SCRANTON, PA. (Sept. 24, 2021) – The Wright Center for Community Health will begin scheduling and administering third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Sept. 27, at its Mid Valley Clinic in Jermyn. 

Third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech 19 vaccine are now recommended for additional groups of people, beyond those who are immunocompromised. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Pfizer third-dose boosters be given six months after the second dose for individuals in these categories:

• Older adults (ages 65 and above) and those living in long-term care facilities.
• Adults ages 50 to 64 at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions such as hypertension, asthma and diabetes. (Also, adults ages 18 to 49 at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions should consider a booster based on an assessment of their individual benefits and risks and consultation with their medical provider, according to the CDC.)
• Adults age 18 to 64 for people in healthcare and institutional settings whose jobs put them at high risk for COVID-19. This includes healthcare workers, teachers, daycare staff, grocery workers, and people in shelters or prisons.

CDC guidance regarding third doses has not yet been released for the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines, or for the safety of mixing different vaccines.

Earlier this month, the CDC already had begun recommending that people with compromised immune systems who had received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine get a third shot of the same type to boost their protection from COVID-19; the third shot should be received at least 28 days after the second dose.

The recommendation is for people who are “moderately to severely immunocompromised.”

“People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised make up about 3% of the adult population,” according to the CDC, “and are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness.”

This includes people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• A moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.

Appointments to receive the third dose Moderna vaccine may be made at our Scranton, Mid Valley, Clarks Summit, Kingston, Hawley, South Franklin Street and school-based health locations.

SCRANTON, PA. (Sept. 21, 2021) – The Wright Center for Community Health announces that its Enrollment Assisters are now available to help individuals sign up for appropriate health insurance coverage, gaining a financial safety net and greater access to care.

Get free, no-pressure and unbiased enrollment information. Call our Enrollment Department at 570-591-5253. Or send an email to twc-insurance-enrollment@thewrightcenter.org. Please include your full name, phone number and place of residence (city, borough or township).

• Immediately: You can connect with our team today for assistance in enrolling in programs such as Medicaid, which is for eligible adults, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is for kids and teenagers.

• Beginning in September: Seniors (ages 65 and older) can talk with our team about the Medicare Low Income Subsidy (LIS) program, which helps certain people with Medicare pay for prescription drugs.

• Between Nov. 1, 2021, and Jan. 15, 2022: You can participate in open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace, choosing from a variety of insurance products accessible to Pennsylvania residents through an online exchange known as “Pennie.” Our team can help you understand and navigate the choices. (Of course, if you suddenly lose your employer-sponsored coverage or otherwise find yourself without insurance, don’t wait to contact us. You might qualify for a special enrollment period.)

Enrollment Assisters at The Wright Center’s primary care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, as well as at other health centers and medical facilities, are trained to help people identify and enroll in affordable coverage options. Contact us with your questions. Did you know, for example, that benefits under Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance (aka Medicaid) program might be available to you, even if you were denied in the past?  

Gain peace of mind in knowing that you, and your family members, have health insurance coverage that fits your needs and budget.

At The Wright Center, which is a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, all patients are provided access to care regardless of ability to pay. If you are not insured or lack adequate insurance, you might be eligible for our Sliding Fee Discount Program, which allows us to reduce fees for eligible patients, depending on household income and family size. Visit Sliding Fee Scale – The Wright Center for more information.

Scranton, Pa. (September 13, 2021) The Wright Center for Community Health is pleased to announce the introduction of a one-of-a-kind, 29-week Medical Assistant Training Program to provide education and employment opportunities in the region while addressing a critical workforce shortage thanks to a new arrangement with The National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement. 

The National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) is a nonprofit education institute that trains Medical Assistants to work effectively in today’s high-performing primary care settings. NIMAA’s fully accredited, affordable programming offers students hands-on education and prepares graduates to work in high-performing, team-based practices. On Aug. 31, NIMAA announced its approval to operate as a private licensed school in the state of Pennsylvania. 

“NIMAA is delighted to help meet the demand for medical assisting in Pennsylvania, where it is recognized as a ‘job of tomorrow,’ and is expected to grow by 20% over the next 10 years,” says NIMAA Chief Executive Officer Elena Thomas Faulkner. “We are particularly excited to work with our community-based clinical partners to make entry into a career in health care accessible to diverse members of Pennsylvania’s medically underserved communities.”

The Medical Assistant Training Program provides an innovative proactive learning experience containing both flexible online courses and hands-on learning at The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary health locations throughout the duration of the program. 

“Medical assistants are an integral member of our patient care teams and there’s high demand in our region to fill positions. The addition of this new training program is a forward-thinking opportunity where not only can graduates complete their training but start their career with The Wright Center upon completion,” says Kathleen Barry, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of The Wright Center for Community Health. “The opportunity to extend the Medical Assistant program to our existing staff and the entire region is responsive to the needs of our community to provide exceptional health care services combined with the introduction of well-paying jobs and new career opportunities.”

Working alongside physicians and patient care teams, medical assistants maintain patient records, assist during examinations and ensure records are secure. Applications to the Medical Assistant Training Program are being accepted until Nov. 14, 2021. For more information visit NIMAA – The National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement. To register for the course, visit Online Registration Software for NIMAA Student Information System (regpack.com).

A Waverly Township resident, Dr. Arscott graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she completed her neuromuscular/osteopathic manipulative medicine residency training. Dr. Arscott also completed an addiction medicine fellowship with Geisinger Marworth Treatment Center. She has been treating patients for more than 25 years in private practice, hospital, clinical and urgent care settings. 

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Arscott, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. The Wright Center for Community Health offers safety-net healthcare services in Lackawanna, Wayne and Luzerne counties — inclusive of primary and preventive care and addiction and recovery services — to patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. A designated Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, The Wright Center employs a comprehensive, whole-person approach to caring for those facing addiction, with wrap-around services for mental and behavioral health plus case and care management.

Also on the list are people with advanced or untreated HIV infection, those taking high-dose steroids and those who have chronic medical conditions that can weaken immune response, such as chronic kidney disease. For more information about recommendations and the FDA’s emergency use authorization of third-dose shots, visit CDC.org.

Patients who meet the guidelines are urged to get a third shot of the same vaccine at least four weeks after their initial two-dose mRNA series. If you’ve received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccinations, you can schedule your third dose appointment at The Wright Center by visiting TheWrightCenter.org or calling 570-230-0019. Patients have the choice of a vaccine-only appointment or an office visit with their third dose. 

Offices where third-dose COVID vaccines will be administered include Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave.; Kingston, 2 Sharpe St.; Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn; and Clarks Summit, 1145 Northern Blvd.