As Pittsburgh parents finish up their back-to-school shopping, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging families to put vaccinations on their preparedness list. Federal agency Director Mandy Cohen visited the South Hills YMCA on Thursday as part of a national tour to promote routine immunizations and mental health programs for students.
As children return to school, Cohen said he wants families to remember the importance of health, because “if kids don’t come to school healthy, they’re not going to be able to come to school healthy.”
As Pittsburgh Public Schools welcomes students back to class next week, Cohen advised parents to schedule annual flu and COVID-19 vaccinations for the entire family as soon as possible.
“We know that we’re going to see more cases of both of these viruses this fall and into winter,” she said.
Shortly after Cohen visited the Spencer Family YMCA in Bethel Park, the Food and Drug Administration announced it had approved improved versions of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. The approval came earlier than vaccinations were rolled out last year and at a time when cases are rising nationwide. Millions of doses of the new vaccines could be shipped and available “within days,” according to the Associated Press.
Not only do the vaccines prevent severe infection, they can reduce the risk of long COVID, a chronic disease that can develop for months or even years after COVID-19 infection.
Cohen and staff toured the Spencer Family YMCA to learn more about how the facility works with Bethel Park High School to provide physical activity and after-school support for students.
“We’re happy to have this YMCA here on the high school campus,” Cohen said, “It’s a great partnership between the education department and a community organization.”
Cohen also praised the YMCA’s “Y on the Fly” van, which provides pop-up summer camp activities to nearby communities during the summer months. The mobile playground serves more than 2,000 children each summer in so-called “play deserts” where opportunities for physical activity are limited. The van is equipped with sports equipment, games and music systems for children to enjoy. Each visit includes 60 minutes of physical activity and snacks.
Luke Koczka, program director for the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, led Cohen on drills Thursday in running up a training ladder and jumping over small steel agility hurdles. He said the physical activity portion of the minicamp is aimed at “getting the kids active and having fun.”
Cohen praised the van program, which aims to increase access to services in underserved areas where time and money may limit opportunities for physical activity.
“It’s great to see the YMCA not only maintaining a traditional brick-and-mortar building here, but bringing it to a place that’s hard for the community to access,” she said.
Another big focus of Cohen’s Pittsburgh visit was youth mental health, an issue that he said has intensified since the start of the coronavirus pandemic as social isolation has become the norm. Cohen noted that the classroom can be a valuable space for kids to learn how to socialize and connect with other kids.
“In-person connections are so important,” she said. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure our kids are healthy and in school and thriving, because it’s not just about academic learning. [that] “Relationship building”
Cohen says connecting in the real world also means less screen time and social media, two factors that contribute to negative mental health outcomes. “Get away from your screens, get moving, and make great friends,” Cohen says. “These are all evidence-based strategies that we know work.”
Returning to school also allows children to regain routines that may have been lost over the summer, and Cohen said that routines around rest and meal times are beneficial for both parents and children, leading to improved circadian rhythms, mental health and energy.
Cohen said parents can help their children develop good habits by “making sure they go to bed at the right time, eat healthy foods every day and be physically active.”
Members of the YMCA Junior Committee spoke with Cohen about a new teen suicide prevention group they started after witnessing mental health issues among their peers, and Bethel Park High School students are working to raise awareness about suicide prevention resources.
“We know kids are having mental health issues these days,” Cohen said, praising students for stepping up to help peers who may be struggling with depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. Cohen noted that peer support has been proven to be effective.
“The evidence shows that the problem isn’t just the message, but the person who delivers it,” she said.
