For immediate release
WAYLAND Director Julia Junghanns and the Wayland Health Department wish to remind residents of this weeks free flu clinic for seniors.
The seniors-only drive-thru clinic will be held Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the old Whole Foods parking lot at Wayland Village Plaza, 297 Boston Post Road. Attendees shouldenter the plaza through the Pelham Island Road entrance.
Please note that pre-registration is required. Interested seniors should register here. Those who need help registering should call the vaccination hotline at 508-358-6805 and leave a message, and someone will call back to assist.
The injectable, seasonal quadrivalent Influenza vaccine will be available, as well as the high-dose influenza vaccine, which is authorized for individuals aged 65 and up.
Residents are asked to bring all insurance and Medicare cards to the clinics.
The best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications is with a flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that almost everyone age six months and older get a seasonal flu vaccine each year, ideally by the end of October. As long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue throughout flu season, which may continue into January or later.
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SALT LAKE CITY The CDC approved the COVID-19 bivalent boosters that target the most recent omicron variants on September 1. Since then, tens of thousands of Utahns have rolled up their sleeves.
Doctors from University of Utah Health Monday reminded everyone that they should also get vaccinated for the seasonal flu, which could be a bigger threat this year.
Transmission of COVID in Utah is low right now, and the flu has yet to arrive. Doctors urged everyone to protect against both, and now is a good time to get those shots.
We are likely to have another wave this fall, saidDr.Hannah Imlay, an assistant professor of internal medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Utah Health.
COVID is down, but not out. Doctors with the University of Utah pointed out thatCOVID-19 cases have typically increased during the fall and winter.
The updated booster provides optimal protection against current COVID strains and protection against severe COVID from the original strain.
The hope is that they provide more specific protection while maintaining good protection against the ancestral strain and more specific protection against the most recent strains, Imlay said.
Since September 1, when the CDC approved the bivalent booster, more than 71,000 Utahns, 12 and older, have received it. That includes nearly 33% of those ages 18-49 and 64% of those ages 50 and older.
This is supposed to be a new prime of your immune system and a new prime against new variants for your immune system, Imlay said.
According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, 285,000 booster doses have been delivered or shipped to Utah, and people can mix and match with Pfizer and Moderna.
They can even get their seasonal flu shot at the same time if they dont mind having two sore arms at the same time.
Thats what Dr. Kencee Graves did.
Bottom line: get them. If you separate them, thats OK. If you get them together, thats OK. Just get them, said Graves, associate professor of internal medicine and Chief Medical Officer for Inpatient Health.
Australia just finished a bad flu season during their winter, which is typically a good indicator of the kind of flu season the United States can expect.
That is what makes us, here in the US, a little concerned about how severe the flu season could be, Graves said.
The US did not have much of a flu season each of the last two years, because people were taking precautions to prevent COVID which also limited the spread of other respiratory illnesses.
Its recommended that you get a flu vaccine in September or October with a deadline generally of Halloween, October 31, she said.
Regardless of how many COVID boosters a person got after the primary series of shots, the CDC recommendation now is to get the bivalent booster at least two months after the last dose of primary shots, or the most recent booster.
The CDC also said if youve had a recent COVID infection you might want to wait three months until after that infection to get the bivalent booster. if you are at high risk or have an event where you may have exposure risk coming up you might want to get the booster sooner.
Click here to sign up for a vaccine.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf is under pressure to address concerns raised by Aberdeenshire pensioners who have been stranded waiting for winter vaccines.
Pensioners in Braemar and Ballater have to travel up to 80 miles in their round trip to the nearest main flu vaccine centre in Banchory.
Tory MSP Alexander Burnett has been contacted by dozens of worried constituents, including some aged over 80, since letters started being sent out.
He accused the Scottish Government of shambolic mixed messaging around the flu vaccination programme.
Vaccines were previously provided by GP practices but a change to the national GP contract means they are now dealt with by a central vaccination team.
However, NHS Grampian say a series of vaccination outreach clinics have been set up across a number of Aberdeenshire locations for specific dates in the next two months.
These must be arranged by appointment only and walk-ins will not be permitted.
Mr Burnett, who represents Aberdeenshire West, said the level of concern among his constituents is continuing to escalate.
He has written to Mr Yousaf urging him to give clarity on the dire situation and asking the cabinet secretary to allow GP practices to administer flu jabs to patients.
The Conservative politician added: For vulnerable groups such as the elderly, getting the flu vaccine is essential for protecting themselves and others this winter and with Covid still present, its more important than ever that they get the jab.
