FROM BRIAN’S DESK
Hello from everyone here at the TRAAC! I hope you are all staying safe and healthy as we continue to endure this historic pandemic. Many people are getting fatigued by these longterm restrictions, but the threat is not over! Please continue to be vigilant – wear a mask out in public and around others, and go out as little as possible. Be sure to continue washing your hands and using hand sanitizer regularly.
Thank You
A huge THANK YOU is due our volunteers who are critical to our operations. Our meal volunteers have been incredibly dedicated, spending multiple days each week assisting in the kitchen. From John, Kathy Jo, Mike, Bert and Julie in the kitchen to our delivery drivers Dave and James, Arlene, Monica and Charlie, Barb, and Roz, lunch wouldn’t happen without you!
Thank you also to everyone else who has continued to assist us and our guests during this past year – our shopping volunteers, fundraising volunteers (spending hours outside selling raffle tickets!), and newsletter volunteers.
New Programs on PCTV & Zoom
Thank you to PCTV for helping us reach more people in their homes! You can find some of your favorite programs being televised on PCTV, and we are adding new programs regularly.
Our online classes are continuing. . If you have internet access, you can participate in our live classes with Jolene, Darrel, and new instructor Charee. Look for the schedule in this newsletter.
Grab & Go Lunches
We are still offering Grab & Go Lunches! Lunches are free, but we do require you to reserve your meals for the week by the prior Monday. Look for the menu and reservation dates in this newsletter.
If you do not have a lunch reservation, but just want to purchase soups, crockpot meals, or muffins, come through our drive-through on Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 12 and 1 and let them know what you want. Availability varies by day.
If You Need Assistance
We are still working hard to support older adults during this time.
If you need food assistance – please call 610-323-5009, and press 1. There are a number of organizations providing food assistance, and we can help connect you with the best fit.
If you need help running errands – Please call 610-3235009, and enter 105. We have a number of community volunteers who are available to run errands for you, like stopping by the grocery store or the pharmacy.
Stay in Touch and Reopening
At this time, I can’t say when we will reopen for in-person programming. It will all depend on the levels of illness in our area through the spring. Keep an eye on our website, our Facebook page, and our email newsletter for up-to-date information on available programs and services.
We miss seeing everyone, and can’t wait to get back to normal. Please stay safe, stay inside as much as possible, wash your hands often, and wear a mask when you do go out.
Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate 2021
University of the Sciences/ Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
One year ago, headlines told of a new virus that was found on the other side of the world. Experts warned of the potential for a global pandemic. Yet, no one could truly predict what was to come. Today, after a year of uncertainty and fear, we finally have some good news. Two vaccines have been developed in record time, using new technology, to help bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. While many are excited to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, some have concerns. What’s so special about these vaccines and are they safe?
In this edition of “Ask Your Pharmacist”, we hope to answer some of these questions. Provided is an overview of what is known about the COVID-19 disease, the vaccines, and the benefits of vaccination.
COVID-19
How Is Covid-19 Spread? COVID-19 is spread from person to person through close contact which is considered a distance of less than six feet away. The virus is mainly spread by respiratory droplets from infected people through talking, sneezing, coughing and breathing and less commonly through physical contact, such as hugging, kissing, or shaking hands.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
The onset of COVID-19’s symptoms vary from person to person. It usually begins 2-14 days after exposure, with an average of 5 days and symptoms can vary in severity. Evidence suggests that up to 30% of infected individuals are asymptomatic. For those that do show symptoms, the most common are:
• fever
• cough
• shortness of breath.
• Less often but still commonly experienced are:
• muscle aches and headache
• diarrhea
• runny nose
• dizziness
• vomiting
• loss of taste and smell
• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite
• sore throat
These symptoms are considered to be signs of mild COVID-19, and it is recommended to remain at home and isolate if one experience these symptoms.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 can also express itself in much more devastating ways that require hospitalization. The symptoms of severe COVID-19 include:
• severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• increased breathing rate more than 30 breaths per minute
• low blood oxygen levels (less than 93%)
• presence of congestion in the lungs.
Severe COVID-19 may also result in fluid buildup in the lungs and multiple organ failure. If untreated, it can lead to death.
When Should I Be Tested?
There are several types of tests available for COVID-19: antibody and diagnostic tests. Antibody tests determine whether you have had the virus in the past by detecting the antibodies the immune system creates to fight the infection. Because antibodies can last for months or even years after an infection, these tests cannot determine if one is currently infected with the virus.
Diagnostic tests come in two forms: a molecular test such as the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test which tests for the virus’s genetic material and is more accurate but takes longer for the results; and an antigen test that looks for proteins from the virus which provide results within minutes, but may not be as accurate.
Testing is recommended for anyone who meets any of the following criteria:
• Experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19
• Having close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19
• Taking part in activities that increase the risk of COVID-19 (travel, large gatherings, crowded indoor settings)
• Referred by a healthcare provider, local or state health department (e.g. undergoing surgery; your doctor may require you to test negative prior to scheduling a procedure)
How Can I Protect Myself Against Covid-19?
The best way to avoid getting sick is to:
• limit your contact with other people by social distancing (remaining 6-feet apart)
• wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose to further limit the spread of droplets
• avoid touching your face to avoid spreading contaminants from surfaces onto your face
• wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds
isolate for a period of 14 days and monitor your symptoms if you suspect that you have come into contact with someone infected with the virus
• stay home if your symptoms are mild
• eat healthy meals and staying well hydrated
• take over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen for fever and/ or pain
• stay in contact with your doctor to let them know if you feel your symptoms are worsening or you are having difficulty breathing
What Are the Long Term Effects of Covid-19?
Most cases of COVID-19 will resolve 10 days after symptom onset, but may take up to 20 days. The CDC recommends that isolation can discontinue for people with COVID-19 symptoms once 10 days have passed from symptom onset, 24 hours have passed without a fever without using fever reducing medication, and symptoms have improved.
Most people will recover from COVID-19 and return to normal health, but others may experience longterm symptoms months after their infection.
The most common longterm symptoms are:
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• cough
• joint pain
• chest pain
• difficulty thinking or concentrating
• depression
• muscle pain
• headache
• on again/off again fever
• heart palpitations (fastbeating or pounding heart).
There have also been reports of some of the rarer symptoms of COVID-19 persisting after recovery including:
• inflamed heart muscles
• abnormal lung function
• kidney injury
• hair loss
• smell and taste problems
• anxiety and sleep issues
• memory problems
• change in mood.
Vaccines MRNA VACCINES
Two vaccines have been developed for use against COVID-19: one developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, and one developed by Moderna. Both of these vaccines share one exciting feature in common: they are both mRNA vaccines, a brand-new type of vaccine technology. But, what makes them so special? Traditionally, vaccines are available in two forms: live and inactivated. Live vaccines take the actual virus and modify it to be capable of replication but weakened so that it doesn’t cause clinical disease. Live vaccine use is limited, as they do carry a risk of developing the disease in question. More commonly used is the inactivated vaccines. These vaccines take inactivated or “killed” viruses and use them or pieces of them to induce an immune response. In both cases, the vaccines work by exposing our bodies to the foreign pathogens so our immune systems learn to recognize them in the future.