News

The pandemic situation is always changing, from changes in vaccine eligibility to variants and masking recommendations.

YORK, Pa. — The York community had an opportunity to get their COVID-19 questions answered Dec. 20 at a Q&A run by Family First Health.

The event focused on the latest information from the medical community regarding recent pandemic-related trends, including changes in vaccine eligibility and masking recommendations.https://5bb5b4b51093dad920c0c8c9a672ff0c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

The COVID situation in Pennsylvania is currently heading in the wrong direction; cases were up nearly 80 percent from late October to late December, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The rise, however, is likely not due to the Omicron variant of the virus, which has been widely discussed in the media in recent weeks as it spreads through the U.S.

“Everyone wants to prepare and that’s why constantly hear about it. But as of today when I last checked, 96 percent of COVID cases in Pennsylvania are still due to the Delta variant,” said Dr. Hetal Patel, family medicine physician with Family First Health.

Because both the Delta and Omicron variants appear to be more contagious, Patel said families still need to stay vigilant over the holidays, even is everyone is vaccinated.

“If somebody’s been exposed them, as much as you love them, they do not come to the event,” she said.

It’s not all bad news. From understanding how coronavirus spreads to having accurate testing, the medical community has many more tools to combat the virus than when it began spreading widely in early 2020.

“That is a wonderful infrastructure that we didn’t have 21 months ago,” Patel said. “From inventing our test to making sure that they’re accurate to making sure they’re available in a timely manner, that’s progress.”

Public health officials continue to urge everyone eligible—now anyone age 5 or older—to get the vaccine and the booster if applicable. The vaccine remains the most effective way to prevent severe COVID-19.

Read the full article

Dr. Asceline Go, Family First Health vice president of medical services, speaks with Twanette Walker of York City prior to Walker’s vaccination at a vaccination clinic at LifePath Christian Ministries Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. LifePath partnered with community organizations to offer the clinic, providing free COVID-19 shots, boosters and flu shots at its York City men’s shelter. Vaccines for age-eligible children were also available. Bill Kalina photo

Find the full article here

YORK, Pa. (WHTM) — On the eve of World AIDS Day, one local organization is giving out information, supplies, and tests.

Family First Health in York will be doing free rapid HIV testing all day Wednesday. ON Tuesday, they handed out condoms and information about safe sex at Central Market in York. Patients and organizers agree that although AIDS has slipped from the headlines, it remains a major threat.

“We need to make people aware that HIV and AIDS are out there and people need to get tested to know their status,” Julio Rivera said.

Find the full article here

By: Jenny Englerth, President & CEO of Family First Health

As Hispanic Heritage Month concludes, now is a time for celebrating and embracing the racial and ethnic diversity that makes up our community and makes it strong.  It also creates a time for reflection.

Family First Health’s foundation is rooted in social justice and equity.  For the past 50+ years, we have continued work to advance our mission of improving lives by understanding, advocating for and valuing the various perspectives and experiences of our patients, our workforce and the diverse communities where we exist and serve.

Read the full article here

Because our organization’s work has focused on improving equity in health outcomes, we are disappointed in the Central York School District’s previous decision to ban a list of more than 300 resources, which reflect the diverse people, cultures and perspectives that make up our community.  Such a decision is shortsighted in limiting the learning of our students and fostering understanding; and, decisions like these are bad for our health.

Research indicates that individual and structural racism denies opportunity to people of color and robs them of their physical and mental health.  The life expectancy of people of color is often a decade, or more, shorter than their white neighbors.  People of color face higher risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and mental illness.  These health inequities, and often the diseases themselves, stem in part from the stress of being silenced, ignored, oppressed and targeted for violence.  We see this impact on our patients every day.

The Central York School District Board has reversed its previous decision and we applaud and stand with the students, families, staff and community members who bravely protested the ban.  The collective action required to prompt the reversal of this decision will create many positive ripple effects. However, we know that our community will require ongoing action to address ongoing, systemic racism to begin to mitigate the impact of racism on the health of our community.

Family First Health strives for our work to be relevant, compassionate and responsive to all by closing the gap and raising the bar in addressing inequities in health.  Through this, we all have the opportunity to achieve enhanced understanding to work together to build up our communities by changing systems, addressing challenges and seeking unity.

To demonstrate Family First Health’s ongoing support of diverse learning, we are installing a “Little Free Library,” supported by the United Way of York County, outside of our School-Based Health Center at Hannah Penn K-8 School.  The library will include books by diverse authors and about diverse cultures.   Through this effort, we will encourage and promote some of our youngest learners to remain curious about themselves, others and the world around them and pave the way for a healthier next generation.

Jenny Englerth is CEO of Family First Health.

“It’s supply and demand, so a lot of manufactures of these rapid test kits are experiencing a high need and they’re just not able to produce them at the rate they’re needed right now,” says Erin Schmidt of Family First Health.

Schmidt recommends patients find other alternatives such as the PCR test.

“You can get a PCR Test from your doctors office, yes it takes a couple of days so just planning ahead,” she said.

Family First Health is offering free rapid testing across Central Pennsylvania and no appointment is necessary.

Find the full article here

By Katia Parks; York Daily Record

The governor of Pennsylvania stopped by the bodega at Pine and Princess to encourage people to use the vaccination clinic planned there this week.

Read the full article here

Governor Tom Wolf today visited Rivas Deli Grocery II in York, an upcoming COVID-19 vaccine site, to encourage eligible Pennsylvanians who are not yet vaccinated to take advantage of their local community vaccine clinics.

“For people with irregular or unpredictable work hours, limited mobility, language barriers, and other challenges, hosting vaccine clinics where and when people shop for groceries is an excellent opportunity for vulnerable populations to get vaccinated,” said Gov. Wolf. “This upcoming clinic is a great example of how trusted community leaders and organizations can make a difference when they get involved in the vaccination effort.”

On Thursday, September 23, COVID-19 vaccinations will be offered by Family First Health from 12pm – 4pm at Rivas Deli Grocery II, 174 S. Pine St. York, PA 17403.

By Alex Fregger/Nick Vitto, Fox 43

Fox 43 talks with our COVID-19 Community Program Manager, Erin Schmidt, about the COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinic in partnership with Martin Library and our goal of bringing COVID-19 vaccines into our communities.

Find the full story here.

NBT highlights the recent partnership between Bailey Family of Companies and Family First Health for their mobile COVID-19 testing and vaccination vehicle.

“The companies partnered together to retrofit and design an easily transportable trailer for mobile Covid-19 testing and vaccinations. The two companies joined together to reach out to the community at large and help make Covid-19 testing and vaccinations more readily accessible in marginalized areas in York and Adams counties.”

See the full article here!