The Wright Center for Community Health began scheduling and administering kid-sized doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 on Wednesday, Nov. 3at four regional primary care practices in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the vaccines for the pediatric age group.

The unanimous decision by the CDC on Nov. 2 enables this new age group to receive 10-micrograms of the Pfizer vaccine – a third of the amount given to teens and adults. With parental consent, eligible children will receive two shots, three weeks apart. The Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization of the vaccine on Oct. 29.

“Approval of the pediatric vaccine by the CDC is an important development as we work together to end the global pandemic through vaccinations, masking and social distancing,” said Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, chief medical officer and senior vice president at The Wright Center for Community Health. “The vaccine will offer a high level of protection for children ages 5-11 and slow the spread of the virus among others in our community, especially during the upcoming holiday season. It is also another step closer to normalcy for society and helping our school-aged children to remain in school for in-person learning.”

Due to the CDC’s recommendation, which was also fully endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatricians, about 28 million children in the new age group will be eligible to receive a vaccination. The CDC recommended vaccinations for children, ages 12-15, in May.

“We will continue to encourage all Pennsylvanians to get their COVID-19 vaccine, and we are very excited that we can now include children ages 5 and over in that effort,” Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said in a state Department of Health press release. “To fellow parents I say: If you have a child between 5 and 11, get them vaccinated and give your child the power to safely learn, play and be a kid.”

Appointments to receive the pediatric vaccine may be made at the following Wright Center for Community Health clinics: Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave.; Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn; South Franklin Street Practice, 335 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, and West Scranton Intermediate School-Based Health, 1401 Fellows St., Scranton. To make an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

The CDC approved third-dose boosters of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine on Oct. 22 for certain age groups. The Wright Center for Community Health has been administering third doses and booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to eligible age groups since Oct. 22. People should talk to their health care provider about their medical condition and whether or not getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.

As part of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) National Memory Screening Program, Marywood University in Scranton will offer free, confidential memory screenings on November 9. Screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Psychological Services Center.

According to the event organizer, Dr. Brooke Cannon, professor of psychology and clinical neuropsychologist, “Annual memory screenings, like regular physical exams, allow for identification of potential cognitive problems and monitoring of already existing impairment.”

Trained and supervised by Dr. Cannon, graduate student members of Marywood’s Association of Neuropsychology Students in Training will administer the memory screenings and provide educational materials about memory concerns, brain health, and caregiving. The face-to-face screenings consist of a series of questions and tasks, taking approximately 10 minutes.

AFA suggests memory screenings for anyone concerned about memory loss or experiencing warning signs of dementia; whose family and friends have noticed changes in them; who believe they are at risk due to a family history of dementia; or who want to see how their memory is now and for future comparisons. Warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion and personality changes.

Screeners emphasize that results are not a diagnosis, and encourage individuals who score below the normal threshold, as well as those who still have concerns, to see their primary care physician for a thorough evaluation.

Currently, there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and that number is expected to nearly triple by mid-century. Advanced age is the greatest known risk factor for the disease, which results in loss of memory and other intellectual functions, and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

For more information about the National Memory Screening Program, call (toll-free) 866-232-8484 or visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org.

For more information about National Memory Screening Day at Marywood University, please call the Psychological Services Center at (570) 348-6269. For additional information about Marywood University, please visit www.marywood.edu, or call the Office of Admissions, at (570) 348-6234.

The Meals on Wheels of NEPA Holiday Blanket Drive has provided comfort to the elderly and homebound clients of Meals on Wheels of NEPA for more than six years. The program distributes more than 1,000 donated throw blankets, socks, and toiletries to our elderly and homebound clients living throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania during the holiday season. Regular visits from volunteers to deliver meals are often the only contact these individuals have with others. Although the gift of a throw blanket and toiletries might seem like a small gesture, it may be the brightest gift during the holiday season for those who are unable to leave their homes.

The agency is seeking new, unused, and unopened donations of throw blankets, toiletries, socks, or monetary donations for the drive. Please consider helping us this holiday season. Our clients rely on the support of dedicated volunteers and generous donations from the community. Programs like the Holiday Blanket Drive would not exist without caring individuals like you. Please contact Meals on Wheels of NEPA at 570-346-2421 or mealsonwheels@mownepa.org with any questions or to get involved.

