Vaccines remain an important tool in fighting deadly diseases. Rotarians know that better than anyone.
Rotarians are familiar with the power of vaccines. For many years, Rotary’s premier international drive was to eliminate polio through the extensive use of vaccines in both developed and developing countries. That mission has nearly been accomplished with only spotty outbreaks of that debilitating disease.
While there were some difficulties with the initial roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines, they are fast becoming the first line of defense against the disruptions caused by the pandemic. Getting vaccinated is one of several things that people can do to help restore the economy, social interactions, and just about every other dimension of what we used to consider a “normal life.”
In Lebanon County there are currently seven vaccinators at work: WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital; the mass vaccination POD at the old KMART location (WellSpan and CNS provide the shots); Union Community Care (downtown Lebanon); Family First Health (downtown Lebanon); Rite Aid (in Palmyra and Cleona); Weis (2 locations: Palmyra and Lebanon); Redners (Palmyra); and, Walmart (Palmyra).
Some of the vaccinators travel as mobile clinics to neighborhoods and employers and WellSpan continues to serve individuals that are homebound.
Vaccines are open to all County residents above the age of 16 and appointments are readily available. As of this writing, all vaccinators are delivering Pfizer and Moderna (both 2-dose vaccines). None in the area have been administering the John and Johnson vaccine.
Anyone getting vaccinated may expect to have some mild side effects after one or both shots including arm pain, headache, joint pain, tiredness and low-grade fever. Far from a negative reaction, these side effects are an indication that the vaccine is hard at work building the individual’s immunity to the COVID-19 virus. It does not mean that the individual has contracted a COVID infection from the vaccine.
As more people get “the jab” the rate of vaccinations will slow. Eventually, individuals should be able to get a shot from your primary care provider, healthcare locations, and mobile delivery units as they become available.