CHILTON COUNTY
February 2021
Aerial Yoga comes to Clanton
Inside COVID-19 Vaccine Information Where to get CPAP supplies Mental wellness in a pandemic Tips for preventing cancer
Your Injuries Your Injuries Can’t Can’tWait Wait Whether oldold or or new sports injury, a tweaked back back Whetheryou’re you’renursing nursinganan new sports injury, a tweaked from aaweekend oror just feeling thethe painpain of aging joints,joints, Precision from weekendproject project just feeling of aging Precision Sports is dedicated to getting you quickly and safely off the injured list and the things youyou lovelove – with the the people you love. and back backtotoenjoying enjoying the things – with people you love. Services offered and conditions treated: Acute Acuteand andchronic chronic musculoskeletal/tendon musculoskeletal/tendoninjuries injuries Arthritic Arthriticcare care Arthroscopic Arthroscopicsurgery surgery Broken Broken bones bonesor orstress stressfractures fractures Concussion Concussionmanagement management Joint Joint replacement replacementsurgeries surgeries Knee Knee problems, problems,including includingthose those related cruciate relatedto tothe theanterior anterior cruciate ligament ligament(ACL) (ACL)
Muscle, pain Muscle,tendon tendonand andjoint joint pain Musculoskeletal Musculoskeletalinjuries injuries Non-surgical care Non-surgicalorthopedic orthopedic care Regenerative Regenerativemedicine medicine Shin splints, fasciitis, splints,plantar plantar fasciitis, and pain and iliotibial iliotibial(IT) (IT)band band pain Sciatica oror pain in or Sciatica(numbness (numbness pain in or around hip oror knee) aroundlower lowerback, back, hip knee) Sports and Sports injuries, injuries,trauma trauma and sideline care care
MichaelPatterson, Patterson, Michael MD MD
To schedule callcall 855-219-6200 schedulean anappointment, appointment, 855-219-6200 or visit visit PrecisionSportsOrtho.com PrecisionSportsOrtho.com 831 1stst Street StreetNorth North • Alabaster, Alabaster, ALAL 35007 35007
Board-certified orthopedic surgeon with surgeon withover over20 20years years of experience experience
CavinSpellmon, Spellmon, Cavin Jr., Jr., MD MD Board-certified in pediatrics and pediatrics andprimary primary care sports care sportsmedicine medicine
Accepting New Patients COMPASSIONATE CARE IN YOUR COMMUNITY Same day appointments now being offered in our Alabaster office.
Dr. John D. McBrayer
Dr. Hosakote Nagaraj
Dr. Mark Mullens
Dr. Nirman Bhatia
Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal
Dr. Patrick Alan Proctor
Call today to schedule your appointment. www.heartsouthpc.com
Chilton / Clanton Clinic 2030 Lay Dam Road
Clanton, AL 35045
205-663-5775
Shelby / Alabaster Clinic 1022 North 1st Street
Suite 500
Alabaster, AL 35007
205-663-5775
Vein Center 1022 North 1st Street
Suite 501
Alabaster, AL 35007
205-663-5775
20
FLEX TO THE MAX Aerial yoga provides many health benefits
TABLE OF CONTENTS FLEXIBILITY OVERDRIVE
5
Navigating a pandemic mental health landscape
SWEET DREAMS
10
Neighborhood CPAP store helps patients breathe easy
TIPS FOR PREVENTING CANCER
13
Cancer. It is one of the last words that anyone wants to hear come out of a doctor’s mouth
STRETCH TO THE MAX
20
Aerial yoga provides many health benefits
VACCINE 101
29
What you should know about the COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 VACCINATION ELIGIBILITY EXPANDED ON THE COVER: Amanda Ellis is an aerial yoga instructor.
4 Wellness
33
Jeremy Smith is a nationally certified counselor and director of The Wellness Group in Clanton.
