Lehigh Valley Health Network

Mass vaccinations could begin Jan. 27

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) will begin the first COVID-19 mass vaccinations at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown on Wednesday, Jan. 27. On this date, they will vaccinate those age 75 and older, and only those with an appointment. The drive-through clinic will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The vaccination is free.

Those age 75 and older are urged to use MyLVHN, the health network’s free, secure and easy-to-use patient portal, to self-schedule a vaccination appointment. Those who already have an account will receive a notification to schedule a vaccination appointment. Those who wish to enroll in MyLVHN can visit LVHN.org/vaccines and click “Sign Up” at the top of the page. Once enrolled, these people also will receive a notification to schedule an appointment. While MyLVHN is the fastest, easiest way to schedule an appointment, another option is to call 833-LVHN-CVD (833-584-6283). The ability to schedule an appointment is dependent upon the supply of available vaccine at LVHN, which is determined by the State of Pennsylvania.

Vaccination plan expands

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has announced that phase 1a of its vaccination plan has now expanded to include people age 65 and older as well as people ages 16-64 with serious medical conditions that make them more at risk for severe illness.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is pleased to see increased eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines and has the infrastructure in place to administer them. However, they stress to the community that the supply of vaccine has not expanded, and the number of doses available for distribution continues to be limited. LVHN is committed to administering the vaccine to all members of the community as quickly as possible when supply is available.

LVHN is no stranger to mass vaccination, leading the way with drive-thru flu shot clinics for more than 23 years. They have the experience and ability to vaccinate at least 5,000 people per day when they have adequate vaccine supply. While they are prepared, the State of Pennsylvania determines the size and timing of each COVID-19 vaccine shipment based upon the amount of vaccine the federal government allocates to Pennsylvania.

Currently, all of the doses LVHN has in hand are accounted for through scheduled appointments. However, people can sign up to be notified when it’s their turn to schedule an appointment. No special information or codes are necessary.

St. Luke’s Health Network

Vaccine video available

St. Luke’s University Health Network has released a video to the public called, “Everything You Need to Know About Vaccines… But Were Afraid to Ask” as part of its Emmy Award-winning Wellness 101 web series. Wellness 101 is a practical but humorous step-by-step guide to successfully complete some of life’s most important tasks and deal with some of life’s most perplexing, and in this case one of life’s most serious, situations.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccine hesitancy is one of the top 10 global health threats today. This hesitancy extends to getting the COVID vaccine, which is understandable, say public health experts, in that the Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines work differently than vaccines have in the past. This episode of Wellness 101 breaks down for the general public in four minutes, what vaccines are, how they work and how sscientists and trusted public health institutions work to keep them safe and effective.

Wellness 101 episodes are posted to St. Luke’s YouTube Channel. “Everything You Need to Know About Vaccines… But Were Afraid to Ask” can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5n0p_SirUM&;list=PLJTOeMsZZCjdxgsThrkQ7RdGx9NPxOvTj&index=1.

500th patient treated with monoclonal antibodies

St. Luke’s University Health Network infused its 500th COVID-19 outpatient with monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibody therapy at St. Luke’s has helped all Lehigh Valley hospitals avoid being overwhelmed during the current surge, allowing certain high-risk patients to recover quickly in the comfort of their own homes.

Granted emergency authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, monoclonal antibodies block the virus’ attachment and entry into human cells. Infusion has been found to be particularly effective in preventing the need for hospitalization in select, higher-risk patients including those who are 65 years of age or older and whose infection, identified early, does not yet require supplemental oxygen.

Infectious disease specialist Peter Ender, MD, who helps run the COVID-19 treatment programs at SLUHN, says, “Monoclonal antibodies are an important outpatient therapy that we know has benefit in keeping people out of the hospital.”