County offers free drive-thru flu shot clinics in Middletown, Tinicum and Marple
MIDDLETOWN » The Middletown Fire Co. will host a drive-thru flu shot clinic on an upcoming weekend as part of a larger effort in Delaware County to get residents vaccinated as flu season approaches.
Delaware County Council and the Department of Intercommunity Health announced several free public flu shot clinics that will be held this month.
The clinic at the Middletown Fire Co., 425 S. New Middletown Road, Middletown, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 and Friday, Oct. 23.
Flu shots are available to all Delaware County residents three-years-old and up. High dose vaccines for residents 65 years of age and older are not available. No insurance is required.
The drive-through format is intended to make it safer and more convenient for older residents, those with disabilities, and parents with small children, especially during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Residents must wear masks or face coverings when going to the flu clinic. In the event of inclement weather the flu clinic may be canceled.
The clinic will be staffed by members of the Delaware County Medical Reserve Corps, and Delaware County Department of Intercommunity Health.
Other clinics are being held in different locations in the county. The full flu clinic schedule includes:
• Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Thursday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Tinicum Township Fire Co., 99 Wanamaker Ave., Essington.
• Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Broomall Fire Co., 1 N. Malin Road, Marple.
For more information or questions regarding the clinics, contact the Intercommunity Health Office at 610-891-6129.
AIDS walk Philly goes virtual to continue raising funds and awareness
The 34th Annual AIDS Walk Philly is going virtual on Sunday, Oct. 18, as the need for vulnerable individuals is more important than ever. With the money raised at this year’s Walk, AIDS Fund continues its mission to provide emergency funds to individuals living with HIV from All Walks of Life Fund. Philadelphians can be a lifeline for their neighbors and loved ones by participating in the AIDS Walk Philly 5K, raising public awareness and funds for those living with HIV/AIDS in their community.
There are over 27,000 people living with HIV in the Greater Philadelphia Region, according to the Office of HIV Planning Philadelphia. AIDS Fund will broadcast a video kickoff at 8 a.m. on the morning of the walk, which will include an aerobic warm-up. Then, while staying safely socially distanced, walkers will unite by going the 5k distance in their own neighborhoods.
The online broadcast will bring everyone together virtually with messages from AIDS Fund, its partner organizations, special guests, and information about the current state of HIV prevention, care, and treatment in the Philadelphia community.
Emcees and guest speakers attending the online ceremony include Stephania Jimenez of NBC10, Cherri Gregg of KYW NewsRadio, Pierre Robert of WMMR, Rev. Dawn Duppins, and more.
AIDS Walk will be raising awareness about HIV throughout the region with people walking in their neighborhoods while proudly wearing their AIDS Walk Philly 2020 t-shirts, which will be sent to each participant raising at least $50. Participants who raise $250 will receive an AIDS Walk t-shirt and face mask. A Limited Edition “500 Club” sweatshirt is given to those who raise $500. Raise $1,000 and receive a distinctive AIDS Walk Philly 2020 jacket. The 34th Annual AIDS Walk Philly is sponsored by ViiV, Medi-Dose EPS, Merck, Gilead, Univest, NBC10, Walgreens, and PGN. To donate or register to walk go to AIDSwalkphilly.org or call 215-731-WALK.
Since its inaugural event in 1987, participants in AIDS Walk Philly have raised over $17 million for the fight against HIV/ AIDS. The AIDS Fund provides emergency financial assistance to people living with HIV disease in the Greater Philadelphia region, while providing education and increasing public awareness of HIV/AIDS issues. For more information, visit www.aidsfundphilly.org.
Zabel hosts free picnic for local veterans
State Rep. Mike Zabel, D-163 of Upper Darby, will host a free picnic for local veterans from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16 at Penn Pines Park. Veterans can meet for the picnic near the intersection of Hilldale Road and Providence Road, Upper Darby.
Veterans are asked to reserve a spot at the picnic by contacting Zabel’s offices in Drexel Hill or Clifton Heights. Veterans can RSVP by calling 484-200-8262 or 484-200-1563. They can also RSVP by emailing RepZabel@pahouse.net.
Zabel’s staff will take precautions in hosting the event in order to protect the safety of the public. Veterans are asked to wear a mask when picking up their bagged lunch, which they can either take with them or eat on-site. The event will be hosted outside, in order to avoid gathering in an enclosed place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zabel and his staff will be on hand to answer questions and help with any state-related matters.
COVID Alert PA app now available to Pennsylvania residents
Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health released the COVID Alert PA exposure notification application. It is now live in the Google and Apple stores, and people can download it for free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
COVID Alert PA is a free mobile app using Bluetooth Low Energy technology and the Exposure Notification System developed by Apple and Google. The app offers:
• Interactive COVID-19 symptom checker
• Opt-in for alerts for potential exposures to the virus
• Updates on the latest public health data about COVID-19 in the state
• Advice for what to do if a person has a potential exposure to COVID-19 COVID Alert PA protects both privacy and personal information. The app does not use GPS, location services, or any movement or geographical information. It will never collect, transmit, or store personal information. It is completely anonymous.
Existing traditional contact tracing processes rely on a positive individual to remember and name who they have been in contact with recently, and for how long. In many cases, positive CO
VID-19 individuals may not even know the people they were in close contact with, like if the contact happened on a bus or train, at a check-out line in a grocery store, a restaurant or some other public venue.
The app supplements traditional contact tracing processes by being able to identify strangers a positive app user came in contact with and help stop the rapid spread of COVID-19. If the app detects that a person has been in close contact with another user who has tested positive for CO
VID-19, they will receive a push notification on their phone. This is called an exposure alert and will be followed by what they should do to monitor your own health.
The Department of Human Services is committed to supporting this effort and helping protect the people it serves encouraging use of COVID Alert PA. This technology only works if others have downloaded the app, which is why all Pennsylvanians are asked to unite against COVID and download the app.