Healthy Savannah Recommends Coronavirus/Flu Vaccination Now Before Holiday Gatherings
(Savannah, Georgia) Gathering season is almost upon us. But Healthy Savannah wants to remind the public that before we all gather together for holiday feasting, celebration, and togetherness, it’s time to renew your seasonal vaccinations.
“The influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone six months of age and older, and high-dose influenza vaccine options are available for seniors 65 and older,” said Nichelle Hoskins, Adult Vaccination Program Manager. he said. “This vaccine is widely available at the Chatham County Health Department, most pharmacies, and local health care providers.”
According to the CDC, respiratory illnesses such as coronavirus, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and pneumococcal pneumonia tend to peak between December and February.
“COVID-19 and other illnesses that affect the lungs typically spike in the winter, when people spend more time indoors and more often together,” Hoskins said. “So we want to help our community come together during the holidays by staying healthy.”
That’s why Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia are reminding the public of the importance of boosting your immunity now to reduce your vulnerability to seasonal respiratory illnesses once the holiday season begins. For this reason, we have launched the “Let’s Stay Healthy Together” campaign. After receiving the influenza vaccine, it takes approximately 10 to 14 days for the body to develop antibodies and complete protection against influenza.
These organizations will receive $5.1 million over five years to advance sustainable and equitable health gains in the areas of nutrition and physical activity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth communities. Co-manager of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant. , breastfeeding and adult immunization.
The campaign includes a public service announcement video that will be streamed on social media and broadcast on local government channels.Holidays often bring us closer together, and we encourage people to spend time together. contains the message that it is important to stay healthy. Campaign posters are also being displayed on Chatham County transit buses, and flyers are being distributed on Savannah water bills.
The Chatham County Health Department is currently offering flu vaccinations by appointment by calling 912-356-2441. Many health insurance plans are accepted, so most people have no out-of-pocket costs. There are also no-cost options for individuals without health insurance.
Shipments of the latest coronavirus vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season have also begun, with additional shipments expected in the coming weeks. For the latest information on coronavirus vaccine availability, contact your health care provider or local county health department.
“We encourage everyone to get vaccinated now to build seasonal immunity so you can stay healthy as you travel and gather with others during the holidays,” Hoskins said. said. “Our community health activists are doing an incredible job promoting vaccine awareness, understanding and acceptance in our neighborhoods, churches and organizations.”
The REACH team has delivered seven Community Health Advocate (CHA) training sessions over the past few years focused on adult vaccines, and has demonstrated an interest in improving health equity and vaccine-preventable disease awareness in the Savannah region. We have provided knowledge to over 80 community members with The eighth cohort is currently scheduled, starting with a virtual (online) listening session on Thursday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. This will be followed by an online training session on Thursday, November 21 at 6:30 p.m. Interested community members who wish to attend a listening session or training to become a CHA and join the conversation to advance health equity should register by emailing CHAadmin@healthysavannah.org.
Those who complete the Community Health Advocate training and program are eligible to receive a $500 scholarship.
Healthy Savannah and The Y recently recognized 21 graduates from the Winter 2023 to Spring 2024 classes at a gala ceremony held at the Virden Automotive Corporate Offices on October 19th.
Healthy Savannah’s REACH team celebrated 21 graduates of the Community Health Advocate program on October 19, 2024. Photo (LR) Back row: Sharon Wich???, Dr. Elsie Smalls, Joanne Quarterman, Sharice Stroud, Pamela Hearst, Melissa Borechala, Eva Alas, Nichelle Hoskins. (LR) Front row: Tony Wellington, Kathy Jenkins, Elvenia Bowers (not pictured) Sebrina Brown, Ianthea Davis, Kamla Davis, Salaciel DeLoach, Stacey Hall, Bridget Hammond, Kim Jackson-Allen , Amber Koestler, Norman Luten, Rufecia Martin, Stephanie Tutt, Leslie Walker, Donna Williams
“Now that I’m retired from Savannah State University, I can go out and reach out to people in the community instead of sitting on my couch,” Joanne Quarterman said. “As a community health advocate, the most rewarding part of this training is the gratitude I receive from people who call me and say the vaccine saved their lives. We must continue to be advocates for healthy savannahs to save them.”
For more information about the CHA program, please visit Healthy Savannah’s Community Advocate Program webpage at https://healthysavannah.org/2021/07/09/community-advocate-program/. For more information about vaccines recommended for adults, visit Healthy Savannah’s Adult Immunizations webpage (https://healthysavannah.org/our-programs/Adult-immunization/) or Coastal Health District’s Immunizations webpage (https:/ /coastalhealthdistrict.org/). Programs – Services/Immunizations/Vaccinations/). If you are interested in participating in an upcoming listening session or CHA training, please email CHAadmin@healthysavannah.org.
About the Georgia Coastal Region/Healthy Savannah YMCA Grant for Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health: In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant. The second grant was awarded to Healthy Savannah and Healthy Savannah. YMCA of Coastal Georgia. The $5.1 million in funding will provide “upstream” funding to promote sustainable health equity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth areas in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease reduction. It will be invested over five years to be utilized in the approach. disease. The new funding builds on an initial five-year $3.4 million REACH grant awarded in 2018 and an additional $3.4 million REACH grant awarded in 2021 to increase awareness and acceptance of adult vaccinations for COVID-19 and influenza. This will enable the continuation of work begun on the basis of additional grants. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the Savannah/Chatham County Project Team is implementing a new five-year grant with specific goals that include walking, running, biking and playing. This includes promoting physical activity by increasing access to safe spaces. Improving community health through policy, institutional and environmental change. Providing education and awareness about adult vaccinations, particularly as they relate to health disparities in chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Administrators also continue to foster stronger connections between people and the health care providers who serve them by supporting awareness and use of the HERO Help Me database. In July 2022, Healthy Savannah was awarded the CDC’s 2022 REACH Lark Galloway Gilliam Award for Advancing the Health Equity Challenge. This award recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that have contributed to advancing health equity.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.
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