Flexibility overdrive
Navigating a pandemic mental health landscape
T
he COVID -19 pandemic has brought changes to everyone’s life. With these changes have come challenges and the
STORY BY JOYANNA LOVE potential for a negative impact on mental health. Everyday things such as work and school have been complicated because of precautions and social
distancing. While these potentially rapid or short notice changes can create anxiety, Jeremy Smith, a nationally certified counselor and director of The Wellness
Group in Clanton, said being flexible during change is important to maintain good mental health. Embracing these changes can also help navigate them. Keeping in contact with friends and continuing to find ways to socialize is important during this time when meeting in person may not be an option. “Maintaining those emotional connections is so important to mental health,” Smith said. A phone or video call can be a good way to do this. During the pandemic, some visited older family members at high risk for COVID-19 by standing outside their window. “I think things we can do to maintain that social aspect will help us all on a mental health level,” Smith said. “Realizing that those things, don’t have to just stop, we Adding worries about a pandemic to the usual stresses of life and one’s personal fears can become overwhelming, but counselors can help a person navigate and process what is going on. just have to do them dif-
SPECIALIZED. IN YOU. The doctors at Alabama Orthopedic Specialists are dedicated experts specializing in the orthopedic care you need. As the only subspecialty-trained orthopedic group, our doctors are the fellowship-trained experts to help you get back to doing what you love. Call (334) 249-2543 to make an appointment.
Main Campus 4294 Lomac Street Montgomery, AL 36106
Prattville Office 461 East Main Street Prattville, AL 36067
alorthospecialists.com
6 Wellness
Wetumpka Office 277 Huntress Street, Suite 202 Wetumpka, AL 36092
ferently than we did in the past.” While overuse of technology can create isolation, during the pandemic, technology has helped many stay connected when they could not spend time in person with friends and family. Smith said this ability to stay in touch has likely helped decrease some of the potential mental health issues for many. He said the pandemic can “force us to slow down and realize that our connections with people are extremely important for our mental health and our wellbeing, and it is not necessarily about how many things we can be involved in or about how much money we make … just the value of those relationships (we have with others).” However, taking time to take care of oneself remains important to decreasing anxiety.
“Any role that we fill, for us to be the best version of that role, we have to be the best version of ourselves. That doesn’t mean you have to be selfish or self-centered, but you absolutely have to take care of yourself first. Happiness is an inside job.”
- Jeremy Smith
“You have to take care of yourself as a person first and foremost,” Smith said. “… Any role that we fill, for us to be the best version of that role, we have to be the best version of ourselves. That doesn’t mean you have to be selfish or self-centered, but you absolutely have to take care of yourself first. Happiness is an inside job.” When the pandemic first
reached Chilton County, there was “a lot of fear and anxiety, not only for what happens if I get it or what happens to my family, but just overall anxiety about how life has changed because it has changed for all of us in one way or another,” Smith said. However, he said the number of clients at The Wellness Group has remained about the same, without a major
increase of people seeking services. Many people in Chilton County have adjusted to living in a pandemic but looking to what the future might hold can continue to cause anxiety. “You have to do what is comfortable for you and not just thinking about yourself but also those that are around you,” Smith said. “Some peo-
We work tirelessly to help kids get well because Hugh has a long list of stuff he wants to do. WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.
Children’s of Alabama is dedicated to helping kids live the most fulfilling life possible. We put in a lot of time and training to make that happen.
CHILDREN’S DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM (RUSSELL CAMPUS) 1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S O U T H BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 ( 2 0 5 ) 6 3 8 - 9 1 0 0 | C h i l d re n s A L . o rg C H I L D R E N ’ S S O U T H P E D I AT R I C O U T PAT I E N T C E N T E R
G R E E N VA L E P E D I AT R I C S ALABASTER
1940 ELMER J BISSELL RD,
1022 1ST STREET NORTH, SUITE 103,
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35243
ALABASTER, AL 35007
205-638-4800
205-663-9550
Wellness 7
Changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic can create anxiety. ple might be comfortable going out to do their grocery shopping or to run their errands or things like that and other people might not. In the world we live in now, tolerance is a very, very important word, whether it be the political landscape that we are in or dealing with a pandemic, and thinking about other people and not just about yourself.” He said this includes the possibility that some may choose to distance or wear a mask even after restrictions are lifted. Smith encouraged everyone to be respectful of what others are comfortable with. Just as focusing on others can help mental health, so taking a proactive approach and following the health rec-
8 Wellness
ommended guidelines can increase peace of mind. Smith recommended having a plan for what to do if you get COVID-19, including how to quarantine and knowing how it would impact your job as a way to deal with the anxiety of the virus. However, he said it is also important to be aware that even when taking precautions, one may still get COVID-19. He said finding reliable sources for information and trusting that community leaders are making the decisions they feel are best can also be helpful. Just taking one day at a time as each person is comfortable can help to keep from getting overwhelmed.
