Health briefs

By: 
Press Staff Writer

United Way 2-1-1 assisting health depts. with vaccine signups
        United Way 2-1-1, serving Lucas, Ottawa and Wood counties, is currently assisting community members who have limited English proficiency, have a disability, have no access to technology, are having trouble locating health resources, or are experiencing technical issues completing their COVID-19 vaccine pre-registrations or vaccine appointments on their respective county health department’s webpage.
        Those who are able are encouraged to check their county’s health department webpage for up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine and general COVID-19 information.
        United Way 2-1-1 assistance for vaccines is available as follows: 
        • Lucas County – 2-1-1 is currently assisting residents with pre-registering for COVID-19 vaccines, as well as registering eligible individuals for vaccine appointments. Visit www.LucasCountyHealth.com for current vaccine information and online vaccine scheduling.
        • Ottawa County – 2-1-1 is assisting Ottawa County residents with pre-registering for COVID-19 vaccines. Individuals must pre-register beforehand to receive an appointment callback. Visit www.OttawaHealth.org for current vaccine information and to pre-register.
        • Wood County – 2-1-1 is currently assisting residents with scheduling their COVID-19 vaccine appointments and will continue to do so exclusively phase by phase. Visit www.WoodCountyHealth.org for current vaccine information and online vaccine scheduling. 
        2-1-1 assistance for vaccine pre-registrations and appointment registrations is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
        For all other health and human service needs, United Way 2-1-1 is available 24/7 by calling two, one, one or texting your ZIP code to 898-211. Those who have trouble connecting to 2-1-1 may also call 1-800-650-HELP.
 
Walgreens offering COVID-19 vaccines
        Following Ohio guidance regarding the availability of additional vaccine supply, select Walgreens pharmacies in the state are offering Covid-19 vaccines to patients who are eligible as part of Phase 1B of the national vaccine rollout plan.
        While COVID-19 vaccines are not yet available to everyone, eligible Ohio residents will be able to schedule their appointments online at the COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduler or by calling their local Walgreens. Appointments will be required in order to receive a vaccine, and walk-ins are not accepted.
        In accordance with Ohio guidance, those eligible must live in the state.
        To make an appointment, visit www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19.
 
Be wary of COVID-19 scams
        Public health workers and law enforcement in Wood County are cautioning area residents to avoid potential fraud related to COVID-19.
        “During these times when we have a lot of outreach and information regarding COVID-19 vaccines, contact tracing, etc., there are some basic rules we want you to be aware of,” said Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn.           Wood County Health Department representatives may reach out via phone as part of COVID-19 response activities such as vaccine distribution and scheduling, testing and contact tracing. They will leave a message if they’re unable to reach someone.
        Health department representatives may call and request some personal information as part of its response activities, including a person’s birthdate, address, and contacts with other people, if they have COVID-19 or may have been in contact with someone who is positive.
        Health department representatives will not ask for any sort of payment in order to register for a COVID-19 vaccine or to be placed on a list to receive a vaccine. Some vaccine providers may request health insurance information.
        Health department representatives will not ask for bank account info, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers. If you have concerns that a call you receive is not legitimate, ask for the caller’s name and phone number, hang up, and call Wood County Health Department at 419-352-8402 to verify their identity.
        Ensure that you are accessing legitimate information online by directly visiting the websites for trusted sources, such as Wood County Health Department (www.WoodCountyHealth.org), the Ohio Department of Health (www.odh.ohio.gov) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).
 
Don’t ignore dental health
        COVID-19 has disrupted multiple aspects of life, including how people access dental care. Dental care spending in the United States declined by an estimated 38% in 2020, with an additional 20% slump expected this year, according to the American Dental Association (ADA).
        February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, a reminder that good oral health is important to good overall health. Dr. Richard Gesker, Chief Dental Officer, UnitedHealthcare offers these tips:
        • Start early: While tooth decay is largely preventable, it ranks as the most common chronic disease among children.
        • Up your home hygiene. Maintaining oral health at home is important if COVID-19 requires delaying a trip to the dentist. People should brush their teeth (and tongue) for up to two minutes, after meals and before bedtime, rinse with mouthwash and floss daily.
        • Keep up on cleanings: The ADA recommends that during COVID-19, people continue routine oral health care, including checkups and cleanings.
        • Consider alternative treatments: To help with cavity prevention for kids, parents should consider fluoride supplements and sealants – coatings placed on back teeth to help protect them from decay.
 
Virtual Alzheimer’s programs
        The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter is continuing to offer a variety of virtual educational programs to help the community and families impacted by the disease.
        All programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. To register for the program, call 800-272-3900.            
        The February schedule includes:
        Feb. 8 – Dementia Conversations, 11 a.m.
        Feb 8 – Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia. 3 p.m.
        Feb 9 – Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior, 10 a.m.
        Feb 9 – 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s, 2:30 p.m.
        Feb 10 – Effective Communication Strategies, 11:30 a.m.
        Feb 10 – 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s, 4 p.m.
        Feb 11 – Healthy Living for Brain & Body, 1 p.m.
        Feb 11 – Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers, Late Stage - Part 2, 6:30 p.m.
        Feb 16 – Dementia Conversations, 2:30 p.m.
        Feb 16 – Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 4 p.m.
        Feb 17 – Effective Communication Strategies, 3 p.m.
        Feb 18 – 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s, 3 p.m.
        Feb 18 – Legal and Financial, 6 p.m.
        Feb 19 – Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior, 1 p.m.
        Feb 22 – Healthy Living for Brain & Body, 10 a.m.
        Feb 22 – Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior, 4 p.m.
        Feb 23 – Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 5 p.m.
        Feb 24 – 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s, 11 a.m.
        Feb 24 – Effective Communication Strategies, 6:30 p.m.
        Feb 25 – Living with Alzheimer’s - Younger Onset, 3 p.m.
        In Ohio, more than 600,000 Alzheimer’s caregivers provide care for more than 220,000 loved ones impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Visit alz.org or call 800-272-3900 for more information.
 

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