To watch the my public service announcement about keeping Struthers healthy CLICK HERE..

DEAR EDITOR:

When we’re protected, our community is stronger.

We’ve come so far together the past two years. The COVID-19 pandemic brought hardships we never expected. But Struthers stood strong. There are many positive signs that we are recovering. We are back to work and school. We’re eating out and gathering with our friends. We’re getting healthier.

Now we can take charge of our health in other ways.

We all know about getting our annual flu shot. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is becoming just as routine. But there are other routine vaccinations we need as adults to help protect us against serious illnesses like shingles, pneumonia and whooping cough. We don’t hear as much about these vaccines, and like me, you may not even realize you need them as an adult.

In some cases, vaccines protection from immunizations we had as kids wears off over time, so we need additional doses to stay protected. This is the case with illnesses we consider “kids’ diseases” that can be more serious in adults, such as measles and whooping cough.

In other cases, like with the flu, viruses change over time ä which is why we need a flu shot every year. And some vaccinations now available to protect us from serious illness weren’t around before, like those for COVID-19 and shingles.

All of these vaccines help protect us by increasing our ability to fight disease. They’re especially important for people with medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and diabetes ä because they are at higher risk of developing severe complications. The vaccines help reduce that risk.

I don’t want us or Struthers to lose the progress we’ve made as we emerge from these last two difficult years. I’ve joined mayors nationwide in “Move with the Mayor” vaccine initiative to help our community stay strong and healthy.

Promoting routine immunizations isn’t political ä it’s about strengthening ourselves and our communities. Republicans, Democrats and independent mayors are participating.

To find out which vaccines you may need, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Some can be provided on the spot. Many are covered by health insurance and Medicare and Medicaid.

I’m up to date on my adult vaccines, and I hope you’ll join me in this effort.

Getting our adult immunizations is like a seatbelt for our immune systems: they’re routine, they help protect us and they’re always there when we need them.

When we’re protected, our community is stronger.

CATHERINE CERCONE MILLER

Mayor, Struthers