Recuperation journey: Sunday sunset

 Backyard view. Have a nice evening!

Derby Public Library participates in Hindsight 2020 Postcard Project

DERBY - We are living through challenging, historic times. What would you want people of the future to know about what it was like? 

The Hindsight 2020 Postcard Project is an opportunity to share and preserve your thoughts. 

So please stop by the postcard station in the front lobby of Derby Public Library, write down your response and place it in the box. 

The Library is at 313 Elizabeth St.

The postcards will be collected, posted online, and preserved for future generations in the Yale University Library’s archival collections.

Postcards will be available at the Library until Sept. 15, and you can also share reflections through the project website at  2020newhaven.com.

This is shared from the Derby Public Library Facebook page.

Rochelle partners with Griffin Health to promote vaccination clinics

As part of an effort by community leaders to reduce COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in Ansonia, state Rep. Kara Rochelle, D-Ansonia/ Derby, has partnered with Griffin Health to create video public service announcements that dispel vaccine misinformation and promote the benefits of vaccination for individuals and the community.

The videos are part of an aggressive campaign by Griffin, the city and local organizations to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in Ansonia. 

The campaign has been a positive force in the community, featuring outbound phone calls to individuals and neighborhood canvasing, ongoing vaccination clinics with promotional assistance from local radio stations, including the Vax the Valley clinics on Mondays, and vaccination incentives such as gift cards for local business and passes to Quassy Amusement Park.

Vaccine hesitancy is an important issue in Ansonia. 

According to data from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, young Ansonia residents appear to be the majority of the vaccine hesitant with 38.6 percent of residents between the ages 12 and 17 years having initiated vaccination. 

At the state level, 57.9 percent of residents 12 to 15 years have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 

Of Ansonia residents aged 25 to 44 years, 55.68 percent have initiated vaccination compared to 66.2 percent of 25 to 34-year-olds and 74.9 percent of 35 to 44-year-olds statewide.

"The vaccine is available throughout the community, but local vaccination rates have stagnated in Ansonia. They lag rates across the region and state. We're finding that people in the district may be hesitant to get the vaccine, or have taken a wait and see approach. I encourage these residents to speak with their doctor, a medical professional, or public health official to get the best information on the vaccines. These videos feature community members who wish to encourage others in Ansonia to get vaccinated and slow the spread new COVID-19 cases. With the Delta variant being twice as infectious, it will take everyone in our community doing their part to protect those who cannot get protected. This means masking up and rolling up our sleeves to get vaccinated when we can," said Rep. Rochelle.

The outreach campaign will aim to encourage residents across the city to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Rochelle and Griffin Hospital have enlisted the help of the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Joel E. Smilow Unit Director Breon Sanders, Iglesia De Dios Nuevo Comienzos pastor Dennis Marroquin, and Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Assistant Director of Unified Sports and Student Activities Henry Rondon to help build public trust in the vaccine's safety and efficacy. 

Additional videos will be forthcoming as well.

“Griffin Health is committed to making lifesaving COVID-19 vaccination accessible to all eligible adults and adolescents," said Griffin Health President and CEO Patrick Charmel.. 

"To fulfill our commitment, Griffin operates vaccination centers in Shelton and Naugatuck and has partnered with the Connecticut Department of Public Health to offer vaccination clinics across the lower Naugatuck Valley and throughout the state of Connecticut staffed by our 35 Mobile Vaccination Teams. 

"As part of our aggressive effort to address and overcome vaccine hesitancy, we are proud to partner with inspiring community leaders like those featured in these public service announcements to communicate that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and the best way to protect everyone from the harm caused by COVID-19.” 

While new COVID-19 cases dipped in June and July, they have risen over the past several weeks, causing public health and medical experts to become more concerned about the Delta variant. 

The proportion of COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant has increased from 14.6 percent from June 3 through 9 to 100 percent from July 22 through August 4. 

The Delta variant has been found to be more contagious than other COVID-19 strains and can be transmitted from people who are vaccinated. While recent studies have found that vaccinated individuals can transmit the virus, it is important to note that vaccinated individuals are better protected against a severe COVID-19 infection.

According to state data from August 3, of the over 2.11 million Connecticut residents who are fully vaccinated, about 0.06 percent have contracted the virus. Of the .06 percent who have a breakthrough case, only 7.23 percent have been hospitalized with COVID-19. It is important to note that most COVID-19- related hospitalizations are among unvaccinated individuals.

There is also concern that more young adults are landing in the hospital with the Delta variant. On Friday, August 6, there were 67 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Yale-New Haven Hospital system. Over half were between the ages of 30 and 59. Only seven patients were over 80 years old.

"Everyone has their different opinions on why you should or should not get the vaccine. My choice to receive the vaccine was a personal decision. I decided to do this to protect my children and the hundreds of children the Boys & Girls Club serves," said Sanders.

In children, COVID-19 has been linked to multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) or pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome (PMIS). 

The condition is rare but can be life-threatening if not treated.

Public health experts are continuing to research if the Delta variant causes more severe illness than previous strains. 

Medical and public health experts say vaccination remains the most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves against severe COVID-19 illness.

Griffin Health is expected to roll out the videos, which will be posted on social media, in the coming days. Residents who would like to get vaccinated against COVID-19 have the following options:

• Vax the Valley clinic at the former Ansonia Community Action building, 4 Fourth St. (lower level) on Mondays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, 121 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia: walk-in COVID-19 vaccination Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Griffin Hospital Vaccination Centers in Shelton and Naugatuck offer walk-in COVID-19 vaccination
• 10 Progress Drive, Shelton: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-noon. .
• 727 Rubber Ave., Naugatuck: Monday - Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m.-noon.
• Naugatuck Valley Health District, 100 Bank St., Seymour, Friday, 10 a.m. to noon: walk-in vaccine clinic or individuals can schedule an appointment in VAMS.

• Residents can find additional vaccine sites at https://bit.ly/3CA1Grx. They can also call CT's Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224 from 8 a.m-8 p.m., 7 days a week.

A list of locations that Griffin Hospital's mobile vaccine clinic will be visiting is available at https://www.griffinhealth.org/Coronavirus-COVID19-Information/COVID-19-Vaccination.

Residents who need assistance or have questions may contact Rochelle at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov or by calling her office at 860-240-8585.

This is a press release from Rochelle's office.

Ansonia's own Alyssa Goggi to perform stand-up comedy at The Stress Factory

 

Sorry for the late notice but wanted to give Alyssa a shout-out! 

Click here for tickets for tonight's show.