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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 04, 2022 Page 15 BEACON | FROM Page 14 Care (ABC) Act that will make mental health care more accessible in the Bay State. “Today, the Massachusetts Senate 1. March 4 is Employee Appreciation Day; in what decade was the movie “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit,” which features a World War II veteran with work-life balance issues? 2. Who is known as the “American March King” and helped create a musical instrument? 3. What sports equipment has pentagons and hexagons? 4. March 5 is National Absinthe Day; what color is absinthe usually? 5. Why is a funny bone called that? 6. In what 1967 British sci-fi series were there guest stars introduced as “the new Number Two”? 7. On March 6, 1888, what author who had worked as a Civil War nurse died in Concord, Mass.? 8. According to guinnessworldrecords.com, what NFL player has at least 22 “memorable records”? 9. On March 7, 1801, which state enacted the fi rst-ever state voter registration law? 10. In 1910, who became the fi rst U.S. president to attend baseball’s opening day game and throw out the fi rst pitch? Answers 11. What river with the same name (also a color) is in Texas and Vietnam? 12. What is NASA’s HelioSwarm? 13. On March 8, 1950, the Volkswagen Type 2 started production; it was later called what? 14. What Motown recording artist released the single “Shoo-BeDoo-Be-Doo-Da-Day”? 15. What is the name of the comic strip in which you would find Dagwood Bumstead? 16. March 9 is Get Over It Day, which is midpoint between what two holidays? 17. “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey takes place in what city? 18. In spring 1898 the song “O sole mio” (My Sunshine) was co-composed by Eduardo di Capua in Odessa in what country? 19. Julia Kern, who competed in cross-country skiing at the 2022 Olympics, learned to ski where near Boston? 20. On March 10, 1955, a patent was issued for “Dispensing Valves for Gas Pressure Containers,” which was to be used for what in spray cans? Can COVID-19 Cause Shingles? Dear Savvy Senior, How eff ective is the shingles vaccine and what is the CDC recommendation for getting it? My older brother and sister, both in their fi fties, got COVID a few months back followed by shingles. Do you know if there is a connection between these viruses, and would the shingles vaccine have protected them? Scared of Shingles Dear Scared, Great question! Many healthcare professionals across the country have been urging their older patients to get the shingles vaccine (in addition to the COVID-19 vaccinations) during the pandemic because getting COVID-19 can increase your chances of developing shingles. And the more severe case of COVID you get, the greater your risk for shingles. The reason for this is because when you contract COVID-19 your immune system becomes compromised fi ghting off the virus, which gives shingles – a virus that already exist in your body if you’ve had chickenpox – a chance to reactivate. Here’s what you should know about shingles, the shingles vaccine, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. What are Shingles? Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a burning, blistering skin rash that aff ects around 1 million Americans each year. The same virus that causes chickenpox causes shingles. What happens is the chickenpox virus that most people get as kids never leaves the body. It hides in the nerve cells near the spinal cord and, for some people, emerges later in the form of shingles. In the U.S., about one out of every three people will develop shingles during their lifetime. While anyone who’s had chickenpox can get shingles, it most commonly occurs in people over age 50, along with people who have weakened immune systems. But you can’t catch shingles from someone else. Early signs of the disease include pain, itching or tingling before a blistering rash appears several days later, and can last up to four weeks. The rash typically occurs on one side of the body, often as a band of blisters that extends from the middle of your back around to the breastbone. It can also appear above an eye or on the side of the face or neck. In addition to the rash, about 20 to 25 percent of those who get shingles go on to develop severe nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN) that can last for months or even years. And in rare cases, shingles can also cause strokes, encephalitis, spinal cord damage and vision loss. Shingles Vaccine The vaccine for shingles called Shingrix (see Shingrix.com) provides much better protection than the old shingles vaccine, Zostavax. Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, Shingrix is 97 percent effective in preventing shingles in people 50 to 69 years old, and 91 percent eff ective in those 70 and older. Shingrix also does a terrifi c job of preventing nerve pain that continues after a shingles rash has cleared – about 90 percent eff ective. Because of this protection, the CDC recommends that everyone age 50 and older, receive the Shingrix vaccine, which is given in two doses, separated by two to six months. Even if you’ve already had shingles, you still need these vaccinations because reoccurring cases are possible. The CDC also recommends that anyone previously vaccinated with Zostavax be revaccinated with Shingrix. You should also know that Shingrix can cause some adverse side eff ects for some people, including muscle pain, fatigue, headache, fever and upset stomach. Shingrix – which averages around $205 for both doses – is covered by most private health insurance plans including Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, but there may be a cost to you depending on your plan. Contact your insurer to fi nd out. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. took vital strides toward transforming mental health care in Massachusetts,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro) at the time the bill was approved. “By unanimously passing [this bill], we affi rm that mental health is just as essential as physical health and take a leap forward to ensure that all people in Massachusetts can access the mental health care they need and deserve.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill). Sen. Lydia Edwards Was not yet elected SEX EDUCATION (S 2541) On September 23, the Senate 381, approved legislation that would require that all public schools off ering a comprehensive sexual health education curriculum “provide medically accurate, age-appropriate sexual health education.” Under current law, public schools are not required to teach sex education and the bill does not change that but rather mandates that any schools that choose to teach sex education are required to follow a curriculum, based on age, that includes human anatomy, reproduction and sexual development; the benefi ts of abstinence and delaying sexual activity; the importance of eff ectively using contraceptives to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS; ways to eff ectively discuss safe sexual activity; relationship and communication skills to form healthy, respectful relationships free of violence, coercion and intimidation; and information about gender identity and sexual orientation for all students, including recognition that people have diff erent sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. The measure also requires any school off ering sex education to notify parents about the school’s sex education curriculum and gives parents the right to withdraw a student from the instruction. Another provision creates a process for parents to inspect the program instruction materials prior to the start of the course. Supporters said that under the bill, local cities and towns still have the authority and power to decide whether sex education is taught in their schools. They said the measure will ensure that schools that choose to teach sex education will have a framework to follow. They noted the bill will prepare students to make healthy decisions and will reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. “I am very proud that the Massachusetts Senate has once again reaffi rmed our commitment to this commonsense healthy policy that will ensure our youth have the tools needed to protect their health and form respectful relationships,” said sponsor Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) at the time the legislation was approved. BEACON | SEE Page 16 1. The 1950s (1956) 2. John Philip Sousa (sousaphone) 3. Soccer ball 4. Green 5. The real name of the upper arm bone is humerus, which sounds like humorous. 6. “The Prisoner” 7. Louisa May Alcott 8. Tom Brady 9. Massachusetts 10. William Howard Taft 11. Red River 12. A hub spacecraft with eight smaller spacecraft that will measure the magnetic fi eld and solar wind 13. VW Bus 14. Stevie Wonder 15. “Blondie” 16. Valentine’s Day and April Fools’ Day 17. Boston 18. Ukraine 19. The Weston Ski Track 20. Whipped cream dessert topping

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