“In the world we live in now, tolerance is a very, very important word, whether it be the political landscape that we are in or dealing with a pandemic, and thinking about other people and not just about yourself.“ -Jeremy Smith
Daily 6am-4pm
EXERCISE PROGRAMS OFFERED FOR ALL AGES COME BE A PART OF OUR FAMILY!
If anxiety has begun to impact one’s daily routine, it might be time to consider professional help. “We in the mental health field describe things as becoming clinical when they affect are ability to … func-
tion on a daily basis,” Smith said. When anxiety is “affecting our ability to work … our ability to take care of ourselves and our families those kinds of things, if it is creating problems in those areas that is when it can become more clinical, and we may need to start reaching out for professional guidance.” Smith said the stigma “or black cloud” that has surrounded mental health seems to be lifting from society. “People’s understanding of the importance of addressing their mental health is improving,” Smith said. “… There is nothing wrong with reaching out and asking for help because we all need help sometimes.”
405 Ollie Avenue Clanton, AL. 35045 205-755-2382 Download our mobile App: YMCA of Chilton County www.ymcaofchiltoncounty.com
"PLEASE C ALL FOR APPOINTMENTS" Don't give Fleas and Ticks a Biting Chance. Simple, Effective Flea Control Now Available From PET HAVEN VETERINARY HOSPITAL
We invite you to bring your pets in for Quality Care in Medicine and Surgery. Call Today! 205-755-3770
WE LOVE YOUR PETS!
Quality Veterinary Medicine & Surgery Boarding Available
PET HAVEN
V E T E R I N A RY H O S P I TA L
Vickie Honeycutt, D.V.M. • Kayla Benson, D.V.M. 729 2nd Ave. N. • Clanton, AL 35045
Wellness 9
10 Wellness
SWEET dreams Neighborhood CPAP store helps patients breathe easy STORY BY EMILY REED
H
aving a few hours of uninterrupted sleep can be the goal for many who struggle with things such as sleep apnea. Neighborhood CPAP seeks to provide tools to help patients with the goal of better sleep, while also demonstrating proper usage of certain machines. “Neighborhood CPAP provides optimal comfort and therapy for patients diagnosed with sleep apnea,” said store manager Alexis Busenlehner. “We demonstrate proper usage of CPAP, BiPAP, and S/T machines as well as providing the right re-supply for each patient. Our goal is guaranteed success, comfort, and easy usage for CPAP users.” The store is located at 702 Logan Road in Clanton, after first opening in October 2020. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines are devices that blow air through a mask the patient wears to act as a splint for patients with throats that close partially or completely during their sleep, according to Busenlehner. “Most patients love their CPAP machine because they notice quickly
Wellness 11
a boost in energy, mood, and they are able to sleep through the night. All sorts of people use CPAP machines including kids, young adults, and older adults. Most patients needing a CPAP machine much first undergo a sleep study.” Sleep studies are often performed on patients to determine the obstruction to the airways that collapse while they are asleep. Such a study can be scheduled through the sleep lab at St. Vincent’s Chilton. The obstruction of the air passages rouses a person, disrupting their sleep. This can cause lack of oxygen, and the patient often wakes up gasping for breath. “A person who just finished a sleep study and is diagnosed with sleep apnea would need to find a DME CPAP provider that accepts their insurance(s), and the machine would be their own after insurance pays
A CPAP mask connected to a CPAP machine is worn at night to help a person breath. and compliance is shown in some cases,” Busenlehner said regarding how patients go about acquiring a machine. “Many CPAP users use their machines nightly and notice a huge difference if they do not use their machine for even one night.” Busenlehner said the average patient Neighborhood
CPAP sees is around 55 years of age, but sleep apnea can affect all ages. “Patients of Neighborhood CPAP are excited that there is finally a CPAP DME provider in the city of Clanton,” Busenlehner said. “As well as nearby pulmonologists, there is a huge need for CPAP therapy in Clanton
and surrounding areas and Neighborhood CPAP is ready to help patients. We have helped a lot of patients get supplies for the first time in a while, as well as setting first time users up on their machines.” For more information, call 205-258-5488 or www.neighborhoodcpap.com.
