COVID updates for Synergy Members: Testing, In-office vaccination, Omicron Information, Quarantine Guidance
Moderna Vaccine to be available at Synergy
Our team is happy to announce that beginning mid January we will be administering the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for both the primary vaccine series and booster doses in our office. If you are interested in receiving the Moderna vaccine or booster at our office, please inform our team via email or Patient Gateway and we will provide more details on how these vaccination appointments will be handled. Please note that due to limited availability we can only accommodate Synergy members.
Kindly note that at this time our office is exclusively able to carry Moderna and NOT other vaccine types (to include Pfizer).
Team E-mail: Team@synergyprivatehealth.com
Patient Gateway: https://patientgateway.massgeneralbrigham.org/
Omicron Information and Vaccine Efficacy
As omicron becomes the dominant strain in the Boston area, we remind our members that this variant is significantly more contagious than prior strains. Mask wearing is a critical component to prevention of infection, even if you are fully vaccinated, particularly when indoors with people who are not members of your household. It is not yet clear the full extent to which illness with Omicron will be different from illness with Delta. Vaccination continues to be the most effective tool we have against Omicron and all COVID-19 variants. New research shows that the effectiveness against infection for two doses of an mRNA vaccine is approximately 35%. A COVID-19 vaccine booster dose restores vaccine effectiveness against infection to 75%.
Recently the Massachusetts Department of Public Health released a review of breakthrough COVID-19 cases in vaccinated Massachusetts residents. The review found that unvaccinated residents are five times more likely to become infected than fully vaccinated residents (two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson), and unvaccinated residents are 31 times more likely to become infected than fully vaccinated residents who have received a booster. The review also found that nearly 97% of all breakthrough cases in the state have not resulted in hospitalization or death. In breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated people under the age of 60, 99.9% of cases did not result in death. Among the breakthrough cases for residents over the age of 60, 97% did not result in death and no deaths were reported in breakthrough cases among those under age 30. The data indicates that fully vaccinated and boosted individuals are well protected from severe outcomes of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. We strongly urge all our members to get vaccinated and, when appropriate, get a booster.
Monoclonal Antibody Treatment
Massachusetts is experiencing a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases where the Omicron variant has been identified. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has discontinued the use of two monoclonal antibody products and only supports the use of sotrovimab. This has reduced the supply of monoclonal antibody therapies by 70%. Sotrovimab is active against the Omicron variant whereas other agents are not. Sotrovimab can only be administered by IV infusion and doses are limited as the total supply. Eligibility is based on highest risk individuals. If you develop COVID-19 and are eligible for Sotrovimab, our office will facilitate this treatment for you.
Updates to Quarantine / Isolation Guidelines
For your convenience, please find a review of the current quarantine / isolation guidelines from the CDC. Please let us know if you test positive for COVID as we would like to provide you with clinical support and guidance, and we will determine whether we can refer you for monoclonal antibody treatment.
If You Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolate)
Everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
Contact our team
Stay home for 5 days.
If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days
If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine)
If you have been boosted OR completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months OR completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months
Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
Test on day 5-7
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.
If you completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted OR completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted OR are unvaccinated
Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
If you can’t quarantine, you must wear a mask for 10 days.
Test on day 5-7
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home
This article does not constitute the practice of medicine, healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always talk to your healthcare provider regarding your specific medical needs.