By: We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign
The new school year is here. In addition to buying pencils and notebooks and organizing school uniforms, getting kids vaccinated against COVID-19 is an important step back to the classroom. All children 6 months and older are eligible for the COVID vaccine, while vaccinated children 5 years and older are eligible for a booster vaccine for continued protection.
As of Aug. 25, about 30 percent of children ages 5 to 11 were fully vaccinated, and only 4 percent of them received their first booster dose, according to the CDC.
To increase vaccine and booster use across the country, we can make it happen The COVID-19 public education campaign continues to work with community-based organizations as partners.
“Vaccinating children and boosting their immunizations against COVID-19 is an important step in protecting their health and safety in and out of school, while also providing safety measures for other loved ones, especially for Asian Americans living in Hawaii and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) multigenerational families,” said Jeffrey Caballero, MPH, executive director of the Association of Asia-Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO).
AAPCHO educates members and partners through its Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce collaboration. Led by federally qualified health centers and community-based organizations, CHW aims to expand COVID-19 vaccine outreach and advance educational programs that serve disadvantaged AANHPI communities, providing services ranging from health education to interpretation and referral.
“For families who want vaccines and boosters for their children when they return to school, but face barriers to language or access to appropriate resources and information, it’s important that we do our best to serve those in our community,” Caballero said. Say.
Parents should know that getting their children vaccinated will:
- protect their children. Vaccinations help prevent serious illness and keep children learning in person throughout the school year. COVID vaccines are developed with safety as the top priority, and side effects, if they occur, are usually mild.
- Protect the entire family, including vulnerable members of the family. Vaccinations protect children in the family, relatives and other care providers, and other friends and loved ones who spend time with children.
- Help avoid disruption to face-to-face learning. Asymptomatic, vaccinated close contacts may not need to isolate at home after exposure to someone with COVID. Getting vaccinated helps students and staff stay in school safely.
- Help prevent cancellations of extracurricular activities, sports and other activities. Activities such as sports, bands and choruses are safer and more likely to continue uninterrupted if all participants are up to date with the latest COVID vaccines.
- Let children continue to do what they love to do. Getting vaccinated can keep kids from missing out on childhood joys — like sleepovers, birthday parties, sporting events, and more.
As children return to the classroom, they may be exposed to the new coronavirus more frequently. Parents can consider providing their child with a comfortable, fitted face mask for extra protection. Parents should also keep their children at home and get them tested if they have COVID symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.
The vaccine is free for everyone who has lived in the United States for 6 months or more, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.
For more information and to find a vaccine, visit Vaccine website.
