Join us for a webinar on Friday, April 29, 2022, from 12:00-1:00 pm the future of COVID-19. We will explore testing and treatment moving forward, as well as the implications of cutbacks in COVID-19 services and funding. Speakers will include Doris Harris, PHIWM Consultant and host of Health Matters Radio Show, and Phoebe Walker, Director of Community Services at Franklin Regional Council of Governments.
More information coming soon!
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Noticias y Recursos de Vacunas |
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Second Booster Shots Authorized For Certain People
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made some recent authorizations for additional booster shots. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is updating its vaccine and booster recommendations, which acknowledge the increased risk of severe disease in certain populations along with the currently available data on vaccine and booster effectiveness.
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For people 50 years and up, the FDA authorized an optional 2nd booster shot 4 months after receiving their first booster shot. The CDC has not made an official recommendation that follows the FDA authorization. However, people who are over 50 years old and want a 2nd booster or may be at higher risk of severe COVID can get a 2nd booster.
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For people 12 years and up with certain immune deficiencies, the FDA authorized a second booster shot.
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For people who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as their primary dose and as their first booster shot, they can get a 2nd booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Modern) 4 months after receiving their J&J booster dose.
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Segundas Inyecciones Autorizadas Para Ciertas Personas
La Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés) hizo algunas autorizaciones recientes para vacunas de refuerzo adicionales. Los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) están actualizando sus recomendaciones de vacunas y refuerzos, que reconocen el mayor riesgo de enfermedad grave en ciertas poblaciones junto con los datos actualmente disponibles sobre la efectividad de las vacunas y los refuerzos...
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Para las personas de 50 años o más, la FDA autorizó una segunda vacuna de refuerzo opcional 4 meses después de recibir su primera vacuna de refuerzo. El CDC no ha hecho una recomendación oficial que siga a la autorización de la FDA. Sin embargo, las personas que tienen más de 50 años y desean un segundo refuerzo o pueden tener un mayor riesgo de COVID grave pueden recibir un segundo refuerzo.
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Para personas de 12 años en adelante con ciertas deficiencias inmunológicas, la FDA autorizó una segunda vacuna de refuerzo.
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Las personas que recibieron Johnson & Johnson como dosis principal y como primera vacuna de refuerzo, pueden recibir una segunda dosis de refuerzo de una vacuna de ARNm (Pfizer o Modern) 4 meses después de recibir su dosis de refuerzo de J&J.
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Are You Up To Date On Your Vaccination?
The CDC continues to recommend that all eligible adults, adolescents, and children 5 and older be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting a booster when eligible. Learn if you are up to date on your vaccination at mass.gov and the CDC. If you are immunocompromised, find information about the vaccine doses and booster shots you are eligible for here. |
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¿Estás al día con sus vacunas?
Los CDC continúan recomendando que todos los adultos, adolescentes y niños elegibles de 5 años o más estén al día con sus vacunas COVID-19, lo que incluye recibir un refuerzo cuando sean elegibles. Conozca si está al día con sus vacunas en mass.gov y los CDC. Si está inmunocomprometido, encuentre información sobre las dosis de vacunas y las vacunas de refuerzo para las que es elegible aquí. |
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Noticias y recursos de pruebas |
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Testing Locations
Several state-run Stop the Spread Sites have closed due to significantly lower PCR testing demand and more accessibility to at-home tests. The sites that remain open in Western MA are in Springfield and were selected based on testing numbers and health equity considerations. We know this is very tough for residents in other Western MA counties, especially those farther away in Franklin and Berkshire counties. Check with your local pharmacies and health centers about testing options in your community. You can also find locations to get tested in western MA here.
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Lugares de Prueba
Varios sitios Stop the Spread administrados por el estado han cerrado debido a una demanda significativamente menor de pruebas de PCR y una mayor accesibilidad a las pruebas en el hogar. Los sitios que permanecen abiertos están en Springfield y fueron seleccionados en función de los números de prueba y con consideraciones de equidad de salud. Sabemos que esto es muy difícil para los residentes de otros condados del oeste de MA, especialmente para los que están más lejos en los condados de Franklin y Berkshire. Consulte con sus farmacias y centros de salud locales sobre las opciones de prueba en su comunidad. También puede encontrar lugares para hacerse la prueba en el oeste de MA aquí.
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Did You Get Your Free At-Home COVID Tests? |
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¿Conseguiste Tus Pruebas De Covid En Casa Gratis? |
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Every U.S. household can order an additional set of 4 at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government. This means every home is eligible to receive a total of 8 free tests. Get Free At-Home COVID Tests. |
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Todos los hogares de EE. UU. pueden solicitar al gobierno federal un conjunto adicional de 4 pruebas caseras de COVID-19. Esto significa que cada hogar es elegible para recibir un total de 8 pruebas gratis. Obtenga pruebas gratuitas de COVID en el hogar.
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New Variants: Should I Be Worried? |
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Nuevas Variantes: ¿Debo Preocuparme? |
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The BA.2 variant is a more transmissible version of the original BA.1 Omicron variant. Its prevalence is growing across the U.S. and now makes up nearly 55% of cases. Vaccines continue to protect against BA.2. People who were infected by the original Omicron variant (an estimated 45% of the U.S. population) are unlikely to be reinfected by BA.2. The spread of BA.2 in the U.S. could be contributing to the rise in COVID detected in nearly 40% of wastewater sites. Wastewater surveillance acts as an early indicator of case counts.
