Area Agency on Aging « Lackawanna County

Aging Director Honored with State Proclamation

Pennsylvania State Representative Bridget M. Kosierowski, 114^th District, inside left, presented a proclamation to Jason Kavulich, center, Lackawanna County’s Area Agency on Aging Director, at the September 1 Commissioners meeting in Moosic in recognition of both his County Commissioner Association of Pennsylvania’s “Friend of County Government” Award and role in safeguarding the welfare of local older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Kavulich organized numerous clinics, special events, testing programs, and other activities and giveaways with local health care sponsors and partners to keep older residents safe.

L-r, Commissioner Chris Chermak, Rep. Kosierowski, Mr. Kavulich, Commissioner Debi Domenick, ESQ., and Commissioner Jerry Notarianni.

Lackawanna County Urges Residents to Vaccinate Amid Increased COVID Transmission and Infection; Under 25 Lag Other Age Groups – United Way Hosting Free Clinic at Co-Op Farmer’s Market on Friday, Sept. 3 from 12-4 p.m.

Lackawanna County Urges Residents to Vaccinate Amid Increased COVID Transmission and Infection; Under 25 Lag Other Age Groups – United Way Hosting Free Clinic at Co-Op Farmer’s Market on Friday, Sept. 3 from 12-4 p.m.

With a recent shift to high COVID-19 transmission, and infection risk toggling between medium and high, Lackawanna County is urging all eligible residents aged 12 and over to receive a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible to control further virus spread.

Of those currently eligible (aged ≥12 years), fully vaccinated Lackawanna County residents under age 25 considerably lag those across all other age groups. County epidemiologist Dr. Sabine Charles stated, “While it includes the last group of residents to become eligible, vaccination rates remain too low among our younger population. With most students, teachers and education support workers returning to schools this fall, we know they will be indoors for extended periods, surrounded by others with varying exposure levels, whose immediate family members may or may not be vaccinated. The very best defense is for all eligible residents to get vaccinated now, especially considering how highly contagious the Delta variant is compared with earlier strains.”

Data are clear that the available vaccines continue to play a vital role in preventing serious COVID 19 illness and hospitalizations. According to a new study from CDC’s COVID-NET, unvaccinated adults aged ≥18 years are 17 times more likely to be hospitalized compared with unvaccinated adults, with rates far higher when the Delta variant of the Coronavirus emerged as the predominant strain.

Recommendations:

• Get vaccinated as soon as possible.
• Vaccinated individuals should wear masks in public indoor spaces to reduce the spread of the Delta variant. Unvaccinated people should wear mask in all public spaces.
• Continue to wash hands often, and for at least 20 seconds.
• Keep your distance from people who do not live in your household.
• Do not let your guard down, remember that some people, even without symptoms can spread the virus.

The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties is hosting a free vaccine clinic on Friday, Sept. 3 from 12-4 p.m. at the Co-Op Farmer’s Market, 900 Barring Ave., in Scranton. Delta Medix is administering first, second and third doses (for eligible immunocompromised individuals per CDC guidelines) of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Gift cards are available for the first 100 people vaccinated. No pre-registration is required. Visit https://covid.lackawannacounty.org for a schedule of upcoming clinics or use
www.vaccinefinder.org.

Kick COVID-19 Community Corps is a collaborative between Lackawanna County, the City of Scranton, local healthcare providers, social service agencies, faith groups, cultural organizations, economic and educational institutions, and volunteers. Our mission is to stop the spread of COVID-19 through a grassroots campaign that educates, informs, and motivates the region’s most vulnerable populations to be vaccinated and encourages meaningful acts of service. Kick COVID is a member of HHS COVID-19 Community Corps.

Kick COVID-19 Community Corps Urges Area Organizations & Leaders to Join Fight Against Health Misinformation

Scranton, Pa., July 29, 2021 – On July 15, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an Advisory for individuals and organizations to join a nationwide effort to confront the urgent threat of health misinformation. To support this effort, Kick COVID-19 Community Corps is asking area schools, businesses, organizations, and community leaders to join its partner organizations in committing to and promoting five simple and actionable steps.

Ask a professional, not the Internet. Medical professionals are the best source for accurate health information and the latest developments. Their advice is backed by licensure, certification, years of schooling and on-the-job training.
Before sharing, verify. When online, validate the accuracy of information against trustworthy and credible sources, such as the CDC, U.S. Department of Health, and World Health Organization. If you cannot verify, do not share.
Report health misinformation to social media platforms. If you see health information you believe to be false or misleading, report it to the hosting platform (i.e., YouTube, Facebook, Twitter). Only then, can we begin to change the algorithms that determine what we see online, and eventually reduce exposure to misinformation.
Refresh security awareness training. The COVID-19 pandemic has given cyber criminals new opportunities for waging disinformation attacks and influence campaigns. Review and refresh your organization’s security awareness training to ensure it helps employees recognize and weed out disinformation.
Communicate expectations. Employers play an essential role in protecting our workers and businesses from forces that could disrupt operations. Establish clear expectations that discourage the spread of misinformation and share them with internal and external stakeholders (i.e., employees, vendors, elected/public officials).

