Inside the Influenza Season Officially Began in October, Adding Yet Another Element of Danger to a Year Marked by a Different Respiratory Illness, COVID-19
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Presented by: 1646 Purchase St. New Bedford, MA 02740 Serving the towns of Acushnet n Dartmouth n Fairhaven n Gosnold n Marion n Mattapoisett n New Bedford n Rochester Vol. 3, IssueVol. 1,1 Issue 1 Published Published byby Coastline Coastline Elderly Elderly Services, Services, Inc. Inc. NovemberNovember 2018 2020 It’s Time to Get the Flu Shot Inside The influenza season officially began in October, adding yet another element of danger to a year marked by a different respiratory illness, COVID-19. But it’s not too late to receive the flu shot if you have yet to do so. This year, public health officials have tried creative workarounds to administer the flu vaccine while abiding by social distancing Andrus Award, page 12 protocols put in place during the pandemic. Communities n Donations ...........................2 throughout the country have tried outdoor, “drive-through” clinics, n Letter from the Editor ....... 2 where patients can simply dangle n COVID-19 Update ............. 2 their arms from their car windows and receive the shot without having n CNN Expands .................. 3 to enter a pharmacy. By late October, the Town of Coastline held a flu clinic for employees and their family members on Oct. 14. Stephanie Silva n Social Security .................. 3 (left) comforts her daughter, Harper (center), as she receives the flu shot from Emily Cassista Dartmouth and Walgreens had (right), a CVS pharmacy manager. With COVID-19 cases surging across America, offered several of these clinics, n health experts are urging the public to get the flu shot to prevent a “twindemic.” Update ............................. 4 where hundreds of people from n NB Wellness Initiative ..... 5 around the South Coast were he said. “But it’s not too late. If The annual seasonal flu vaccine vaccinated in school parking lots. November is your first opportunity is the best line of defense, and it n Posture .............................. 5 “The ideal time to get a flu shot to get a vaccination, it’s better late has been shown to reduce the risk is the end of October,” said Dr. than never.” of complications associated with n Breast Cancer ................... 6 Christian Pope, a Dartmouth Board Pope said that older adults are influenza. It’s still possible to get of Health-appointed advisor from among those who need the vaccine the flu even after being vaccinated. n Flu Shot Cont .................... 7 Hawthorn Medical Associates. the most. While each flu season will However, studies have shown that n Caregivers Month ............ 8 Pope was on-site during a drive- vary in terms of severity, the Centers the vaccine can help lessen the through clinic at the Dartmouth for Disease Control and Prevention severity of illness. n Trivia ................................ 8 High School on Oct. 18. (CDC) notes that those age 65 and A CDC-supported study from “It takes a few weeks to mount older typically bear the greatest 2018, which tracked data from four n Marion Welcomes Baker .. 9 an immune response, and we know burden. Older adults experience flu seasons, found that those who the flu season peaks in January and the majority of seasonal flu-related were vaccinated lowered their risk n At the COAs ................... 10 February and lasts through May,” deaths and hospitalizations. Continued on page 7 n COAs cont ...................... 11 n Dementia Directory ....... 11 For NB Symphony Orchestra, the Show Goes On The new season of the New musicians perform on social media By March 20, their first performance n Andrus Award ................ 12 Bedford Symphony Orchestra or don masks and venture into the was on the internet. has officially started. And while community at small pop-up events. “It was different to transition n NBSO Cont .................... 12 theaters are still shuttered to virtual performances,” around the nation on said Conee Sousa, director of account of COVID-19, marketing and public relations n Los Articulos en the organization has spent for NBSO. “We had to figure Español ............... Página 6 the spring and summer out Facebook Live, and the learning how to record musicians had to figure out n Os Artigos em and share music with the recording.” Português ............. Página 6 an audience despite the “We’ve learned along the pandemic. way, we’ve been tweaking The organization things, and we’ve done the was impacted by the best we can,” she said. coronavirus almost Violinist EmmaLee immediately. They had Holmes-Hicks said her scheduled a performance Violinist EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks and cellist Peter Zay first virtual performance Don’t forget at the Zeiterion Performing perform at the New Bedford Farmers Market on Oct. 8. was a low-tech affair: just a Arts Center on March 14, microphone plugged directly your mask which had