Some worry about burdening their host country by shooting someone else who may need more. Some are concerned that accepting the vaccine could make it more difficult to get immigration documents. Some are deterred by misinformation about a vaccine-related fee or by visiting to receive the vaccine.
We learned how to deal with all of these. We started conversations with people and addressed concerns directly. There is no mistake to go by to talk about vaccines. If you go to the Mary Center for a checkup, dental care, prenatal checkup, or a check for rent, you’ve already had a conversation about vaccines. By talking and listening, we’ve learned what strategies make our clients feel safer and more comfortable with their vaccinations.
Lesson two: There are no false messengers
We soon saw everyone as a vaccine messenger. When our employees and their family members were immunized, we shared the joy of their new freedom of movement. When a teenager comes in for help with homework, we ask her to encourage her grandmother to get vaccinated. Sometimes our best messenger is the one who focuses on mopping the floors, because the client she’s talking to did the same thing with his job a few hours earlier.
People may not trust the medical facility, but they trust their own doctor or nurse. It’s powerful when our clients see their doctors on Facebook or YouTube talking about vaccines! I am very impressed with what our Black community has done with barbershops and barbers; it works because there’s a lot of trust and the vaccination doctors are right there.
Mary Center has partnered with our local utility company, Pepco, in two ways. First, fulfill their philanthropic commitment to keep the community connected to their gadgets, and second, vaccinate their line workers so they stay safe as they work in the community. . We partner with local chambers of commerce to reach the small businesses that hire our clients. And we learned the power of health from a distance; it has saved many lives and is especially important to the disabled community and those facing mental health issues during the pandemic. Without telehealth, we would lose many more people to drug overdoses and suicides.
Lesson Three: There’s No Wrong Moment
We believe fervently that there is never a wrong time to get vaccinated. I believe it is wrong to limit the vaccine to the elderly and those with certain pre-existing conditions. We must follow these strict rules or we will not be allowed to continue to vaccinate our community.
But I wish we didn’t have to turn our backs on the young woman – and others like her – who worked so hard to take a day off work to get their grandparents vaccinated, but couldn’t get them themselves. Vaccine. Being forced to turn away from those who want to be shot is painful. And, as we expected, we are now struggling, not always with success, to get them back.
I hope when we look back on how we have handled this pandemic, we will admit that not doing so was a mistake that we need to correct.
Lesson four: Take care of your employees
I learned a lot about how to be an effective administrator in times of crisis. I know that admins need to stay away, create a MASH unit and give your team the tools and resources they need.
Transparency is essential. I cried many times with my staff. I admit when I don’t have an answer. I insist that we were in this together. I told them when we had enough money to last the next week or month and when nothing was guaranteed after that. I was in the trenches with them and made sure they saw me.
There were practical considerations. We had to give to our staff because nothing was open. And there is psychological stress. The social determinants of health are very real for our team. They have partners in construction, childcare, cleaning and grocery workers who have had to go to work; some of them got sick and some died.
Never forget that your community is your employees — and you are nothing without them. Stay away from them and they will work wonders.
Lesson 5: Time with you
We’ve been rushing a lot over the past year. We rush to meet an established timeline, a goal set by the President, or a city directive. But sometimes people need time. Getting the vaccine can be a big decision. People need time to process it. In time, they’ll convince themselves to get the shot. Once your grandfather gave the injection, you found that it was safe. 16-year-olds are now photographed as the best voices for their parents. But parents also have responsibilities. We’re telling parents: You don’t give your child the choice to shower, drink, or smoke. Why give them the choice whether to take a photo that could save their life?
As healthcare providers, scientists, and leaders, we need to make time for the community. I believe we will get there, with 80 or 90% of people vaccinated, if we continue to use social media, hold meetings, talk privately, enlist influencers. as religious leaders and teachers, and do all the things we know how to do best. It works. We just have to keep doing it and give people some time to normalize this activity, as we did with childhood immunizations.
Dr. Rich Besser and Dr. Julie Morita shared why equity should be at the heart of vaccine distribution. Read their op-ed.
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