Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 8-12-22

Back To School
Back To School Checklist: Don’t Leave Out The COVID-19 Shot
A collaborative effort with Tampa Alumni Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and National Council of Negro Women stress the im- portance of minority children getting their COVID-19 shots as part of their vaccination re- quirements.
Hospitalizations and deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately im- pacted people of color. Many of us have been impacted di- rectly, knows someone who has been impacted or have lost family or friends from the dis- ease.
To help address the devas- tation in our communities and help advance health equity, the Tampa Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is partnering with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) to participate in the
national Good Health WINs program. Tampa Alumni and the NCNW is working to create trusted messengers for COVID-19, flu and routine vac- cine awareness in the Black and Hispanic communities in the Tampa Bay community.
NCNW is a Washington, D. C.-based charitable organiza- tion making a difference in the lives of women, children, and families through a four- pronged strategy that empha- sizes entrepreneurship, health equity, STEAM education, and civic engagement. Founded 85 years ago, NCNW has 300 community and campus-based sections and 32 national affili- ates representing more than 2,000,000 women and men.
“The health and safety of our children is important to all,” noted Dr. James Brookins and Ryan De Souza, members of the
Tampa Alumni Chapter health committee.
Rates of routine childhood vaccination (against diseases such as measles, polio, and meningococcal disease) have
fallen over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. These wellness vaccinations prevent outbreaks of dangerous dis- eases and help keep children safe in schools and communi- ties.
As the school season ap- proaches, now is a great time to ensure our children are vac- cinated against COVID-19 and that they get their routine vac- cinations. COVID vaccines are now available for children ages 6 months and up.
Why should you vaccinate your children against COVID- 19? It protects them from hos- pitalization and death without the risks that comes with nat- ural infections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that vaccination of children born between 1994 and 2018 in the U. S. will pre- vent 936,000 deaths and 419 million illnesses. If someone is vaccinated, that means they have a reduced risk of con- tracting and passing along a dangerous disease. By stop- ping transmission, they can be a part of protecting their loved ones, community, and people they may never even know who are particularly vulnerable to infections.
We have the power to pro- tect our children from vaccine- preventable diseases. Make sure your family is up to date on recommended vaccines. Contact your health care provider or check out https://www.vaccines.gov/ for more information.
To learn more about the Good Health WINs program visit https://goodhealth- wins.org/
Hillsborough County Public Schools To Provide Free Breakfast And Lunch To Students At 174 Schools
A majority of students in Hillsborough County Public Schools are now eligible to re- ceive free breakfast and lunch all year long as part of a fed- eral reimbursement program called the Community Eligi- bility Provision (CEP). The initiative, which was adopted last month by the School Board, offers meals at no cost to all students at any school where 40% or more of the stu- dents are eligible to receive free and reduced lunch due to their family’s economic cir- cumstances.
In total, 174 schools fit the criteria to participate in CEP. This initiative will allow easier access to food for more than 127,000 students within our district, or 84% of the student body. Prior to this program, 66% of students received free and reduced lunch through a federal application process.
“Our Student Nutrition Services staff members work
hard to ensure students have access to nutritious meals to fuel their day. This program will help thousands of families who are food insecure while also decreasing paperwork and red tape for parents, schools, and our nutrition staff,” said Shani Hall, Gen- eral Manager of Student Nu- trition Services.
“We listened to families who were worried about losing free lunches as part of the USDA reimbursement program dur- ing the pandemic. Our district wants to take the burden off parents by making it easier for students to gain access to healthy meals at school. While we celebrate the convenience, research also shows schools accessing this program report an increase in standardized test scores, attendance im- provement, and various men- tal health benefits,” said Superintendent Addison Davis.
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