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HEALTH MINDED . . .

THE CENTER FOR SUCCESSFUL AGING ENJOYS A FALL GATHERING

By Bonnie Carroll

 

Allison Marcillac, President CSA and Gary Linker, Ph.D CSA Welcome Guests

Allison Marcillac, President of the Center for Successful Aging, opened her home and welcomed staff and volunteers for a fall gathering to enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while learning more about CSA, enjoying personal introductions made, and special thanks made to the organization members and supporters.


Members enjoy the CSA afternoon

Gary Linker Ph.D., CSA Clinical Director, and President Marcillac gave updates on recent activities, new members and plans for the coming year. Past members and volunteers shared their personal stories on positive experiences working with CSA, and leaders for special groups reported on latest developments.

Members Share the Joy of CSA Participation

The pride experienced providing hot meals from Santa Barbara to Goleta, three times a week, could be heard in Gary Linker’s voice as he spoke of the special relationships formed between the CSA drivers and the senior recipients, who are low income and isolated seniors. These frequent deliveries offer a special opportunity for senior socialization and CSA members expressed how honored they felt to provide hot meals to these seniors in need.

Hot Meals Partner Pascucci Restaurant, Owner Laura Knight

Many thanks and references were given to Pascucci’s Restaurant in Santa Barbara, a faithful partner with CSA who have been providing meals for the Hot Meal program for low-income seniors, especially during the pandemic. Pascucci’s sources food only from local businesses with meat delivered from Shalhoob Meat Company, dry goods supplied by Jordano’s, Inc., and fresh produce delivered from Produce Available.


Meeting and Munching at Fall Gathering

It was a casual and comfortable California afternoon that was enjoyed by all, and a reminder of the fine opportunities available through CSA and their staff and dedicated members. For additional organization information please visit www.csasb.org.

About: The Center for Successful Aging is a 501c (3) non-profit organization that provides education, emotional support, and personal services to seniors and their families. Its mission is to promote the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs of seniors so they can age in place. For more information visit csasb.org, email info@csasb.org, phone (805) 898-8080. CSA is Center is located at 228 E. Anapamu Street, Ste. 208. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 898-8080.

 

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COVID-19 NEWS

Pfizer Asks US Regulators to Expand Booster Shot of COVID-19 Vaccine to All Adult Americans

U.S.-based drugmaker Pfizer is seeking to make a booster shot of its COVID-19 vaccine available to all adult Americans 18 years of age and older.

Pfizer filed the request Tuesday with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, citing a new clinical trial involving 10,000 volunteers who received a third injection of the two-dose vaccine, which it developed in collaboration with German-based BioNTech. According to Pfizer, the preliminary results show the third shot boosted a person’s protection against the virus to about 95%.

The request comes just weeks after the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized a third shot of the Pfizer vaccine for Americans 65 and older, adults at a high risk of severe illness, plus front-line workers such as teachers, health care workers and others whose jobs place them at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. The Pfizer booster shot is available for people regardless of whether they initially received the two-shot Moderna vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which offers less protection than either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

Astra-Zeneca’s separate unit

British-Swedish drugmaker Astra-Zeneca announced Tuesday that it is creating a separate unit entirely devoted to developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. The company’s two-shot vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, had a troubled rollout due to manufacturing delays and confirmation of a link between the vaccine and rare, possibly fatal blood clots, prompting some governments to limit its use among certain age groups.

But the AstraZeneca vaccine is cheaper and easier to use because it does not need to be stored at ultra-cold temperatures than either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. The vaccine makes up the bulk of the vaccine supply of COVAX, the international vaccine sharing mechanism for the world’s poorest nations supported by the United Nations and the health organizations Gavi and CEPI.

Meanwhile, the current surge of new COVID-19 infections in Germany prompted Dr. Christian Drosten, the head of virology at Berlin’s Charite Hospital, to issue a warning Wednesday that 100,000 people could die if the vaccination rate does not pick up quickly, and that Germany faces “a very tough winter with new shutdown measures.”

Drosten’s warning coincided with an announcement by the country’s Robert Koch Institute of 39,676 new COVID-19 infections across Germany, a new one-day record. Charite Hospital announced Tuesday that it is postponing all non-critical operations due to the growing rate of new COVID-19 patients.