Kick COVID-19 partner State Rep. Bridget Malloy Kosierowski, stated, “Over the last year, health information has been politicized and misrepresented to the detriment of Americans fighting to remain safe in extraordinary times. As our state began turning the corner on COVID-19 by late June, reaching key milestones that allowed for the lifting of restrictions, a perfect storm was brewing. Health misinformation worsened, those who are vulnerable to such misinformation were declining vaccinations, and the Delta variant began spreading.” She added, “Today we’re seeing locally that nearly all new COVID-19 hospitalizations are among the unvaccinated.”

“Misinformation not only imperils public health efforts, but those who decline vaccinations can easily become sources of the next coronavirus variants, risking the lives of those around them, as well as anyone who cannot be vaccinated – like children,” added Gary Drapek, President and CEO of the United Way of Lackawanna & Wayne Counties, another Kick COVID-19 partner. He added, “For these reasons, we all have an ethical obligation to identify and stop the spread of health misinformation. The steps we’ve put forth are sensible and easy for any organization to implement.”

About Kick COVID-19 Community Corps

Kick COVID-19 Community Corps is a collaborative between Lackawanna County, the City of Scranton, local health care providers, social service agencies, faith groups, cultural organizations, economic and educational institutions, and dedicated volunteers. Our mission is to stop the spread of COVID-19 through a grassroots public education campaign that motivates residents to be vaccinated and encourages meaningful acts of service. Visit https://covid.lackawannacounty.org/ and join us on Facebook.

Media Contacts

Jason Kavulich

570-466-7377

Jennifer Cawley

570-407-8881

Friday’s Kick It to the Curb Clinic Offering Expanded COVID Vaccine Options, Plus First and Second Doses

Friday’s Kick It to the Curb Clinic Offering Expanded COVID Vaccine Options, Plus First and Second Doses

Scranton, Pa., June 17, 2021 – Friday’s Kick it to the Curb COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Scranton Cultural Center is expanding its offerings to include all FDA emergency authorized COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson). In addition to providing first doses to those who have not yet received any vaccine, the clinic will distribute second doses of vaccines initiated by other Pennsylvania providers, as long the first dose of Moderna was given four or more weeks earlier, and the first dose of Pfizer three or more weeks earlier. These changes are being made to help Lackawanna County residents achieve full protection against the spread of COVID-19 and unpredictable virus variants. The event also features a free fresh food market, prizes, and giveaways.

WHAT: Kick It to the Curb COVID-19 vaccine clinic & free fresh food market

Open to the entire community; vaccines available for age 12 & up (adults must accompany minors)
No ID or insurance required
Register at https://bit.ly/3nakIgR
Walk-ins welcome
Transportation services available
For help registering or with transportation, call 211

WHEN: Friday, June 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: Scranton Cultural Center
420 N. Washington Ave.

Delta Medix, Commonwealth Health – Moses Taylor Hospital, and volunteer licensed practitioners with the Lackawanna County Medical Society are administering vaccines. Under age 18 receive the Pfizer two-dose vaccine; 18 and older may choose between the Pfizer and Moderna two-dose or Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccines.

About Kick COVID-19 Community Corps

Kick COVID-19 Community Corps is a collaborative between Lackawanna County, the City of Scranton, local health care providers, social service agencies, faith groups, cultural organizations, economic and educational institutions, and dedicated volunteers. Our mission is to stop the spread of COVID-19 through a grassroots public education campaign that motivates residents to be vaccinated and encourages meaningful acts of service. Visit https://covid.lackawannacounty.org/ and join us on Facebook.

Media Contacts

Jason Kavulich

570-466-7377

Jennifer Cawley

570-407-8881

Categories

Archives

Aging Director Honored with State Proclamation

Lackawanna County Urges Residents to Vaccinate Amid Increased COVID Transmission and Infection; Under 25 Lag Other Age Groups – United Way Hosting Free Clinic at Co-Op Farmer’s Market on Friday, Sept. 3 from 12-4 p.m.

Kick COVID-19 Community Corps Urges Area Organizations & Leaders to Join Fight Against Health Misinformation

Friday’s Kick It to the Curb Clinic Offering Expanded COVID Vaccine Options, Plus First and Second Doses

.