By Dr. Vincent Balestrino

Pneumonia’s symptoms – productive cough, fever and chills – are very uncomfortable and potentially lethal, as are the other illnesses included under the umbrella of pneumococcal disease. Any potential opportunity that health care providers have to decrease the rate of infection, especially among the groups most vulnerable to pneumococcal disease – children, senior citizens, and the immunocompromised – must be seized.

This why it may be premature for the Centers for Disease Control to rescind its recommendation that senior citizens receive the two suggested vaccines meant to protect against pneumococcal disease (i.e. Prevnar). 

A CDC subcommittee focused on immunization practices is seriously considering a change in the current recommendation, as some experts challenge the vaccine’s efficacy. The panel’s decision could come as soon as this month.

By Rachael Rennebeck

The pallino is the target for summer fun at Providence Point.  With all of the luxurious amenities from four dining venues, a wellness center that includes an indoor pool and whirlpool spa, concierge services, and even a day spa, the question is begged as to how a pallino is the summer attraction.

The pallino is the small, yellow ball in the game of bocce which is the target ball.  It is among eight others, which are different colors distinguishing the teams. After a coin flip, the game begins by that winner tossing the target ball, and then that same player rolls his bocce ball as close to the pallino as possible.  It is then the next team’s turn to roll and the object is to get the bocce ball inside the opponent’s.  This process proceeds from team to team until both teams have used up their bocce balls.  Points are awarded according to proximity to the pallino.  Banking the ball is allowed, and if two balls at the end are equal distance from the pallino, no points are awarded.  The team that scores 9 or 12 points wins the bragging rights.  All of this thanks to simple pallino; the summer target.