COVID Vaccine

As with almost all of our COVID-19 experience, we are heading into uncharted territory with the coronavirus vaccine. We thought it might be helpful to gather all of the information pertinent to city employees in one convenient place. And what better place is there than Walter?

Official City Policy

City of Orem COVID-19 Vaccination Plan (as of April 14, 2021)

The City of Orem strongly encourages all city employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination when it becomes available.

Purpose

In accordance with the City of Orem’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, the City is adopting this policy to safeguard the health of our employees and their families; our customers and visitors; and the community at large from infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 that may be reduced by vaccinations. This policy will comply with all applicable laws and is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health authorities, as applicable.

Scope

All employees are encouraged to receive vaccinations as determined by the CDC, state, and local health authorities.

Procedure

The City of Orem will pay for all vaccinations covered by this plan if there is a cost to the employee associated with the vaccination.  If possible, vaccinations should be run through employees’ health insurance where applicable and otherwise be submitted for reimbursement, if necessary. 

All employees will be paid for time taken to receive vaccinations. For off-site vaccinations, employees are to work with their supervisor to schedule appropriate time to comply with this plan.

This plan does not modify the City’s current COVID-19 reopening plan. Consistent with CDC guidelines, employees will still be required to wear a mask at work or on duty if: (1) appropriate social distancing cannot be achieved; (2) all employees within a group have not received a COVID-19 vaccination and the members of the group are unable to appropriately social distance; or (3) directed to wear masks by federal, state or local health officials.

Exemptions – Employees who have sought and received a legal medical or religious exemption from the City are not required to comply with this policy.

The City reserves the right to modify this policy when necessary in order to achieve operational objectives and /or as further directed by federal, state or local health officials.

Helpful Resources

Information about the Vaccine from the CDC

National stats, expert recommendations, and new initiatives to fight COVID-19.

Local Info from the Utah County Health Department

Includes information about the availability of the vaccine in Utah County as well as a timeline for roll out.

Intermountain Healthcare FAQs

Are COVID-19 vaccines safe?

Safety is Intermountain’s top priority and prerequisite to implementing immunization

programs. The FDA, CDC, and Intermountain will be fully transparent about any safety risks or side effects associated with vaccines as well as proven effectiveness. This includes safety and effectiveness information according to various populations, how the doses are stored and for how long they are stored, and how many doses are given per individual and over what time period. Access product and safety information from the CDC on the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to learn more.

How are vaccines approved?

Safety is Intermountain’s top priority and prerequisite to implementing immunization

programs. The FDA, CDC, and Intermountain will be fully transparent about any safety risks or side effects associated with vaccines as well as proven effectiveness. This includes safety and effectiveness information according to various populations, how the doses are stored and for how long they are stored, and how many doses are given per individual and over what time period. Access product and safety information from the CDC on the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to learn more.

What is the difference between an FDA EUA and an FDA approval, and are they both safe?

EUAs are granted for the duration of a public health emergency, when studies and data show the product is safe and may be effective to prevent, diagnose, or treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition. The FDA stated that for an EUA to be granted for a COVID-19 vaccine, they will require a high level of evidence on its safety and effectiveness, similar to what is required for a BLA.

How are vaccine manufacturers able to develop a safe vaccine in such a short timeframe when vaccines usually take years to develop?

The CDC, HHS, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other national organizations have partnered to form an Operation Warp Speed (OWS) initiative to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccine program safely. OWS is taking processes for vaccine development, evaluation, and approval that normally take years and compressing them into months, by running these processes at the same time rather than in sequential steps. OWS began manufacturing the vaccine while running the phase 3 trials, before knowing vaccine effectiveness. If the vaccine turns out to be effective and the FDA approves, vaccines

will be ready to use immediately upon approval by the FDA. Vaccines not proven effective won’t be approved or allowed to use.

Do the vaccines have any side effects?

The FDA and CDC have shared that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines may contribute to mild side effects like there could be with any vaccine (mild pain, swelling, or redness at the site of injection; mild fever; chills; feeling tired; headache; and muscle and joint aches).

will be ready to use immediately upon approval by the FDA. Vaccines not proven effective won’t be approved or allowed to use.

How effective will the vaccine be?

Vaccines will need to be at least 50% effective (reduces the risk of infection by one half) for it to be granted an EUA. Another way to say this is: you are half as likely to become infected compared to those who are not vaccinated. Any level of effectiveness can help slow the spread. Because we don’t yet know how effective the vaccines are and for how long, individuals will need to continue all other prevention methods including masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene. The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines that have been granted EUAs are both around 95% effective.

will be ready to use immediately upon approval by the FDA. Vaccines not proven effective won’t be approved or allowed to use.

If caregivers receive the COVID-19 vaccine will they still need to follow social distancing and masking guidelines as well as the use of approved PPE?

Vaccination will not remove caregiver requirements to don full personal protective equipment (PPE) in clinical care settings, to wear masks at work and in public, to be tested for COVID-19 in the event of an exposure, or to support other prevention methods. We will need to continue to support all prevention methods known owing to the limited knowledge for how effective vaccines might be.

will be ready to use immediately upon approval by the FDA. Vaccines not proven effective won’t be approved or allowed to use.

Will vaccination require one dose or a series of doses?

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine requires two doses, the second dose 21 days after the first. The Moderna vaccine also requires two doses, the second dose 28 days after the first.

will be ready to use immediately upon approval by the FDA. Vaccines not proven effective won’t be approved or allowed to use.

How do COVID-19 vaccines work?

Vaccines help the body develop immunity by training the immune system to recognize and remember how to respond to the disease-causing part of a virus. Vaccines traditionally contain either weakened or inactivated (killed) viruses or purified, signature proteins of viruses. In the COVID-19 response, some manufacturers are making vaccines in new ways, using messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA is genetic material that encodes the signature proteins of the viruses. These genetic instructions are injected into the person rather than the viral protein itself. mRNA vaccines use only what is needed to guide immune system response and development of antibodies, so if and when the body is exposed to the actual virus, the immune system knows how to respond and protect the individual from getting sick or from getting very sick.