COVID-19 - Front Porch Alliance

Boosters

Just like the annual flu shot, COVID-19 boosters help keep your immunity strong. Fully vaccinated folks over the age of 18 can get their COVID-19 booster if:

they received their 2nd dose of Moderna or Pfizer 6+ months ago OR they received their Johnson & Johnson dose 2+ months ago.

At this time boosters are not recommended for for infants and youth under 18, but expect a booster for youth ages 12-17 in the coming months.

Vaccines

Vaccines help your body develop resistance and immunity to viruses. There are currently 3 COVID vaccines:

Pfizer: 2 doses, available for everyone 5+ Moderna: 2 doses, available for everyone Johnson & Johnson: 1 dose, available for everyone 18+

Vaccinated folks can still catch and spread COVID. Vaccines are not 100% effective, BUT, combined with masking and limiting contact, vaccines provide the best defense against COVID.

Where to get them:

KC area residents can get FREE vaccines at the following locations:

KCMO Health Department

Swope Health

KC CARE Health Center

Wyandotte County Vaccination Sites

CVS, Walgreens, Hy-vee, Walmart, and additional local pharmacies

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus which affects the respiratory system. COVID causes symptoms similar to a cold or the flu including:

   fever cough, sneezing, runny nose, loss of
   taste and/or sense of smell, body aches
   and chills, headache, and/or sore throat

In extreme cases, COVID can make it difficult to breathe. If you or someone you know has COVID-like symptoms AND struggles to breathe or stay awake, seems confused, or feels pain their chest, please seek medical care immediately.

Variants!?!

Viruses are constantly adapting; this leads to different strains or “variants.” There are currently five. The Delta and Omicron variants cause most new COVID cases in the United States and Missouri regularly ranks in the top 5 states for highest number of new cases.

The Delta and Omicron variants are more contagious than the original COVID strain, although symptoms appear to be milder for most folks.

Wear a Mask!

While the KCMO mask mandate expired everywhere except school and on school buses, we at FPA ask that all guests to our offices and events please wear a mask.

Lime green background with (L-R) brown skin person wearing a navy blue mask, brown skin hands washing themselves, a grey and navy thermometer, and a navy line with

At Front Porch Alliance, we take COVID seriously.

We keep plenty of sanitizer and masks on hand and regularly sanitize frequently touched surfaces. When you visit FPA, we ask that you:

–Wear masks at all times in shared spaces
–Wash hands regularly and upon arrival
–Take and log temperatures upon arrival
–Maintain social distance whenever possible

Blog: Omicron Special Edition

Learn more about how to stay safe rom COVID-19 and how to heal if you or a family member falls ill in out Early Learning Newsletter’s two Omicron Special Editions.