Onondaga County to Resume Use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Following CDC & FDA Review

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Onondaga County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Indu Gupta, announced today that Onondaga County will resume the use of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine at Onondaga County clinics in line with recommendations released today by New York State. The availability of the single-dose vaccine will be announced as registration opens for future clinics.

This decision follows a thorough safety review of the J&J vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which announced the lift of the recommended pause on the vaccine yesterday evening.

Dr. Gupta emphasizes the importance of getting the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine and urges residents to take whichever vaccine is available to them first. The J&J vaccine’s known benefits far outweigh any potential risks, which are serious but extremely rare (15 out of the nearly 8 million people who received the J&J vaccine developed a rare blood clot and low platelet syndrome). Dr. Gupta urges anyone with questions about the J&J COVID-19 vaccines to speak with their healthcare provider. The CDC and FDA continue to closely monitor the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines.

Onondaga County is in constant contact with the New York State Department of Health and will continue to update residents on all COVID-related developments.

Health Alert: Sudden Increase in Syphilis Cases in Onondaga County

Onondaga County has seen a sharp rise in syphilis cases so far this year. In the first three months of 2021, Onondaga County has seen 28 cases of syphilis—as many cases as in all of 2020.

Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta stated, “Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is CURABLE with antibiotics if detected early. Syphilis may not cause symptoms initially but will result in very serious illness if left undiagnosed and untreated.” Gupta continued, “While our focus is on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot forget other public health concerns in our community such as this recent rise in syphilis cases. This increase can impact not only individuals, but their partners and their unborn children if pregnant. In recent years we have seen an increase in the number of women diagnosed with syphilis.”

Syphilis is spread through direct contact with a syphilis sore (chancre), usually during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Close skin-to-skin contact even with a condom may still result in syphilis since the condom may not fully cover exposed areas. It can also be spread through kissing if there are syphilis sores in the mouth or on the lips. A pregnant woman with syphilis can spread it to her unborn baby, which can cause serious health problems and even death of the baby. If you are pregnant be sure to get tested.

Signs of syphilis can include a painless sore or ulcer in the mouth or genital areas, and generalized illness with fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and rash. More serious signs of syphilis can include meningitis or eye infections.

The only way to know if you have syphilis is to get tested. Testing is recommended for all the following people:

  1. Men who have sex with men outside of a monogamous relationship
  2. People living with HIV
  3. Pregnant women
  4. People who engage in commercial sex work
  5. People who have anonymous sex partners, including through dating apps
  6. People attending sexually transmitted disease clinics
  7. Men less than age 25 who have been incarcerated in the last year

It is important for those with syphilis, and their partners, to be tested and treated immediately to avoid long-term complications. Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed should call their healthcare provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, the Onondaga County Health Department’s STD Center is offering a syphilis clinic on four Thursdays, April 15, 22, 29, and May 6 from 9am to 3pm. Appointments are required, please call 315.435.3236.

County Executive McMahon & Health Commissioner Gupta Announce Immediate Pause in Use of J&J Vaccine in Onondaga County

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Onondaga County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Indu Gupta today announced a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine immediately at all Onondaga County clinics following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). Until further notice, any planned appointments for Johnson & Johnson will instead be offered Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or canceled if no other vaccine is available.

The CDC and FDA issued a statement today recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution and have said that any adverse events related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine ‘appear to be extremely rare’.

Dr. Gupta urges that anyone who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and develops a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.

Onondaga County is in constant contact with NYSDOH and will update residents as more information becomes available.

FREE Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests Available

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. All men and women are at risk for colorectal cancer but it occurs most often in adults over the age of 50. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women in the United States.

Early detection saves lives. It usually starts from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum, which can develop into cancer over time. Sometimes polyps will bleed and a person may notice blood in their stool. Other symptoms of colorectal cancer may include abdominal pain or bloating that doesn’t go away or unexplained weight loss. But it is important to remember that colorectal cancer does not always cause symptoms at first. This is why having screening tests for colorectal cancer on a regular basis is important to find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best. Colorectal cancer can be PREVENTED with regular screening and the removal of pre-cancerous polyps in the colon and/or rectum.

All women and men age 50 and older should be screened for colon cancer. The FIT (fecal immunochemical test) Kit is an at-home stool testing kit that looks for blood in a person’s stool. A colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to view the inside of the entire colon to find and remove polyps in the colon or rectum. Talk to your doctor to determine which test is right for you and how often you should be screened.

Free colorectal cancer screening tests are available. The Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) offers free tests for men and women age 50 and older who do not have health insurance. Take-home fecal tests, such as FIT Kit are an easy and effective way to get screened. If the FIT test comes back abnormal, follow-up with a colonoscopy will be scheduled. Services are available at many healthcare provider sites throughout the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County. Call 315-435-3653 or visit the CSP website at ongov.net/health/cancerscreening.html to register for your free screening test.

Remember, if you are over 50 years old and do NOT have health insurance, call 315-435-3653 to see if you qualify for free colorectal cancer screening. Early detection of colorectal cancer saves lives. Take care of yourself and schedule your appointment today!

