KXLY
May 18, 2021 7:56 PM Vincent Saglimbeni
Updated:
Matt Slocum
Licensed practical nurse Adrian McCain prepares a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination at a Montgomery County Office of Public Health vaccination clinic at the King of Prussia Mall, Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in King of Prussia, Pa.,
SPOKANE, Wash.– The Spokane Arena mass vaccination site will now be hosting “Vaccination Happy Hours” events In May and June.
“Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine should be celebrated,” said Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) Interim Health Officer, Dr. Francisco Velazquez. “With the vaccine readily available, we now have the tool we need to fight the virus, keep our friends and family healthy, and return to a normal life.”
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Middle school student Elise Robinson receives her first coronavirus vaccination on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in Decatur, Ga. (AP Photo/Ron Harris)
The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have now both approved use of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 12 and up.
What does that mean for tweens and teens in the Philadelphia area? Here’s what parents and kids need to know.
What did the Pfizer clinical trials of 12 to 15 year olds find?
During the clinical trials, about 1,200 children received a placebo, while another 1,200 children received an active vaccine. None of the children who received an active vaccine contracted COVID-19, meaning they were 100% protected from infection.
Michael Rubinkam
Fewer renters than expected are applying for pandemic assistance in Pennsylvania, alarming state officials who urged tenants who are behind on rent to submit their applications now in light of a judge’s recent decision striking down a national eviction moratorium.
The ruling has been put on hold while the Biden administration appeals. But the uncertainty around the moratorium prompted the Department of Human Services, which runs the state’s rental assistance program, to plead with renters to take advantage of the program.
“I’m extremely concerned that people are not moving quickly to pursue this assistance because the moratorium was expected to be in place,” Meg Snead, the acting DHS secretary, said Tuesday. “And I’m extremely concerned about what may occur, and circumstances people will be in, if the ruling stands.”
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Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, chair of the Montgomery County Commissioners. (Zoom)
Montgomery County reported 495 new COVID-19 cases since last week and the grand total since the beginning of the pandemic is 58,149.
The county also reported 12 additional deaths in the past week bringing the total to 1,314 confirmed deaths due to COVID-19.
Hospitalizations plummeted this week from 202 individuals on May 5 to 141.
“Our positivity rate is moving firmly in the right direction which is really great news. Our 14-day average positivity rate is 5.68% as of Thursday, May 6 compared with 6.86% as of Thursday, April 29,” said Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.
Pennsylvania is allowing more people at indoor and outdoor events.
Beginning Monday, occupancy limits will be increased to 50% of capacity for indoor events, up from 25%, and to 75% for outdoor events, up from 50%.
“As more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with the commonwealth’s reopening efforts,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement Tuesday.
The state has previously announced that nearly all COVID restrictions will go away on Memorial Day, including capacity limits on bars, restaurants and other businesses, as well as indoor and outdoor event gathering limits. The state’s mask mandate will remain until 75% of adults are fully vaccinated. Statewide, about 45.6% of people aged 18 and older have been fully vaccinated as of Tuesday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.