from the three organizations – who work in services including supply chains, infectious diseases, operations, instructional design, and communications – have had daily meetings to work through the details.

When the polypropylene fabric, which is required to make the medical-grade masks, and had to be ordered from China, cleared customs in Los Angeles, the project kicked into high gear.

“We’ve seen heart-wrenching stories of healthcare workers all over the world who are caring for COVID-19 patients without the protection they need and deserve,” said Tad Morley, vice president of outreach and network development at University of Utah Health. “We realized our regular supply chain couldn’t handle the demand and we didn’t want our frontline staff to face that same situation. So, we tapped into the resources that are based in the community to make sure they were protected.”

Dan Liljenquist, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Intermountain Healthcare, worked closely with Morley at U Health and Eubank at Latter-day Saint Charities, to help put the pieces together to get the grass-roots initiative off the ground.  

“ProjectProtect is an unprecedented community collaboration in response to a once-in-a-generation pandemic, and it represents the dedicated work of dozens of professionals and hundreds, soon to be thousands, of volunteers,” said Liljenquist. “The principles of industry, volunteerism, and self-reliance run deep in Utah, and this initiative to locally manufacture personal protective equipment for frontline caregivers is a great example of that desire to help.”

To learn more about the ProjectProtect initiative and to volunteer to sew masks, visit projectprotect.health. Select the project location nearest you and register. You’ll receive an email confirmation with instructions. A printed copy of the confirmation email is necessary to pick up your materials kit.

“We invite all who are able and willing to sew medical grade masks to join us as we work together to ensure that caregivers battling COVID-19 have the equipment they need to stay safe,” says Liljenquist. “Your personal contributions to this effort will help save lives.”

Child care programs with (a) a license in good standing from Utah Child Care Licensing and (b) are open and (c) providing child care services may be eligible for a Child Care Operations Grant.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 38% of Utah’s licensed child care centers and 18% of its licensed family child care programs have closed due to low enrollment. Families who continue to need child care now have limited options available through the existing system.

“Like many small businesses in Utah, child care providers are grappling with the impacts of COVID-19 on their business, employees and services,” said Tracy Gruber, Office of Child Care director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services and liaison to the Governor’s task force. “These grants will provide child care business owners with the means to remain open — despite low enrollment — and continue supporting Utah’s workforce who are in need of child care at this critical time.”

Child care business owners can go to jobs.utah.gov/covid19 for more information and to download the Child Care Operations Grant agreement form.

• Davis Hospital & Medical Center in Layton
• Jordan Valley Medical Center in West Jordan
• Mountain Point Medical Center in Lehi

Patients will be asked to stay in their cars while they fill out a registration and are screened. Results will then be sent to the patient’s ordering physician within 4-7 business days. Please note, only patients with an order from his/her physician will be tested.

Drive-through testing does not require an appointment.

Drive-through testing locations and hours:

Davis Hospital & Medical Center
1600 Antelope Drive
Layton, UT, 84041
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Screening location tent is located in the north east parking area behind the hospital

Jordan Valley Medical Center
3580 West 9000 South
West Jordan, UT 84088
Hours: Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Screening location is on the east side of the hospital near the inpatient pull-through entrance

Mountain Point Medical Center
3000 North Triumph Blvd
Lehi, UT 84043
Hours: Monday to Friday 9 .m. to 5 p.m.
Screening location tent is located near the Emergency Room entrance