LIFE IS JUST BETTER
when it's not lived alone!
best best of the
A C AVA L I E R S E N I O R L I V I N G C O M M U N I T Y
Chilton County
PEACH Living
brought to you by:
12 Wellness
TIPS for preventing cancer
C
ancer. It is one of the last words that anyone wants to hear come out of a doctor’s mouth.
BY JOYANNA LOVE Medical advances have led to successful treatment of many types of cancer, and it has found there are some things people can do
to decrease one’s chances of developing it. The American Cancer Society provides a number of resources to those who want
Wellness 13
Making healthy food choices can help prevent cancers linked to obesity.
to know more about cancer in addition to its resources for cancer patients. The main recommendations are to stay healthy by making good food choices, leading an active lifestyle and avoiding tobacco products and alcohol. “Being overweight or obese increases the risk of several cancers, including those of the breast in women past menopause, colon and rectum, endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus, esophagus, pancreas, liver, and kidney, as well as several others,” according to the ACS.
14 Wellness
“Being overweight or obese increases the risk of several cancers, including those of the breast in women past menopause, colon and rectum, endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus, esophagus, pancreas, liver, and kidney, as well as several others.” - American Cancer Society
Wellness 15
“Some forms of screening do, in fact, prevent cancer. An example would be colonoscopy. Colonoscopies are not just used to detect cancer. If found during a colonoscopy, polyps are removed thus potentially preventing a later cancer diagnosis.” - Mallory Hill
16 Wellness
A healthy weight can be different for each person. Rather than just going by weight, a person’s body mass index is often used to determine if someone is in a healthy weight range. BMI is determined by multiplying one’s weight by 703 and dividing it by one’s height in inches multiplied by one’s height in inches. A simple online calculator for this is available on the American Cancer Society website, cancer.org. Cancers screenings are known to be a key to early detection, which is crucial to surviving a cancer diagnosis. There are many screenings recommended for people of different ages. Screening recommendations from the American Cancer Society are available here: https://www.cancer.org/ healthy/find-cancer-early.html. Talk to your doctor about which screenings they recommend for you personally and how often.
Some screenings also help prevent cancer. “Some forms of screening do, in fact, prevent cancer,” Mallory Hill of ACS said. “An example would be colonoscopy. Colonoscopies are not just used to detect cancer. If found during a colonoscopy, polyps are removed thus potentially preventing a later cancer diagnosis.” Another prevention option for some types of cancer is the human papillomavaris vaccine. According to ACS, “HPV causes most cases of cervical cancer, as well as many vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers (cancers of the throat and mouth)” The HPV vaccine “Gardasil 9 helps prevent infection by 4 types of HPV (16, 18, 6 and 11), plus 5 other high risk types: 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. Together these types cause about 90% of cervical cancers.”
The vaccine is recommended for those between the ages of 9 and 12 in order to be most effective. However, the vaccine can be given until age 26. “The ACS does not recommend HPV vaccination for persons older than age 26 years,” according to the ACS website.
Some cancers also have a hereditary component, so knowing if there is a history of cancer in one’s family can be helpful. It may also mean doctors will recommend certain screenings more often. For more information about cancer prevention, visit cancer.org/healthy.html.
“A healthy weight can be different for each person. Rather than just going by weight, a person’s body mass index is often used to determine if someone is in a healthy weight range. BMI is determined by multiplying one’s weight by 703 and dividing it by one’s height in inches multiplied by one’s height in inches.”
Wellness 17
Stretch to 20 Wellness
Studio owner Stephanie Genard and instructor Amanda Ellis.
o the max Wellness 21
Aerial yoga provides many health benefits STORY BY JOYANNA LOVE | PHOTOS BY KEITH MCCOY
B
rightly colored fabric hangs from the ceiling anchored securely to a metal beam. The strong yet flexible material forms a U-shape as class participants arrive and select their hammock. It’s not the typical gym setup, but the aerial yoga workout that uses this equipment has just as many benefits.
22 Wellness
“Aerial yoga is a lowimpact workout where it combines some of the yoga basics with some more of the aerial circus arts movement,” Amanda Ellis, instructor at Signature Studio of Dance, said. The typical 45-minute workouts deal with flexibility, strength building, working one’s core and stretching a variety of muscle groups. Ellis announces
Cori Woods does one of instructor Amanda Ellis’s hip stretches.
Amanda Ellis leads the aerial yoga class at Signature Studio of Dance.
