Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters

What You Need to Know

CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group:
Children and teens aged 6 months–17 years
Adults aged 18 years and older
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you have recovered from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to monitor the latest COVID-19 data.

Updated Boosters Are Recommended

CDC recommends 1 updated booster dose:

For everyone aged 5 years and older who completed their primary series.
For children aged 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna primary series.

A Tribute to Judy Heumann

March 8, 2023

A picture of Judith Heumann speaking on stage at a TED Talk. [Image Source: www.judithheumann.com]

Judith “Judy” Heumann— widely regarded as “the mother” of the disability rights movement— passed away in Washington, D.C. on March 4, 2023.

Judith Heumann was a lifelong advocate for the rights of disabled people. She has been instrumental in the development and implementation of legislation, such as Section 504, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She will forever be remembered as “the mother” of the disability rights movement.

Watch this beautiful video tribute about her from MSNBC. Rachel Maddow celebrates the life and accomplishments of Judy Heumann below.
“Because she made a fuss, Judy Heumann made everyone’s life better” (msnbc.com)

Rolling Start Inc. 45th Anniversary

February 1, 2023

Celebrating 45 years of service

This year is our 45th year of operation. We’ve seen a lot of changes and faced a lot challenges, but we’re still here doing our best to help our community. We strive to help all of our consumers achieve an independent lifestyle of their choice and are looking forward to many more years servicing you.

Thank you for letting us be a part of your journey!

National Preparedness Month

September 28, 2022

[Image Description: A graphic of people securing their furniture to resist falls with the text, "Step 1." A graphic of a family sitting at a table discussing an emergency plan, with the text, "Step 2." A graphic of people organizing first aid items together in a bag with the text, "Step 3." A graphic of people organizing important documents and construction workers beneath a house strengthening the foundation with the text, "Step 4." A graphic of a family ducking and covering from an earthquake with the text, "Step 5." A graphic of members of the community helping each other outside of a community shelter, with the text, "Step 6." A graphic of the community banding together to rebuild the community with the text, "Step 7."] [Image Source: Earthquakecountry.org]

Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety

This month is National Preparedness Month. The Earthquake Country Alliance shares the seven steps to earthquake Safety:

Step 1: Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items.

Step 2: Plan to be safe by creating your emergency plan and deciding how you will communicate.

Step 3: Organize emergency supplies in convenient locations.

Step 4: Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance coverage.

Step 5: Drop, Cover, and Hold On or other recommended actions (if you feel shaking or get an alert).

Step 6: Improve safety after earth- quakes by evacuating if necessary, helping the injured, and preventing further injuries or damage.

Step 7: Reconnect and Restore daily life by reuniting with others, repairing damage, and rebuilding community.

Follow these Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety to be prepared to survive and recover from the next damaging earthquake. Learn more at EarthquakeCountry.org/sevensteps.

Updated CDC Recommendations on Covid-19 Boosters

September 7, 2022

Updated Messaging: COVID-19 Fall Boosters

“On September 1, the CDC announced updated recommendations for Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 boosters for people age 12 and up. The updated booster dose is a bivalent formula that both boosts immunity against the original coronavirus strain and also protects against the newer Omicron variants that account for most of the current cases.

The CDC recommends that everyone who is eligible stay up-to-date on vaccinations by getting an updated booster dose at least 2 months after their last COVID-19 shot—either since their last booster dose, or since completing their primary series. Pfizer’s updated booster shot is authorized for individuals 12 and older, and Moderna’s is authorized for adults 18 and older

As new variants of the virus emerge, updated boosters are intended to provide optimal protection against COVID-19 and address waning vaccine effectiveness over time. In light of the CDC’s updated recommendations, we’ve updated our Answers to Tough Questions and booster dose toolkit with new messaging guidance, graphics, and sample social posts in both English and Spanish to help answer questions in your community.”

-Public Health Communications Collaborative

Heat Warning

September 2, 2022

It’s getting hot out here!

California is forecast to experience extremely hot temperatures statewide over the next week, with daytime readings reaching 95 to 110 degrees. The extreme heat and wind also increase the risk of fire across some mountain and foothill locations across the state. Several heat-related watches and warnings have been issued through Monday, with more predicted to come.

Heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke can occur due to prolonged exposure to hot temperatures, even to the general population. People with disabilities, older adults, and those with chronic illness may be especially impacted by the high temperatures. Within your network or community, we ask you to be aware of individuals who may need specific support and encourage you to identify local resources that individuals may need.

A few things you can do to prepare for the hot temperatures:

Avoid prolonged exposure being outdoors.
Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated.
Stay in air-conditioned rooms.
Never leave children, pets, or older adults in an unattended vehicle, even for a short period of time.
Check in with your friends, family, and neighbors who may be disproportionally impacted and who may not have air conditioning.
Find where your local cooling centers are located.

A few things you can do to prepare the community and individuals you serve for hot temperatures:

Collect information on local resources, including transportation options and cooling center information, and share with individuals you serve and your community.
Learn what your local city or county is doing to respond to the high temperatures and potential power outages and reach out to coordinate messaging and resources.

With excessive heat in the forecast, the grid operator is expecting high electricity demand and is calling for voluntary conservation steps to help balance supply and demand. Reducing energy usage between the hours of 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. can have a substantial impact on California’s power grid. Flex Alerts are possible through the Labor Day weekend.