GIVING VACCINATION A SHOT IN THE ARM COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM MAKES A GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO OVERCOME INOCULATION HURDLES.
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alse information about COVID-19 vaccination from coworkers and social media had left a young mother of two concerned: Would getting vaccinated make her infertile? Implant a tracking chip inside her? Trigger dangerous side effects? Community health promoters from Robert Wood Johnson University Healthy Together
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Hospital (RWJUH) stood ready with the facts. They spoke with the woman about her concerns, discussed the vaccine’s benefits and side effects and dispelled misinformation. As a result, the woman got a shot to protect herself and the community against COVID. Facing widespread vaccine hesitancy that was occurring for a variety of
reasons, a team of RWJUH community health specialists and volunteers have run a targeted, coordinated campaign to educate area residents about the COVID-19 vaccine and get more shots into arms. The grassroots effort has overcome vaccination hurdles such as technology challenges, disinformation, demanding work schedules, language barriers and more. The dozen-strong group took to streets, churches, schools and the internet to convince New Brunswickarea residents that vaccination is the most powerful tool to end the pandemic. “Our community health workers knocked on doors, listened at restaurants, churches and bodegas, answered questions and went through every misconception,” says Mariam Merced, MA, Director of RWJUH Community Health Promotions. “That’s helped turn things around in this city. We’ve helped people make their appointments and circumvented barriers to get them in.”
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