PROVIDERS:
C. Keith Funderburk, M.D. Kristopher R. Wood, M.D. Natalie J. Ellison, CRNP Isabella C. Hudson, CRNP
The providers of Chilton Medical Associates serve their local families with care, attention, and respect. Our goals as providers are to be friendly and approachable partners in your care who are genuinely interested in you and your health. We understand the importance that communication and education play in the provider-patient relationship. We encourage you to be an active participant in your healthcare, and do our best to provide care in every sense of the word. WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS.
S P E C I A LT I E S :
• Comprehensive Periodic Exams • Ordering and Interpreting Diagnostic Studies, Lab Tests and X-Rays • Treating Common Illnesses, Chronic Diseases and Minor Injuries • Prescribing Medication and Treatments • Consulting • Education • Counseling • Diagnoses • 24/7 Provider Coverage LOCATION & HOURS
Chilton Medical Associates • 108 Medical Center Drive • Clanton, Alabama 35045 Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.
For information concerning our practice, contact Barry Rowe, Administrator at (205) 755-5700.
Wellness 23
of the
best best Chilton County
brought to you by:
24 Wellness
PEACH Living
The class does an exercise that resembles a push up.
The exercises in aerial yoga work several muscle groups.
Sara Blackmon has always been interested in aerial yoga. each exercise and tells students how to do each move throughout the class. Ellis said while they do some aerial yoga moves, the classes focuses more on fitness then learning specific yoga poses. The classes at Signature Studio of Dance are designed for adults. “You don’t have to have any experience at all,” Ellis said. “I have people who have never done any kind of workout come to the class before, and I have those that work out all the time.” Ellis took her first aerial yoga class in Montgomery. Through these classes, she developed an interest in aerial arts in general and becoming an instructor. Aerial yoga has been a good workout and helped Ellis with some ongoing health issues. “It has helped with flexibility, and I suffer from
migraines so it has been really good (to stretch),” Ellis said. “It has been really good for my back.” The stretches in the class can also help with back compression and muscle tension. Just like traditional yoga and other low-impact workouts, each aerial yoga exercise can be modified to fit one’s comfort level. “I always give a ground option or if you want a little more,” Ellis said. The workout gets a couple of feet off the ground, but not too high. However, some of the workouts do involve hanging upside down. “It is good to know if anyone has any pre-existing health conditions, mainly if they are prone to getting dizzy or nauseous,” Ellis said. “You can still do it, we can just modify some things.”
Wellness 25
Amanda Ellis became interested in the aerial arts and now teaches aerial yoga.
Cori Woods has fun during the aerial yoga class.
26 Wellness
She also has ginger and peppermint on hand to help with any dizziness. “For a beginner, we start with our basic inversions, just to get used to being upside down,” Ellis said. “We do quite a few things upside-down. Then, we will start on … (getting) some of that core strength and stretching.” A typical workout starts with a warm up, then stretches for arms and legs before going to exercises for core muscles. Exercises are combined into “flows,” similar to how moves are put together in traditional yoga. Exercise can increase in difficulty for advanced students, including aerial sit-ups. “I’ve always been interested in aerial yoga,” student Sara Blackmon said. “It’s something that fascinated me.” She said “getting the hang of it” can be challenging at first. Blackmon enjoyed the slower pace of the class, so that she could learn quickly. “I wanted to build my core strength and my upper body strength and to be healthier for my kids,” Blackmon said. “I love everything about it.”
A time of rest ends each aerial yoga work out.
Wellness 27
Just as a traditional yoga has a rest time at the end of a session, aerial yoga has a time when participants lie in the hammocks and relax. “I enjoy the class itself and all the fun that we have with it, it really helps your spine,” student Cori Woods said. “It stretches you out completely, and it builds a lot of muscle … I enjoy hanging upside down, too. That’s always fun.” Coming into the class she wanted to increase her upper body strength to be better at her aerial silk routines (similar to aerial yoga, but uses two silks hanging side-byside rather than a hammock.) Studio owner Stephanie Genard said she wanted to add aerial yoga to what was offered at the studio to have something for adults. “It’s a great workout, low impact, its great on your joints,” Genard said. “You wouldn’t believe the workout
28 Wellness
you get from just hanging on a piece of silk.” Safety is a major consideration with this type of workout. Genard said there are some products on the market that are unsafe. The studio took steps to ensure that their equipment would be safe. “All of our harnesses and rigging is engineer approved. Our building is engineer approved,” Genard said. The equipment has also been certified. Ellis said during the exercises the pull on the hammock is greater than one’s body weight, more than 10 times one’s weight. “Most everything in here is going to have a load limit of 3,000-5,000 pounds,” Ellis said. Aerial Yoga classes at Signature meet on Saturdays and Monday nights each week, with private event options available.
