Lt. Governor Austin Davis, Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen, and Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys visited River Valley Health this week to highlight the efficacy of getting vaccinated against the flu virus and also to receive their own vaccinations at the event.

“As a father and a son and a husband, I view it really as my responsibility to get vaccinated so I can keep myself and my family healthy and protected from the flu, which puts hundreds of thousands of Americans in the hospital every single year,” Davis said.

“Newborns and infants are incredibly vulnerable to the flu, so it’s important to keep levels low in our communities to protect our youngest and most valuable Pennsylvanians, our young people,” he added.

During his comments, Davis referred to the recent news from the federal government about vaccinations, mainly questioning the need to be vaccinated against illnesses.

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Lt. Governor Austin davis, right, receives a flu vaccine at River Valley Health in Williamsport on Tuesday.

“I understand there is, quite frankly, a lot of chaos and confusion coming out of Washington, DC right now, most of it from folks who openly don’t believe in facts or science, but we know that President Trump, quite frankly, has shown that he doesn’t necessarily care about other people’s health and safety, and he likes to spread some conspiracy theories as it relates to vaccines and Health Secretary Kennedy from the Department of Health and Human Services, has been equally as reckless and irresponsible,” Davis said.

“He’s fired independent experts, and he’s really, really damaged our healthcare infrastructure at its core across the country. But to be clear, these are not the people you should be listening to for medical advice. The president (and) Secretary Kennedy, are trying to make it harder for everyone to access vaccines,” he said.

“Our administration is doing everything we can to share accurate information and empower Pennsylvanians to make the best decision for them and their families,” he added.

Davis noted that the governor had “called on the State Board of Pharmacy to protect access to the covid vaccine for those who need it most at a time when the federal government is spreading misinformation and trying to hijack the approval process for vaccines.”

“In addition, our State Department of Health has introduced general immunization guidance, which is driven by science and supported by experts,”.

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Lt. Governor Austin Davis, right, speaks about the importance of vaccines. at River Valley Health in Williamsport on Tuesday. State Insurance Commisioner Michael Humphreys, left, and Secretary of Health Debra Bogen, center, also spoke at the event.

“I truly, truly believe in personal freedom, and Pennsylvanians should make their own personal decision on getting their annual flu shot. But I also believe in responsibility. As fathers, we need to take responsibility for protecting our families and communities, and this is another way that we can do that,” he said.

Respiratory virus season officially started last Sunday, so Brogan stressed that now is the time to make an appointment with a health care provider or pharmacist to get the annual flu vaccine.

“Before we know it, the weather will get colder. We’ll all spend more time indoors, and spending time indoors with our friends and family in the holidays is lovely, but it’s also an opportunity to spread infection very effectively and efficiently,” Bogen said.

“We know how to significantly reduce the risk of flu during the respiratory season, and the answer is, get vaccinated. All of us here today are firm believers in the effectiveness and safety of the flu vaccine,” she said.

She pointed out that she, Davis and Humphreys had all chosen to get vaccinated because they believe that it provides the “best protection against severe disease by boosting the body’s natural defenses against flu germs.”

“Not only are we protecting ourselves, we’re also protecting our friends and family and neighbors, because people who are vaccinated are less likely to pass the infection to others, especially people who are at increased risk of severe outcomes due to respiratory illnesses,” she explained.

She added that people who display symptoms of the flu should be tested because there are medications that can be prescribed to lessen the risk of severe outcomes for those who are most vulnerable, like young infants and children, older adults and people with chronic disease and other medical conditions.

Bogen cited information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which showed that 280 children died from influenza last year.

“That’s a lot of children, half of whom did not have any underlying medical condition, and most of whom were not fully vaccinated,” she said.

“I know that parents are out there who do not see the need for their child to get the annual flu vaccine. To these parents, I’d say, influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is typically responsible for more hospitalizations and deaths in the United States than any other vaccine preventable illness,” she said.

As a pediatrician, Bogen also commented on vaccines in general.

“We’ve all heard the conflicting narrative going on lately about the safety of vaccines. I’m here to tell you that vaccines are safe and effective,” she said.

“As a pediatrician, I provided medical care to infants and children with what are now vaccine preventable illnesses. Some of those children were extremely ill and eventually had to be hospitalized. And over my career, I got to see firsthand how the introduction of new vaccines changed our medical practices, reduced pain and suffering and saved countless lives,” she said. “So we at the Department of Health want all Pennsylvanians to have available clear evidence based information about vaccines for children and for adults,” she added.

Bogen suggested that anyone who wants more information about when and what vaccines should be given to adults or children, should discuss it with their primary care health provider.

“Those are the people that we trust, who you have relationships with. That’s who you need to turn to for information. Your primary care provider knows when and what vaccines you and your children need to remain healthy and safe,” she said.

Cost should not be a deterrent for anyone wanting a flu shot, according to Humphreys.

“Pennsylvanians should not forgo the flu vaccine because they fear an unexpected charge.

“For insured Pennsylvanians, your health insurer must cover the full cost of certain recommended vaccines. If you go to an in network provider, you will not have to pay anything, including a co-pay or a deductible for the flu or covid vaccine if you have comprehensive, major medical insurance or small group market health insurance, including coverage available through Pennsylvania’s state based exchange that you all know is associated with the vaccination,” Humphreys explained.

“We understand that there’s a lot of uncertainty right now when it comes to health insurance coverage, whether it’s the potential rise in health insurance premiums or misinformation centered around paying out of pocket for health services that were once covered under a consumer’s health plan at a hundred percent,” he said. “We understand that confusion. One thing we don’t want consumers to be confused about though, is immunization coverage.”

For more information about vaccines and also when to expect the flu season to begin in specific areas of the state, visit the state’s department of health website.