In a related matter, the country’s vaccine advisory committee Wednesday recommended that people 30 years of age and under be vaccinated only with the Pfizer vaccine. The committee cited a higher risk of younger people developing a rare side effect of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, from the Moderna vaccine than the Pfizer version.

NFL vaccination

In the U.S. sports world, quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers franchise acknowledged “misleading” the public about his vaccination status shortly before the start of the current season.

Rodgers has been under intense criticism since last week’s revelation that he had tested positive for COVID-19, contradicting his earlier claims back in August that he had been “immunized.” Rodgers told radio sports host Pat McAfee after his diagnosis that he had not taken any of the approved vaccines because of concerns about adverse side effects, and instead relied on homeopathic treatments as an alternative.

In a follow-up interview with McAfee Tuesday, Rodgers said he took “full responsibility” for his comments back in August, but also said that he continued to stand by his concerns about the vaccines. He also said he expects to be cleared to rejoin the Packers in time for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

The NFL has fined Rodgers and teammate Allen Lazard $14,650 each for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols for unvaccinated players when they attended a Halloween party despite their status. The Packers were also fined $300,000 for failing to discipline the players and for not reporting the violations to NFL officials.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters.

U.S.-based drugmaker Pfizer is seeking to make a booster shot of its COVID-19 vaccine available to all adult Americans 18 years of age and older.

Pfizer filed the request Tuesday with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, citing a new clinical trial involving 10,000 volunteers who received a third injection of the two-dose vaccine, which it developed in collaboration with German-based BioNTech. According to Pfizer, the preliminary results show the third shot boosted a person’s protection against the virus to about 95%.

The request comes just weeks after the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized a third shot of the Pfizer vaccine for Americans 65 and older, adults at a high risk of severe illness, plus front-line workers such as teachers, health care workers and others whose jobs place them at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. The Pfizer booster shot is available for people regardless of whether they initially received the two-shot Moderna vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which offers less protection than either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

Astra-Zeneca’s separate unit

British-Swedish drugmaker Astra-Zeneca announced Tuesday that it is creating a separate unit entirely devoted to developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. The company’s two-shot vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, had a troubled rollout due to manufacturing delays and confirmation of a link between the vaccine and rare, possibly fatal blood clots, prompting some governments to limit its use among certain age groups.

But the AstraZeneca vaccine is cheaper and easier to use because it does not need to be stored at ultra-cold temperatures than either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. The vaccine makes up the bulk of the vaccine supply of COVAX, the international vaccine sharing mechanism for the world’s poorest nations supported by the United Nations and the health organizations Gavi and CEPI.

Meanwhile, the current surge of new COVID-19 infections in Germany prompted Dr. Christian Drosten, the head of virology at Berlin’s Charite Hospital, to issue a warning Wednesday that 100,000 people could die if the vaccination rate does not pick up quickly, and that Germany faces “a very tough winter with new shutdown measures.”

Drosten’s warning coincided with an announcement by the country’s Robert Koch Institute of 39,676 new COVID-19 infections across Germany, a new one-day record. Charite Hospital announced Tuesday that it is postponing all non-critical operations due to the growing rate of new COVID-19 patients.

In a related matter, the country’s vaccine advisory committee Wednesday recommended that people 30 years of age and under be vaccinated only with the Pfizer vaccine. The committee cited a higher risk of younger people developing a rare side effect of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, from the Moderna vaccine than the Pfizer version.

NFL vaccination

In the U.S. sports world, quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers franchise acknowledged “misleading” the public about his vaccination status shortly before the start of the current season.

Rodgers has been under intense criticism since last week’s revelation that he had tested positive for COVID-19, contradicting his earlier claims back in August that he had been “immunized.” Rodgers told radio sports host Pat McAfee after his diagnosis that he had not taken any of the approved vaccines because of concerns about adverse side effects, and instead relied on homeopathic treatments as an alternative.

In a follow-up interview with McAfee Tuesday, Rodgers said he took “full responsibility” for his comments back in August, but also said that he continued to stand by his concerns about the vaccines. He also said he expects to be cleared to rejoin the Packers in time for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

The NFL has fined Rodgers and teammate Allen Lazard $14,650 each for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols for unvaccinated players when they attended a Halloween party despite their status. The Packers were also fined $300,000 for failing to discipline the players and for not reporting the violations to NFL officials.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters.

