The Allentown Health Bureau is administering third COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment only to individuals who have a note from their physician confirming that they are in one of the CDC currently approved categories.

Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

These vaccinations will be given at the Allentown Health Bureau at 245 N 6^th Street and appointments can be made by calling 610.437.7760 choose 0.

It is recommended that patients talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.

As Coronavirus local case numbers and hospitalizations climb, steps should be taken to slow the spread of the disease.

This week, CDC ensemble forecasts of new reported COVID-19 hospital admissions over the next 4 weeks included forecasts from 8 modeling groups, each of which contributed a forecast for at least one jurisdiction.

This week’s national ensemble predicts that the number of new daily confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions will likely increase over the next 4 weeks, with 9,000 to 32,800 new confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions likely reported on September 13, 2021.

Allentown Health Bureau Director Vicky Kistler says, “Please consider vaccination. Millions of individuals have taken this vaccine and it is evident by the number of hospitalizations among the unvaccinated that the vaccine works.”

The Allentown Health Bureau strongly encourages citizens to mask when having close contact indoors with others outside your family or any time you are within 6 feet of others for a prolonged period.

Kistler asks all city employers to require employees to mask and to require masks for citizens interacting with your employees. “Cloth masks are very effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19. With the start of school around the corner, hand sanitizing, masking and practicing social distancing are needed, so children can remain in the classroom to learn.”

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photo: ScienceNews.org