But elderly patients in rural areas such as Braemar and Ballater have been left completely stranded by the SNPs decision to centralise vaccination facilities, and now face up to an 80-mile round trip to Banchory to get their flu vaccine.
The scale of the problem is rising on a daily basis which is why the Scottish Government must do the right thing and give permission for flu jabs to be administered locally rather than centrally.
Mr Burnett was contacted by a local GP surgery on September 13 who said they sympathise with patients making a round trip to Banchory.
The practice employee said: This was not a decision made by the clinic but was a Scottish Government decision.
This has been highlighted by one of our GPs for the attention of the director of public health as we have had a vast number of complaints and queries directed to the clinic which takes up a considerable amount of clinic resources when unfortunately, we have no say in the matter.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: This winter boards are using a variety of venues and locations reflecting population size and geography to ensure accessibility and convenience.
While GP practices are no longer the routine providers of vaccinations, health boards can make arrangements by agreement with their GP practices to provide vaccinations where this suits local needs.
Clinics have been established based upon experience gained from the programme thus far, with accessibility and equity of access paramount. The facilities available at each venue can be viewed when booking or amending an appointment.
Turriff Primary School: October 15, 16, 22 and 23.
An Caorann Medical Practice (Portsoy): October 29 and 30.
An Caorann Medical Practice (Aberchirder): November 5 and 6.
Crimond Medical Practice: October 29 and 30
Rosehearty Boat Club: November 6 and 13.
Maud Resource Centre: October 15 and October 16
Royal British Legion New Pitsligo: October 22 and 23.
Aden Health Centre: October 29 and 30.
Alford Academy: October 17-October 21 (inclusive).
Insch Hospital: October 24, 27 and 28.
Lonach Hall Strathdon: October 25 and 26.
Ellon Mobile Unit (sited at Ellon Community Campus): October 19-23 (inclusive).
Ellon Academy: October 15-21 (inclusive)
Westhill Academy: October 24-28 (inclusive)
Mearns Academy: October 24-28 (inclusive)
Portlethen Academy: October 17-21 (inclusive)
Aboyne Academy: October 17-21 (inclusive)
Ballater Primary School: October 24 and 25.
Braemar Primary School: October 26.
Grampian flu and Covid jabs: What you need to know for autumn/winter 2022
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The first reported case of monkeypox at Auburn University was confirmed over the weekend. A local doctor reported that an Auburn University student tested positive for monkeypox. The student is isolating outside of the Auburn area and close contacts have been identified and notified. The AU Medical Clinic and the Alabama Department of Health will continue to monitor the case.
According to the CDC, monkeypox is a disease that can cause flu-like symptoms and a rash. Symptoms can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and backache. Those who have been exposed to monkeypox will usually experience symptoms within three weeks of exposure to the virus. The flu-like symptoms will begin first with a rash developing within one to four days.
The CDC reports that monkeypox can spread through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact, including:
If the University receives any other monkeypox confirmations, those identified as close contacts will be notified and given information and instructions.
The Alabama Department of Health is overseeing the distribution of the monkeypox vaccine through local health departments. Individuals who are considered high risk may want to get vaccinated.
The AU Medical Clinic advises anyone who experiences monkeypox symptoms to make an appointment with the clinic or to contact their own health provider.
New Hamilton County vaccine clinic opens, offers everything from COVID to monkeypox WKRC TV Cincinnati
In an effort to encourage monkeypox vaccinations in Acadiana among the LGBTQ+ community, Acadiana Cares has joined forces with Bolt in Downtown Lafayette to offer free vaccines on Wednesday, September 28 from 4:00-7:00 pm.
This event is for follow-up second doses and for individuals who are interested in their first Monkeypox vaccine dose. Cares will also be offering Covid Booster shots.
It is critically important that our community knows that monkeypox vaccines are not only available here in Lafayette, but that they are free, explains Acadiana Cares CEO Claude Martin. By offering vaccines at Bolt, were making it easy and accessible for those who are vulnerable to take advantage of these vaccines and prevent the spread of monkeypox here in Acadiana.
Bolt, located at 222 Jefferson, is providing a venue for monkeypox vaccinations from Acadiana Cares medical professionals, without an appointment that day.
Appointments for monkeypox testing and vaccinations are available other weekdays at Acadiana Cares in-house clinic, along with a variety of other medical services.
Acadiana Cares accepts most forms of insurance including Medicare and Medicaid. For those without insurance, a sliding fee program based on income is available.
For more information about monkeypox and the monkeypox vaccine, contact Acadiana Cares at 337-704-0787 or visit acadianacares.org.
