Healthy for the Holidays: COVID-19 Protection for Ourselves and Our Communities!
Happy New Year! 🎉
Winter is here and as we dig out from our recent storm we hope your year is off to a great start! Our Healthy for the Holidays campaign is coming to a close and we wanted to wrap things up with a friendly reminder about the importance of being up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 vaccine.
A couple of weeks ago the Boston Globe published an article by Adam Piore that painted a concerning picture of the current low COVID vaccination rates in Massachusetts as well as the re-emergence of significant racial and economic disparities in vaccine uptake. While the message seems a bit stark, we believe it’s an important reminder of why it’s crucial to stay vigilant about protecting ourselves and our communities against COVID-19. See the full article here or in the resources below.
Just a little over two weeks since the article was published, we are seeing the expected seasonal uptick in COVID-19 cases, both due to people traveling and gathering over the holidays, as well as the prevalence of the new JN.1 variant. While this is following a pattern that is similar to years past, what’s different this year is that, in Massachusetts, the Department of Public Health reports that only 17 percent of residents have received the latest COVID-19 vaccine. This is a significant drop compared to the almost 50 percent recorded for the initial booster shot in 2021 and the 25 percent for the bivalent booster at this same period last year.
With all of this in mind, we want to remind you that you have the power to take control of your own health and to positively impact your community.
Here are a few things you can do:
1. Boost Your Defense: If you haven’t yet gotten the new COVID-19 vaccine, schedule your vaccination today to ensure you have the best protection this winter against the latest COVID variant.
2. Encourage Others To Get Vaccinated: Share this message with your family and network, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and its impact on community well-being. By encouraging those around you to get vaccinated, you are helping to protect your loved ones and your community.
3. Support Community Advocacy: The Globe article highlighted the return of racial and economic disparities in vaccination rates that were very prevalent at the beginning of the pandemic. This underscores the necessity of continuing to foster health equity. SCI VEAP and the Council of Social Concern are proud to be among those organizations working to spread the word about the importance of vaccination and helping to make it more accessible in the communities we serve. You can help our outreach efforts by sharing our social media posts, encouraging others to join our mailing lists, making a charitable contribution, or volunteering with us!
Your choices make a difference, and influence those around you. The winter season is just getting underway so let’s approach it with an attitude of empowerment and a commitment to the health and well-being of ourselves and our communities!
Resources:
JN.1 variant makes up a majority of COVID cases in the US. Here’s what to know
Image source: Culture ONE World (C1W)