The core programming of Meals on Wheels Community Services of NEPA is the Home Delivered Meals program, which serves elderly adults and adults with disabilities in our community. Individuals whose life circumstances make it difficult or impossible for them to prepare needed nourishment receive a hot meal delivered to them by volunteers and caring staff. In addition to keeping the senior well-nourished, Meals on Wheels often provides the only human contact many homebound individuals experience each day. Meals on Wheels of NEPA has been in existence since 1969, and to date, has served over 5 million meals.

Marywood University will hold Advocacy and Social Justice Day on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., at various locations in the Nazareth Student Center and in the Center for Architectural Studies, to celebrate the advocacy and social justice work being done by the Marywood community and to empower people, including the community at large, to engage in advocacy and social justice work.

All events are free and open to the public, including an artwork display, an advocacy and social justice fair, simulations about pressing social justice issues, service and advocacy presentations, a legislative advocacy workshop, and a social justice panel. Certain events will take place in person and be broadcast using Zoom. The Zoom option requires pre-registration, which can be accessed on the event website. Everyone attending events in person on the Marywood campus is required to wear a mask. Co-organizers of Advocacy and Social Justice Day are Lea Dougherty, Dr. Erin Sadlack, and Sister John Michele Southwick, IHM.

Advocacy and Social Justice Day will culminate with a keynote address by Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Scranton, who will discuss his work in the fight against climate change. His talk is scheduled from 6-7 p.m. in the Upper Main Dining Room, Nazareth Student Center, with a Zoom option available.

Since 2006, Rabbi Swartz has been the spiritual leader of Temple Hesed in Scranton, where he is dedicated to the task of Tikkun Olam, repairing our world. Under his guidance, Temple Hesed’s already active social action committee has continued to expand their programs, including work on “greening” the congregation, one of Rabbi Swartz’s deepest passions.

Rabbi Swartz has also been working with the Vatican on an interfaith global declaration, calling people to fight against climate change. Pope Francis invited Rabbi Swartz to be one of just 50 people called to the Vatican to discuss the climate change crisis and to sign the declaration.

Times, locations, and the Zoom registration link for Advocacy and Social Justice Day events can be found at marywood.edu/campmin/announcements.html, or contact Sister John Michele Southwick, IHM, at southwick@marywood.edu or (570) 961-4723 for more information.

To thank local military veterans for their service to our country, Geisinger will host drive-through Veterans Appreciation dinners at nine locations across the health system’s service area on Wednesday, Nov. 10. The dinners for U.S. military veterans and their guests are being provided at no cost to participants. Anyone interested should make a reservation by Friday, Nov. 5.

“It is important that we all honor and recognize our military veterans for what they have done to protect our country and freedoms,” said J. Edward Hartle, M.D., Geisinger’s executive vice president and chief medical officer, as well as a U.S. Air Force veteran. “Many of our patients, health plan members, staff and community members have served in the military, and this event gives us an opportunity to thank them for their service.”

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Geisinger will again serve this dinner as a drive-through event for the safety of the community and staff. Last year’s event, which was the first year the event expanded to eight locations, served more than 1,500 meals to veterans and their guests. This year the event will expand to nine locations to better serve the local veteran community.

“Geisinger is committed to military veterans by providing care options and career opportunities to them in their local communities,” said U.S. Army veteran Chris Grill, program manager of Military and Veterans Affairs at Geisinger. “This dinner is yet another way for us to thank our veterans for their service.”

Veterans may contact their preferred location to register themselves and one guest for the meal. Servings are limited, and those interested are encouraged to sign up now.

Locally, Geisinger is holding drive-through dinners for veterans at the following locations on Nov. 10:

Scranton (4 to 6 p.m.)

• Nay Aug Park, 500 Arthur Ave., Scranton
• To make a reservation for this location, call 570-703-8240 or visit Go.Geisinger.org/VetsDinner/GCMC 

Wilkes-Barre (4 to 6 p.m.)

• 1175 East Mountain Blvd., Wilkes-Barre
• To make a reservation for this location, call 570-808-5380 or 570-808-7893, or visit Go.Geisinger.org/VetsDinner/GWV

• 50 Roosevelt Terrace, Wilkes-Barre
• To make a reservation for this location, call 570-808-3651 or visit Go.Geisinger.org/VetsDinner/GSWB