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The Columbia Press January 8, 2021 Senior Moments with Emma Edwards 7 Here’s to Your Health by Dr. Regina Mysliwiec Ways to ‘book’ an adventure Answers to COVID-19 vaccine questions “Jingle All the Way,” the lat- est book I’m reading, started out so slow that a few times I almost gave up on it. However, around the third chapter, the key character finds herself on the Amazon Explorer jungle tour being as- sured that she was in for an exciting two weeks in the Am- azon rain forests. I am a “read in bed person,” and last night I read till almost midnight. I especially enjoy reading books about real life experiences. The author, Debbie Mc- Comber, lives in Port Orchard, Wash., with her husband and they’d taken the trip featured in the book. McComber mentioned they went kayaking in Antarctica. And she reminded readers that we don’t have to go to the ends of the earth for adven- ture, suggesting that an educa- tional cruise up the Columbia River is within our reach. Of course, that may have to wait until we conquer that “annoy- ing pandemic.” Sharing a good book, even if it is a slow starter, calls to my mind a quote by songwrit- er Zayn Malik, “There comes a day when you realize that turning the page is the best feeling in the world. Because you realize there is so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on.” It seems that most days any- more we are reminded to keep in prayer several of our fam- ily and friends who have had life-changing medical chal- lenges. And especially now that we are seniors, we learn quickly that this “annoying pandemic” is no discerner of persons. Norman Vincent Peale is well known for his mean- ingful sayings. Here’s one of them: “There is nothing in life so difficult that it cannot be overcome. This faith (in God) can move mountains. It can change people. It can change the world. You can survive all the great storms in your life (with faith in God).” We are a close-knit group and care about one another. Getting back to reading books, many have asked if I have a Kindle or other method of reading books. I read an en- tire book on a Kindle one time and had to reread it as I kept falling asleep and then I had to figure where I was when I fell asleep. Same goes for listening to books on tape. I fall asleep. Reading with my own eyes and being somewhat of a speed reader seems to be my reading method of choice. Almost sounded like “drug of choice.” Well, reading a good book can be therapeutic for many of us. Several years ago, the Uni- versity of Minnesota published a paper on the benefits of read- ing. It noted that a 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress by up to 68 percent. It works better and faster than other relaxation methods, such as listening to music or drinking a hot cup of tea. This is because the reader’s mind is invited into a literary world free from the stressors that plague one’s daily life. With that, I will head for An- gela Hunt’s book, “The Cano- py,” which takes me further into the Amazon Jungle. I would positively recommend both books. How well is the vaccination effort going in Clatsop Coun- ty? Our local vaccination effort is going smooth- ly. According to the Ore- gon Health Authority, as of Jan. 5, Clatsop County’s vac- cination rate was higher than any other county in Oregon. Columbia Memorial Hos- pital has nearly finished dis- tributing its first 700 doses of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19. Following state guidelines, the first dos- es were given to emergency and urgent care staff, hospi- tal caregivers, providers and staff of non-CMH clinics, and first responders. Providence Seaside Hospi- tal also received doses of the Moderna vaccine in Decem- ber and began giving vacci- nations, too. Is the vaccine safe for me? The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were tested on thou- sands of people and found to be safe and effective for most adults. There are only two contraindications or reasons not to receive the vaccine: if you have an active COVID-19 infection or have had an al- lergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the vaccine. If you’re concerned, read the Food and Drug Administra- tion’s fact sheets online for the Pfizer and Moderna vac- cines. Some groups of people were not included in the ini- tial studies. They should talk with their doctor before get- ting vaccinated, these include pregnant women and people with suppressed immune systems. Can my children get vaccinated? Unfortunately, not yet. Children weren’t included in the first vaccine studies, so we can’t be sure that the vaccines available are safe for them. Trials of the vaccines in kids are underway now. Hopefully these stud- ies will soon show that the vaccines are as safe and effective for children as they Oregon Health Authority are for adults. A health care worker receives a vacci- When can I go back nation at a clinic in Portland. to normal life? The pandemic and the re- We’ve all been making sac- rifices — changing holiday strictions will end, one way plans, juggling work and kids or another. Our actions now doing online school, wearing will determine how deadly masks in public, and staying the pandemic is in our com- in when we want to go out. munity before it ends. We’ve Getting vaccinated is the next lost three neighbors to this step in ending the pandemic disease in Clatsop County. and reclaiming some normal- Let’s do what we can to pre- vent the spread of COVID-19 cy. However, the vaccine is so we don’t lose more. just one tool in our arsenal Here’s to Your Health is against the COVID-19 pan- sponsored by Columbia Me- demic. We must continue morial Hospital. Regina practicing the good habits Mysliwiec is the medical di- we’ve developed to keep our- rector of CMH’s Emergen- selves and our community safe from COVID-19 until the cy Department and a key number of infections drops member of the hospital’s COVID-19 response team. dramatically. Special columns in The Columbia Press Every week: Senior Moments with Emma Edwards Week 1: Financial Focus with Adam Miller Week 2: Here’s to Your Health from CMH Week 3: Off the Shelf by Kelly Knudsen Final week: Mayor’s Message by Henry Balensifer