BHS Vaccine Centers Phasing Out Johnson & Johnson

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PITTSFIELD, Mass — Following guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Berkshire Health Systems will discontinue widespread distribution of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines and boosters at its testing and vaccine centers, effective Jan. 6, 2022.
 
"This decision is based on guidance from the CDC, which recently examined the efficacy, safety, and supply of the J&J vaccine," said James Lederer, MD, BHS Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer.
 
"In light of these recommendations, the CDC has made it clear that getting any vaccine is far better than remaining unvaccinated. Any patient who would like to request an initial or booster dose of the J&J vaccine, despite known limitations and risks, can call the COVID-19 Hotline to consult with a provider," he explained.
 
Anyone who is currently scheduled for a J&J vaccine or booster at a BHS Testing and Vaccine Center on or before Jan 5 will have the option to receive the J&J vaccine as scheduled or can receive a Pfizer or Moderna dose instead.
 
"For individuals who have received one shot of the J&J vaccine, we highly recommend getting a Pfizer or Moderna booster. If they have already received a J&J booster, we are asking them to talk to their primary care provider about receiving a booster dose of one of the other available vaccines," said Dr. Lederer.
 
The BHS COVID-19 hotline is 855-BMC-LINK (855-262-5465). For more information on the CDC's decision, please visit their website: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1216-covid-19-vaccines.html

Tags: BHS,   BMC,   COVID-19,   vaccinations,   


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Companion Corner: Fox at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a sweet and energetic dog at the Berkshire Humane Society waiting for his new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Fox is a 3-year-old Pomeranian who has been at the shelter for about a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Fox. 

"He's a bundle of joy. He would love a family who's home with him a lot, because he's just, he's very social and wants to be with his people a lot. And he would be fun to bring out and about, bring a lot of places, because he's very happy to go anywhere," she said.

When Fox enters the room he is immediately a puffball of energy that goes around and around the room.

He came to the shelter after his former owner could not take care of him anymore. 

"The owner was just not able to care for him anymore. Had he came in with another dog, Wolf, and she already did find her forever home just last week," said Olivieri. "The two of them were left with a friend of the original owner, and the owner did not come back to pick them up, and the friend had too many animals in the house, and too much going on, and she just couldn't continue to look after them, so they did end up coming to us."

Fox can go home with cats and children but is not recommended to go home with other dogs as he gets too excited.

"He would love a home where people are home quite a bit to give him all the attention that he so desires. He loves kids. He absolutely adores children. So he would like a home with kids to play with. He could live with cats. We are saying that he should not live with other dogs. The only reason is that he gets very humpy, and he does not leave the other dogs alone," she said.

With his energy it is recommended he goes to a home that can keep him active whether walks or hikes and even fetch in the yard.

Fox does need to learn more about walking on a leash and has a tendency to mark in the house but he was recently neutered. Olivieri said belly bands will be sent home with whoever adopts him to help prevent marking and managing it.

"He would like an active home. He really does like to go for walks daily. He likes to run around in the yard. He does need a little work on leash walking. He sometimes gets a little tangled still under your feet, and he's learning how to walk on a leash," she said. "So, someone who's got some patience and some time to work on some training with him."

"He also is not fully potty trained, so he does know to go potty outside. However, he will still mark, urinate in the house sometimes, and he might poop here and there in the house."

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