(Precision Vaccinations)
According to theExternal Situation Report #6published by the World Health Organization (WHO),new monkeypox cases declined22%in North America and Europelast week (#37).
Despite these decreases, the majority of monkeypox cases reported in the past four weeks were from the Region of the Americas (80.3%) and the European Region (18.6%).
Overall, the WHO/African Region has reported the highest number of deaths among confirmed cases (14/23; 60.9%).
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ph.D., commented in a digital press briefing on September 22, 2022,"The (decreasing) trend is encouraging, but it is not the time for any country to assume those trends will continue."
In the United Kingdom, the monkeypox outbreak has significantly changed as of September 21, 2022.
'It is clear that community transmission occurs with multiple generations of spread. The illness appears to be generally mild, though some individuals will require hospital admissions to manage secondary infections or complications from the illness,' stated the updated U.K. guidance document.
' The monkeypox clade of monkeypox predominantly circulating in the U.K. (Clade IIb, B.1 lineage) isno longer classified as aHigh Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID).'
'However, importations of monkeypox from Africa and/or monkeypox not caused by Clade IIb, B.1 lineage should remain classified as anHCID, as the severity of the original clades remains unknown.'
In the USA, the U.S. CDC reported on September 22, 2022, the total number of confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases has reached24,572 since May 2022.
Furthermore, access to the U.S. FDA-approved monkeypox vaccines has significantly improved in the USA.
As of September 20, 2022, the U.S. government distributed 807,093 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, with684,980 administered in the 48 U.S. Jurisdictions reporting data.
The two-doseJynneos(IMVANEX,IMVAMUNE) vaccine was developed in Denmark with the support of the Biomedical Advanced Research and DevelopmentAuthorityas one element of the federal government's smallpox preparedness efforts.
Additional monkeypox vaccine news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/Monkeypox.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to decidetoday whether to extend the monkeypox state of emergency.
Gov. Hochul issued a state of emergency inlate July as New York became the epicenter of the outbreak in the country. She extended the order in August,and it is set to expire today.
As ofthis past Friday, there were nearly 25,000 cases of monkeypox in all 50 states,according to federal health experts.
Butthe good news is supplies of the vaccine have improved and new cases have beendecreasing steadily for weeks. The daily average went from more than 500 casesin August down to just over 200 last week.
In the Hudson Valley, Westchester County has the highestnumber of cases at 86. Ulster County the lowest number at just two cases.
Buthealth experts warn the outbreak is far from over and people need still need tobe vigilant.Monkeypox spreads throughclose, physical contact between people which means anyone can get the virus.However, certain populations are being affected more than others, including menwho have sex with men.Doctors say people at higherrisk for monkeypox infection may want to consider vaccination. There are alsoantiviral medications designed to treat monkeypox.
Thereare monkeypox vaccine clinics across the region, including most county healthdepartments, but you have to make an appointment.
Heres how many cases of monkeypox have been recorded in the region with a new batch of vaccines set to be rolled out across Birmingham
A new batch of monkeypox vaccines is set to be announced this month.
Cabinet member for health and social care Cllr Mariam Khan stated yesterday that Birmingham expects to receive a share of 80,000 vaccines that will be rolled out across the country.
The World Health Organisation advice is that anyone can get or pass monkeypox, but members of the LGBT+ community, particularly men, have been identified as most at risk.
Decline in monkeypox cases
Government data has shown a gradual decline in monkeypox cases in the UK this year with 3,439 confirmed cases between May 6 and September 16. The majority of cases in England, 69 per cent, were in London.
The West Midlands has had just 124 confirmed and highly probably cases since May 2022, with one new case since the last report on September 13. This is compared to 2,359 in London, which has had 24 new cases since the last report.
Are monkeypox vaccinations available?
At a health and social care committee meeting, Cllr Mariam Khan (Lab, Alum Rock) gave fellow councillors an update on monkeypox vaccines.
She said: We are expecting a further rollout across the UK of around 80,000 more vaccines to be announced this month. I know that our director of public health will be having conversations to see how much will come into Birmingham and be able to allocate it to clinics so that people can use them.
Assistant director of public health Mary Orhewere was also at the meeting. She added: At the moment, we are getting as much vaccine as we need.
You may be aware that about a month ago we introduced what we call factional dosing, so smaller doses are given slightly differently, based on some work that was done in North America.
That means that the doses we have are able to go further because we give a smaller amount. So at the moment, we have a reasonable degree of confidence that weve got as much dose as we need to give out. Weve done a lot of messaging in the relevant communities, so as much as people are coming forward, we are able to meet the demand.
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