Vaccine 101 What you should know about the COVID-19 vaccine
W
BY ELISABETH ALTAMIRANO-SMITH
hile COVID19 continues to loom around the world, one of the most resourceful weapons against the virus recently created is the COVID-19 vaccine. Many Americans are eager to receive the vaccine. In Alabama, the vaccine is currently available to those 65 and older and emergency services personnel, including police officers and firefighters. COVID-19 can be a minor illness in some people, but it has lead to severe disease or even death in others. Many treatments and medications are being studied. There is not currently a cure, so prevention is key. However, many people feel anxious about the newness of the vaccine and are fearful of unwanted side effects they may experience from taking it. While is common for people to dislike change or experiencing something new, the speed of the COVID vaccine development was not created under compromised safety. According to the Alabama Department of Health, the vaccine process happened faster because research and development were given unprecedented levels of government spending. COVID vaccine technology (mRNA)
has been in development for over a decade and when the pandemic hit scientists were able to build on this research to develop the vaccine. Pfizer and Moderna both have vaccines that are available within the United States. Ascension’s St. Vincent’s Infectious Disease Control Specialist, Dr. Leland Allen said the two vaccines have not been studied against each other to truly determine if one is more effective, but the trials demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of each vaccine had similar results. “The two vaccines use a novel technology (mRNA) that has not been used in vaccines before, though researchers have been developing the product for years,” Allen said. “mRNA is genetic material that your body’s cells use as a template to make proteins … The two trials have closely monitored patients for adverse events. with over 30,000 patients in the trials and several million doses of vaccine given already, there have been no serious safety concerns.” The technology used in the vaccines is not able to alter, interrupt or impact ones genetic makeup (DNA). Rather, it instructs the body on how to fight the virus. The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine
Wellness 29
30 Wellness
never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where DNA is kept. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, the Pfizer vaccine includes two shots, 21 days apart, while the Moderna vaccine includes two shots, 28 days apart. The rate of effectivity of Pfizer’s vaccine after a single dose was 52.4%; Moderna’s was 80.2%. However, both doses of the shot are recommended since there has not been a clinical trial assessing the vaccines as single dose regimes. None of the COVID-19 vaccines that are currently being distributed contain the live COVID-19 virus. However, it typically takes 1-2 weeks for the body to build immunity against COVID-19 after you get the second vaccine dose, so it is still possible to become infected or sick until a full 1-2 weeks after your second vaccine dose. Allen recommends that everyone receive the vaccine when eligible, especially patients at higher risk for severe COVID-19, older patients, patients with underlying heart and lung disease, overweight individuals and diabetics. “There are no absolute contraindications to taking the vaccine,” said Allen. “The most serious reaction that could happen when taking a vaccine is anaphylaxis, a serious reaction where patients have trouble breathing and their blood pressures fall. So far, there have been fewer than 25 reports of anaphylaxis with no deaths. Any patient who has had an anaphylactic reaction to anything in the past should be closely monitored for at least 30 minutes after their injection.” The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved a vaccine for children.
Wellness 31
Patients receiving the Pfizer vaccination must be at least 16 years old or at least 18 years old for Moderna. Allen recommends pregnant and nursing women to have a conversation with an OB-GYN to discuss the best decision for their family. As part of Phase 1, which dictates who can receive vaccinations first, Alabama healthcare providers, longterm care residents, firefighters, law enforcement and individuals who are 65 years and older may receive the vaccine now. Individuals with high risk medical conditions will be offered the vaccine next. The starting date for Phase 2, which offers the vaccine to ages 16-64 has not been released and is dependent on supply. Many speculate that Phase 2 will become available at the end of 2021. Shanon Hamilton, administrator at Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton, said the
32 Wellness
“The most serious reaction that could happen when taking a vaccine is anaphylaxis, a serious reaction where patients have trouble breathing and their blood pressures fall. So far, there have been fewer than 25 reports of anaphylaxis with no deaths. Any patient who has had an anaphylactic reaction to anything in the past should be closely monitored for at least 30 minutes after their injection.” - Dr. Leland Allen” hospital is currently prioritizing high risk frontline healthcare workers due to the limited vaccine they have received to date. “As vaccine distribution has been highly unpredictable, at this time, we do not have a timeline on when we will
be receiving additional vaccinations for the community,” said Hamilton. “We recommend you call the Alabama Vaccine Hotline at 1-855566-5333 (seven days a week, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.) for the guidance on where vaccinations are currently available.”