already been canceled While most organizations spent into her cellphone. Since then, by the time the president declared a the early days of the pandemic she’s invested in new audio and state of emergency on March 13. figuring out how to host meetings video equipment to achieve a better Since then, the NBSO has on Zoom, NBSO had to figure out quality recording. It helps that reconfigured how it functions. Major how to produce and share videos. concerts are offered online and But the learning curve was quick. Continued on page 12 2 Senior Scope NOVEMBER 2020 Greater NB Communities Letter from the Editor Enter High-Risk Category During the month of October, then decreased slightly. By July and the towns of Dartmouth, Fairhaven, August, the number of confirmed Acushnet, Mattapoisett and cases surged again, this time in Rochester were designated as the South. On Oct. 23, the U.S. set “high-risk” communities as part a single-day record with 85,000 of the state’s COVID-19 tracking confirmed cases, largely in the effort. Those communities joined Midwest and Mountain West. New Bedford, which had entered Meanwhile, millions of the high-risk category in September. people across Europe are facing The designation means those tightening restrictions as many communities have a rate of eight countries endure a second wave cases per 100,000 people. of the coronavirus. Some nations, A view from last year’s Veterans Day parade as it made its way through New Bedford. “COVID remains a serious risk, including Italy, Germany, France and folks need to take precautions to and Spain implemented curfews. The pandemic has impacted In the same vein, this Veterans Day, protect themselves, their loved ones Ireland entered a second national nearly every major holiday in even if we can’t personally attend a and their neighbors,” Governor lockdown. Non-essential businesses 2020. Easter came and went, I parade or a gathering, we can still Charlie Baker said during a press were ordered to shut down and photographed a small service from thank those who served for their conference on Oct. 20. residents were mandated to stay afar on Memorial Day, and I didn’t commitment to our country. The governor’s Stop the within a five-kilometer radius of see a single firework on July 4th. I To those who have served, I Spread Initiative, which offers free their homes, save for essential trips. imagine during the next few weeks, thank you for your dedication and COVID-19 testing in select cities Johnson & Johnson made families all over the nation will be for the sacrifices you have made for and towns throughout the state, headlines in October after a having a tough conversation about others. has expanded into 18 communities, volunteer taking part in its late-stage Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Last year, I had the opportunity including New Bedford, and has vaccine trial fell ill. Following a whether any of us can safely gather to attend New Bedford’s Veterans been extended through December. brief pause – as well as a “thorough indoors for a meal. Day parade, where the streets The state is also launching a free evaluation” of the volunteer’s As I was finishing up this issue were lined with people of all ages drive-through testing site in Revere. health, the drugmaker announced of the paper, my mother called to cheering on the procession as it More than 2.5 million residents of the trial would resume after finding discuss the holiday season. Out passed. I hope that next year, Massachusetts have been tested at no evidence that the vaccine of an abundance of caution, we we’ll be able to gather again least once. candidate caused the illness. decided to skip them this year. and give our veterans the Across the nation, the pandemic For the most up-to-date But even though we may not be recognition they deserve. is entering a “third surge.” schedule of COVID-19 testing in able to gather and celebrate as we America’s case count spiked in the New Bedford, visit: mass.gov/info- did in 2019, we can still pick up the Best, spring throughout the Northeast, details/stop-the-spread. phone and check in with one another. , Editor Mass Options 844-422-6277 massoptions.org 844-422-MASS SHINE Counselors in the Greater New Bedford Area Acushnet Council on Aging 508-998-0280 Patricia Midurski 59 ½ South Main St., Acushnet Heather Sylvia Dartmouth Council on Aging 508-999-4717 Peggy Vollmer 628 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth Jane Jacobsen Ann Raymond Fairhaven Council on Aging 508-979-4029 Dianne Perkins 229 Huttleston Ave, Fairhaven Carolyn Dantoni Freda St. Marie-Johnson GNB Community Health Center 508-992-6553 x147 Derek Mendes 874 Purchase Street, New Bedford Immigrants’ Assistance Center 508-996-8113 Lucy Oliveira 58 Crapo St., New Bedford Marion Council on Aging 508-748-3570 Connie Heacox 465 Mill Street, Marion Mattapoisett Council on Aging 508-758-4110 Connie Heacox 17 Barstow Street, Mattapoisett New Bedford Council on Aging 508-991-6250 Natasha Franco 181 Hillman St.