126523394_web1_Wyoming-PSP-flag

End of an era: PSP Troop P begins move from Wyoming to Hanover Twp.

Kentucky panel says governor, AG should not be impeached

In recent weeks Geisinger physician Dr. Jennifer Gell has been fielding questions about COVID-19 vaccines.
				&ldquo;We get a lot of phone calls regarding if it&rsquo;s safe,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Typically, it&rsquo;s a risk/benefit conversation.&rdquo;
				Gell is a reproductive endocrinologist based at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, and many of her patients are newly pregnant or trying to achieve pregnancy.
				They&rsquo;re worried because they&rsquo;ve heard or read unfounded rumors that the messenger RNA in the vaccine could hurt their chances for a successful pregnancy.
				&ldquo;People have to really know their source,&rdquo; the doctor said Tuesday in a telephone interview. &ldquo;There is no evidence that the COVID vaccine impacts fertility.&rdquo;
				On the other hand, she pointed out, there is evidence that if you are pregnant and contract the virus, you are likely to experience greater morbidity, meaning a more severe case of the disease, than if you were not pregnant when you contracted the virus.
				The vaccine was not tested on women who were pregnant, Gell said, so &ldquo;there is no absolute data base.&rdquo;
				But she reassures her patients by explaining that, while live viruses are a concern for pregnant women, the COVID-19 vaccine does not contain a live virus.
				In her specialty, where many women receive infertility treatments to help them achieve pregnancy, another advantage of receiving the vaccine rather than contracting the virus is that the virus could cause a disruption of the infertility treatment cycle.
				In the end, rather than turn to social media, Gell said, anyone with concerns about vaccine safety should &ldquo;consult with their providers and talk about the risks and benefits.&rdquo;
				As for Gell and many of her colleagues, Geisinger announced earlier this month that two-thirds of its employees had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with about half having received both of the doses that are necessary to trigger the immune system.
				&ldquo;Everyone is happy now to get their second vaccines,&rdquo; said Gell, who is grateful to be part of that group.
				When Geisinger began to dispense second doses to its staff in January, several health care professionals expressed positive feelings about getting that shot in the arm.
				&ldquo;I received the COVID vaccine for my family and patients,&rdquo; Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center nurse Tara Skutack was quoted at the time, in a news release. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited for a better and healthier future. So far, I&rsquo;m feeling great.&rdquo;
				&ldquo;I currently work in the intensive care unit and see COVID patients every day,&rdquo; said resident physician Muhammad Sabih Saleem &ldquo;It&rsquo;s up to us to take this first step forward so that everyone else will join us when the vaccine becomes available to them. I feel relieved after getting the vaccine &mdash; we have been waiting for it for a long time. It&rsquo;s a step towards a better future.&rdquo;

Geisinger doctor: ‘No evidence that COVID vaccine impacts fertility’