Call volumes are high due to demand. In addition to St. Vincent’s Chilton, the Chilton County Public Health Department has been listed by the state department as a location where the vaccine will be available.
COVID-19
vaccination eligibility expanded in Alabama
Gov. Kay Ivey receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (OFFICE OF GOV. KAY IVEY)
Wellness 33
MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Department of Public Health extended eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations to include people 65 or older, and additional groups of frontline workers on Feb. 8. The Vaccine Allocation Plan is available at www.alabamapublichealth. gov/covid19vaccine/assets/adph-covid19-vaccination-allocation-plan.pdf. Frontline critical workers listed in the plan are as follows: First responders Corrections officers Food and agriculture workers U.S. Postal Service workers Manufacturing workers Grocery store workers Public transit workers People who work in the education sector (teachers, support staff, community college and higher education) Childcare workers Judiciary (including but not limited to) circuit judges, district judges and district attorneys The additional priority groups will add over 1 million people that are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in Alabama. While just under 2 million people will qualify to receive the vaccine, the state continues to only receive around 100,000 doses each week. As of today, 148,549 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 175,326 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been given out to first responders, residents and staff of Alabama’s nursing homes and individuals 75 and older. A total of 772,275 vaccines have been delivered to Alabama, meaning that 42 percent of what has already been delivered to the state have been administered. “We have all been frustrated that the supply of vaccine coming from the federal government hasn’t kept up with the demand,” Governor Ivey said. “To be blunt, we simply haven’t gotten the vaccine that we’ve been promised, and this has created a major backlog of aggravation. Today’s announcement will ensure that as more vaccine is released, we will have a plan in place to get the vaccine in people’s arms more quickly.” Covered in this expanded group are people at high risk for work-related exposure and persons in identified age groups at risk for COVID-19 associ-
34 Wellness
and they are waiting on their appointment or they are waiting on their second dose. Any vaccine currently in the state has someone’s name on it.” As a courtesy to others, healthier people age 65 and older and workers who fall in these groups are encouraged to consider delaying their vaccination so that more vulnerable people can access the vaccine Childcare workers are among the essential workers eli- ahead of them. gible to receive the vaccine during phase 1. (FILE) To schedule an appointment for the free ated morbidity and mortality. These COVID-19 vaccination at a county health include people working or living in department, individuals may call the congregate settings including but not ADPH COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling limited to homeless shelters and group Hotline at 1-855-566-5333. For genhomes. eral information about COVID-19, the “Alabama is expanding its guidance COVID-19 Information Hotline number is despite the limited vaccine in order 1-800-270-7268. The vaccine providers to accelerate the vaccine uptake in can be found within the Alabama COVIDour state,” Dr. Scott Harris said. “I 19 Vaccine Distribution Dashboard at want to reiterate that any remaining arcg.is/OrCey. vaccines that have not been adminisAn online scheduling option is availtered are either someone’s first dose able at alcovidvaccine.gov.
“Alabama is expanding its guidance despite the limited vaccine in order to accelerate the vaccine uptake in our state. I want to reiterate that any remaining vaccines that have not been administered are either someone’s first dose and they are waiting on their appointment or they are waiting on their second dose. Any vaccine currently in the state has someone’s name on it.” - Dr. Scott Harris
Find the care you need close to home To find specialty care that is right for you, call 205-289-5581
Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton From the routine to the unexpected, you can count on compassionate, personalized care from Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton care teams. This includes giving you access to a variety of specialties right in your own neighborhood. We are maintaining strict precautions to help keep you and your family safe in our care.
• Cardiology • Gastroenterology • General Surgery • Emergency Care • Ear, Nose and Throat • Nephrology • Ophthalmology • Orthopedics • Podiatry • Pulmonology • Sleep Medicine
Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton 2030 Lay Dam Road Clanton, AL 35045 stvhs.com/chilton © Ascension 2021. All rights reserved.
Specialties:
• Vein Treatments