Family Planning Clinic Temporarily Closed

The Onondaga County Family Planning Service Clinic located at 301 Slocum Avenue, Syracuse will be closed again for utility repairs on Monday, February 22 and Tuesday, February 23. Those with appointments will be contacted to reschedule, and patients may be seen at the North Syracuse clinic location at the corner of Taft Road and South Bay Road, which remains open. Call or text 315-325-2010 to schedule or reschedule an appointment.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Oncenter Rescheduled

The Onondaga County Health Department Vaccine Clinic at the Oncenter Convention Center* scheduled for Monday, February 15, 2021 is being rescheduled to Tuesday, February 16.

All individuals who have an appointment at the Oncenter clinic on Monday, February 15 will be rescheduled for Tuesday, February 16; the appointment time will not change. This affects anyone who received their FIRST dose of Moderna vaccine at the Oncenter on Monday, January 18. Everyone affected will receive an email notification of the new date.

*PLEASE NOTE: The COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic scheduled at AME Zion Church on Monday, February 15 will take place from 10am to 1pm.

FREE Tests to Detect Cervical Cancer Are Available

All women are at risk for cervical cancer, but it occurs most often in women over the age of 30. In the United States, approximately 13,000 (2017:12,831) women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. Cervical cancer is preventable with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and regular screening tests (Pap test and HPV test) and follow-up. Cervical cancer is highly curable when found and treated early.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sexual activity. It is important to remember that most sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives. Usually, HPV will go away on its own, but when it doesn’t, cervical cancer can develop over time. The HPV vaccine can prevent infection from the nine most common types of HPV.  The vaccine is recommended for males and females at age 11 or 12 but can be given between 9 to 26 years of age. Adults between the ages of 27 to 45 who are not adequately vaccinated may benefit from the HPV vaccine. Check with your provider to determine if you should receive the vaccine. If you do not have insurance that covers the vaccine, please call 315.435.2000 for more information on the Onondaga County Immunization Clinic.

There are two tests that can find cervical cancer early. Cervical cancer screening tests are recommended for women between the ages of 21 to 65. Women aged 21-29 should be screened regularly with Pap tests every three years. Women aged 30 and older may be screened with both Pap and HPV testing every five years. Routine screenings are an important step to help find cervical cancer early.

Free Pap and HPV tests are available through the Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) for women between the ages of 40 to 64 who do not have health insurance or experience other barriers to completing their screenings along with any necessary follow-up testing. Services are available at many healthcare provider sites throughout the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County. Call 315-435-3653 or register for your free screening test here.

Whether you have health insurance or not, having cervical cancer screening tests is important. You should start regular Pap tests at age 21 and continue this practice through age 65 with the guidance of your doctor. Remember, if you are a woman between the ages of 40 to 64 and do NOT have health insurance, call 315.435.3653 to see if you qualify for free cervical cancer screening tests.  Take care of yourself and schedule your test today!

Rise in Opioid Overdoses in Onondaga County

Over the last year, there has been a significant increase in the number of fatal opioid overdoses in Onondaga County. From January through September 2020 there was a 40% increase in opioid overdose deaths compared to the same time period in 2019 (121 deaths vs 86 deaths, respectively). The pandemic has exacerbated the opioid epidemic, through risk factors such as high unemployment rates, social isolation, and despair, as well as the disruption of available treatment and harm reduction support services that individuals with substance use may depend on.

The Onondaga County Health Department ODMAP overdose tracking system, there has been notification of several significant spikes in overdose activity over the past two months. These reports have indicated 12 or more overdoses occurring in a 24 hour period, occurring as recently as yesterday. This appears to be linked to increased amounts of fentanyl in the drug supply. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is added to heroin and other drugs to increase its potency and decrease the cost of production. Many people who use drugs believe that they are purchasing heroin or another drug and actually don’t know that they are purchasing fentanyl – which often results in overdose occurrences. Statewide, there have been reports of fentanyl not only in heroin but in other drugs such as cocaine, leading to an increase in overdoses in people who do not typically use opioids.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has not made other health crises disappear in our community; instead, the pandemic has contributed to increases in other serious public health concerns in Onondaga County, such as opioid-related overdoses. This crisis has affected individuals across all populations in Onondaga County and we need to work together to turn the tide,” said County Executive Ryan McMahon.

Onondaga County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Indu Gupta explained, “This increase is very concerning and is a stark reminder that opioid epidemic continues to impact people’s lives in our community. Our three-pronged approach of prevention, treatment, and addressing crisis is crucial in addressing this.”

Focus on Prevention:
During this time of potential social isolation, we encourage you to check in and connect with your loved ones who may be experiencing social isolation, despair, or other risk factors for developing a substance use disorder.

Safe disposal of unused medications at your local pharmacy or another drug take-back location can also help if you or a loved one may be susceptible to opioid use disorder. You can find local disposal locations here.

Access to Treatment:
It is important to monitor friends and family members for signs and symptoms of substance use disorders and help to connect them with needed treatment resources in our community. You can learn what to look for here and locate treatment resources here.

Additionally, recent changes to federal policy have made it easier for physicians to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Until now, physicians were required to take specialized training and apply to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication used to treat OUD. Now, any state-licensed physician registered with the DEA can prescribe buprenorphine for up to 30 patients. Physicians should consider prescribing buprenorphine to expand access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT.)

Addressing Crisis:
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is an opioid overdose reversal medication that is available as a nasal spray. Being trained to use naloxone is an easy way to potentially save a life. A list of training options in our community can be found here. In addition, if you are in need of naloxone, you can contact the Onondaga County Health Department at naloxonetraining@ongov.net.

Together we can work to reduce these preventable deaths in our community.