Juan De La Garza, EMT-Basic with Lifeline, received the COVID-19 vaccine Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at the UTRGV School of Medicine’s Medical Education Building on the Edinburg Campus. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)
A Mercedes Fire Department first responder gets the COVID-19 vaccine Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at the UTRGV School of Medicine, at the UTRGV School of Medicine’s Medical Education Building on the Edinburg Campus. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)
The UTRGV School of Medicine on Dec. 19, 2020, administered the COVID-19 vaccine to area EMS providers, like these from McAllen, at the UTRGV School of Medicine’s Medical Education Building on the Edinburg Campus. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)
Esteban Gonzalez, a lieutenant with the Pharr Fire Department, received the COVID-19 vaccine Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at the UTRGV School of Medicine’s Medical Education Building on the Edinburg Campus. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)
Mega Doctor News
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By News and Internal Communications
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS –– UT Health RGV on Saturday continued to strengthen frontline personnel by administering the COVID-19 vaccine to EMS providers from across the Rio Grande Valley who engage in 9-1-1 emergency services like pre-hospital care and transport.
Saturday’s inoculations were part of UT Health RGV’s continued efforts for Phase 1A vaccination distribution as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
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“UTRGV and UT Health RGV are committed to serving the Valley community, as federal and state distribution guidelines expand,” said Dr. John H. Krouse, UTRGV executive vice president for Health Affairs and dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine.
Despite significant advances in prevention and treatment, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly three in 10 deaths nationwide and claiming more than 940,000 lives each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States and one of the leading causes of serious long-term disability nationwide, according to the Stroke Awareness Foundation, affecting nearly 800,000 Americans each year.
For decades, it’s been against the law for Medicare to pay for weight-loss medication, but that changed on July 1, with the launch of a new program called Bridge. It gives some people over 65, or who have Medicare for other reasons, access to some weight management medications if they meet certain weight and health criteria.