Monday evening we had the pleasure of hearing from Bethany Richards. She is a pharmacist (PharmD, URI2016) and currently works in the corporate office at CVS Health in business support. Her Rotary journey started in 2009 when she was a participant in the RYLA event. She continued on supporting the event and driving more student involvement until becoming Co-Chair of the program in 2012 and Chair in 2017-2018. For her efforts in further developing the RYLA program and the participants, she was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow award during the District Conference in 2012. Bethany is presently President of the Middletown Rotary Club for 2020-2022.
So, she was speaking to us about COVID 19 and the vaccines. She talked about the differences between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines:
Moderna: for people 18yrs & older and is 94.1% effective; requires two doses 28 days apart; kept at -20 degrees celsius or -4 degrees fahrenheit
Pfizer: for people 16 yrs & older and is 95% effective; requires two doses 21 days apart; kept at -70 degrees celsius or -94 degrees fahrenheit
Side effects - occur mostly after second dose
Bethany agreed to attend our February 8th meeting also to continue her talk about the vaccines. She mentioned that the second does can be given up to six weeks after the first one. When you get the first dose, you are given a card with the date and time to receive your second dose. CVS is currently offering vaccines at select stores in Johnston and Providence - by appointment. The CVS Airport Road store is supposed to have vaccines available - by appointment - after Thursday. Steve Cofone mentioned that the Town's allotment of vaccines will be provided at the Westerly Senior Center on Mondays thru April 5th between 3:00 and 6:00 pm.
CVS: www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine
Town: www.westerlyri.gov or call 401.596.2404