__________________________________________________________________

GERMAN NAT'L TOURISM BOARD HONORED IN LONDON

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) honored for health focused campaign in London.

At the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, the GNTB's sustainability campaign "Feel Good" received the silver award at the WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards 2021. The award is a key element of the WTM Responsible Tourism program. The award program recognizes the best work for responsible tourism in all regions worldwide. The winners of the various regional awards will be nominated to compete for the Global Awards.

At the "Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism' Awards 2021" of the European Cultural Travel Network (ETCN), "Feel Good" won 2nd prize in the category "Walking Tourism and Slow Travel - Synergies with Cultural Tourism". Also selected among the five finalists was the nature and activity campaign "Wanderlust Germany," which won the award at the national level. The awards were announced during the ETCN annual meeting in Athens.

Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the GNTB's Executive Board: "Sustainability has been a key strategic field of action for us for more than ten years - in the positioning of Germany as a travel destination in international competition, in our global marketing activities, and in our day-to-day activities within the company. In this way, we are meeting the wishes of our potential guests: According to Booking.com's Sustainable Travel Report 2021, 61 percent of international travelers say that the pandemic will motivate them to travel more sustainably in the future. In the Anholt Ipsos Nation Brands Index (NBI), protecting the environment and natural resources tops the list of most pressing global issues. And in the SDG Index which documents the progress made by individual countries in achieving the SDGs, Germany 2020 ranks 5th among 166 countries surveyed. The recognition of our commitment with these awards makes us proud and confirms our course to further advance the development of sustainable and responsible tourism."

The GNTB's Sustainability Campaign

The 'Feel Good' communication campaign has been drawing the attention of potential guests to exemplary sustainable offerings in Destination Germany since 2020. The campaign to further raise consumer awareness of sustainable travel was played out via the GNTB's Facebook and Instagram channels in Germany's neighboring countries and reached almost nine million potential travelers to Germany and 57 million impressions on the GNTB channels. Due to high demand, the campaign was continued in 2021 and extended to other markets.

About the GNTB

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is Germany’s national tourism organisation. It works on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) to represent Germany as a tourist destination and is funded by the Ministry in accordance with a decision taken by the German Bundestag. Working closely with the German travel industry and private-sector partners and trade associations, the GNTB develops strategies and marketing campaigns to promote Germany’s positive image abroad as a tourist destination and to encourage tourists to visit the country.

The GNTB has a three-pronged recovery strategy for overcoming the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Raising awareness of the Destination Germany brand and enhancing the brand profile
- Supporting the travel industry, which is dominated by small and medium-sized businesses, through relationship management and the sharing of knowledge
- Developing evidence-based action plans on the basis of targeted market research and ongoing analysis of the impact of coronavirus.

During lockdown, GNTB used countercyclical marketing to maintain dialogue with customers, reflect changing preferences in its communications, and show empathy and provide inspiration.

Focus on digitalisation and sustainability
The GNTB promotes forward-looking and sustainable tourism in line with the objectives of the German government. The focus here is on digitalisation and sustainability. The GNTB is a pioneer when it comes to using immersive technologies (virtual, augmented and mixed reality), voice assistants and other conversational interfaces, and artificial intelligence applications such as chatbots. To ensure that tourism offerings are visible on AI-based marketing platforms, the GNTB coordinates the German tourism industry’s open-data project, which aims to develop a tourism knowledge graph.

Sustainability has been a core overarching topic for more than a decade and we engage with it as a strategic issue across all areas of the organisation. Our organisation follows a three-pillar strategy that combines the sharing of knowledge with external partners and a supporting communications strategy with our internal sustainability initiative. The GNTB promotes responsible tourism, a key growth area, by showcasing Germany as a sustainable and inclusive destination in the international travel market. This is particularly important as the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the global shift in travellers’ values towards greater social and environmental responsibility.

The GNTB has 27 foreign agencies that cover more than 40 markets around the world. Its head office in Frankfurt, Germany, is home to strategic departments such as Business Intelligence, Business Development and Brand Communications for Destination Germany. More information can be found in our online press centre at www.germany.travel.

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© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved