MAY 2021
CHAMBER CENTRAL A PUBLICATION OF THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
By Noele Creamer, Contributing Writer A lot has happened in the last few weeks with access to vaccines opening to the general population. Nearly everyone over the age of 16 is now eligible to participate. Places are reporting plenty of supplies to offer vaccines to anyone who wants one. As infection rates lower with increased vaccine availability and warmer weather, no one could be blamed for looking to “catch up” on all the things we’ve missed out on for over a year.
Vaccination Availability and Incentives For those who still need to schedule their vaccine dates, rather than providing a list of all the places you can get the vaccines that will already be outdated by the time you read this, we recommend checking the Westmoreland County government website (www.co. westmoreland.pa.us/2934/Vaccine-Info), including the vaccine provider list, or the website for your local pharmacy, or look for information on excelahealth.com or upmc.com for the latest information on availability, dates and guidelines for each version of the vaccine. Because many vaccination sites are operated by volunteers that are not available during evening hours, many employers have offered paid time off for vaccinations and even the following day for potential side effects. Many Chamber members have encouraged their employees to participate in the vaccination program with these arrangements or flexible work schedules.
What’s Next? Although it may be a bit early to call this the next Roaring Twenties, many already are. You can see that anxiousness to get back to gathering with friends and family and declaring “Mission Accomplished” against the first pandemic of our lifetimes. As consumer confidence returns, experts sug-
gest that “revenge shopping” will quickly follow. Those hardest hit – think restaurants and other in-person or entertainment experiences – will see a big burst in business. That’s great news for local businesses in these industries! And while forecasts for business travel continue to lag, especially with the prevalence of Zoom and Team Meet Ups, leisure travel looks to see huge gains. Would-be vacationers may find they’re already out of luck trying to find a beach house in their usual vacation spot.
Summer Vacation Plans Anyone hitting the open road should still expect traveling to look different than prepandemic times, possibly permanently. There will continue to be more hoops involved with traveling – from temperature checks and
testing to enhanced sterilization and mask requirements. Luxury travel advisor Justina Latimer at Distinct Travel expects that with the prevalence of vaccines and more readily available testing, new travel options will become available in phases. “In the upcoming months, which is a popular travel time for Americans, people are discovering opportunities within our own beautiful and diverse United States,” Justina said. “There really is something for everyone.” Lisa Lauer, owner of Vida Adventures Travel, agrees. See Vacations ● Page 2