The Deltacron variant was first detected in January 2022 and is a hybrid strain that combines properties of the severe Delta and highly contagious Omicron variants. This sounds scary, but there have only been 45 confirmed cases worldwide (as of March 10th in the U.S and Europe). With the lack of cases so far, there isn't enough information about the variant's transmissibility and severity. However, the spike protein on Deltacron seems to be a replica of Omicron's spike protein, which indicates that people who have developed immunity from vaccination or infection of Omicron, should be protected against this new variant.
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La variante BA.2 es una versión más transmisible de la variante Omicron BA.1 original. Su prevalencia está creciendo en los EE. UU. y ahora representa casi el 55% de los casos. Las vacunas continúan protegiendo contra BA.2. Es poco probable que las personas que se infectaron con la variante original de Omicron (aproximadamente el 45 % de la población de EE. UU.) se vuelvan a infectar con BA.2. La propagación de BA.2 en los EE. UU. podría estar contribuyendo al aumento de COVID detectado en casi el 40 % de los sitios de aguas residuales. La vigilancia de aguas residuales actúa como un indicador temprano del conteo de casos.
La variante Deltacron se detectó por primera vez en enero de 2022 y es una cepa híbrida que combina las propiedades de la severa Delta y las variantes Omicron altamente contagiosas. Esto suena aterrador, pero solo ha habido 45 casos confirmados en todo el mundo (hasta el 10 de marzo en los EE. UU. y Europa). Con la falta de casos hasta el momento, no hay suficiente información sobre la transmisibilidad y la gravedad de la variante. Sin embargo, la proteína de punta en Deltacron parece ser una réplica de la proteína de punta de Omicron, lo que indica que las personas que han desarrollado inmunidad por vacunación o infección de Omicron deben estar protegidas contra esta nueva variante.
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Will There Be A Future Surge? |
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¿Habrá una oleada
futura?
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Will we see a future surge? What can I do? It will depend on vaccination rates and mitigation measures.
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¿Veremos un aumento en el futuro? ¿Que puedo hacer? Dependerá de las tasas de vacunación y las medidas de mitigación.
- Obtenga sus vacunas de refuerzo para que su cuerpo tenga las herramientas más fuertes para combatir infecciones. Todas las personas mayores de 12 años son elegibles para una vacuna de refuerzo.
- Supervise los niveles de riesgo de su comunidad.
- Seguir otras medidas preventivas.
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Public Health Month Kick-Off, 4/4/22 at 10:00 am: Springfield Department of Health and Human Services and community partners are hosting a celebration of public health on Monday at Springfield City Hall, Room 220. The event will include presentations to inspire you, raffles from area businesses, and lunch courtesy of Home Grown Catering Service, Springfield Public Schools
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16th Annual Fair Housing & Civil Rights Conference, 4/5/22-4/7/22: The conference provides an opportunity to hear speakers from a wide range of disciplines discuss the state of fair housing and civil rights in America today and share their ideas on how to effectuate change on both a local and national level. Learn more and register.
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Criminal Record (CORI) Expungement & Sealing Virtual Event, 4/6/22 from 12:30-4:30 pm: Hosted by a coalition of nonprofits, cannabis industry professionals, and the Center for Social Justice at Western New England University School of Law. The event is free and open to the public. As part of the event, Kathleen Szegda from PHIWM and Richard Johnson from New North Citizens' Council will present the Health Impact Assessment about Healthy Aging with a Criminal Record in Hampden County MA. If you join via zoom, you can meet with a lawyer for free to discuss your case.
- Register for the event
- Request your CORI
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Expanding the Circle of Support in the Perinatal Period, Virtual Training, 4/7/22 at 11:00 am: The Mass. PPD Fund in partnership with Strong Roots Counseling is pleased to announce a free, virtual two-hour training for providers on perinatal mental health, screening, treatment approaches, and resources. Learn more and register.
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Film, Conversation, & Community- Multifaceted Exploration of Health Equity, 4/14/22-5/18/22: Join the Western Massachusetts Health Equity Network this spring for a multifaceted exploration of health equity, including live performance, site-specific cultural exploration, festive refreshments, MOSAIC film premiere, and stellar post-screening panels leading us in conversations on racism and community health in our region. There will be an event in Amherst, Holyoke, Springfield, Great Barrington, Florence, and Turners Falls. Each event will be unique, so feel free to join more than one! Learn more and register.
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Victim Rights Conference - Virtual Symposium, 4/27/22 at 8:30 am: Join the Hampden County District Attorney's Office, Baystate Family Advocacy Center, and Baystate Continuing Interprofessional Education as they present the 32nd Annual Victims' Rights Conference: Rights, Access, Equity for All Victims. Learn more and register.
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Faces of Faith- Photographic Display and Storytelling about Breast and Cervical Cancer, 4/27/22, 5:30-7:30 pm: This event will recognize and celebrate several local women, who are breast and cervical cancer survivors! Through a photographic display and storytelling, we hope these women’s stories of faith and resilience will inform, encourage, and uplift others. Learn more and register.
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