By Dena Vang After two years of cancellations and alternative celebrations, cities across the country are getting ready to bring back fireworks, parades, barbecues and picnics, and other Fourth of July festivities. But with the rise of the BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 subvariants of omicron, the U.S. finds itself in a familiar position: the threat […]
5 Ways to Support Your Child’s Mental Health
By Dena Vang The ongoing stress, fear, and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to many negative mental health impacts among children and adolescents. During the recent virtual town hall titled Mental Wealth: COVID’s Impact on Mental Health in the Black Community, a panel of trusted doctors discussed insights into how parents and caregivers […]
COVID-19 Long Hauler Shares Survival Story to Support COVID-19 Vaccinations in Black Communities
By Dena Vang Antoinette Patterson didn’t think boarding a plane on Feb. 29, 2020, would impact her life the way that it did. She took the stage during the Voices of COVID panel discussion at the W Cobb NMA Institute Stay Well Community Health Fair and Vaccine event in Baton Rouge to share her testimony. […]
More Than 100 Parents Line Up During Health Fair and Vaccine Event to Get Children 5–11 Vaccinated
By Dena Vang Latricia Anderson was one of several parents waiting in the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church lobby in Baton Rouge to get her 9-year-old son, Michael, vaccinated during the W Cobb NMA Institute Stay Well Community Health Fair and Vaccine Event. “All of the adults in our family and all of the teenagers have […]
Doctors Continue to Urge Pregnant People and Parents with Eligible Children to Get Vaccinated
By Dena Vang As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in much of the United States, health care and medical professionals are still urging people to get vaccinated—especially pregnant people and parents with eligible children. In a panel discussion during the W Cobb NMA Institute Harry Blake Empowerment Community Health Fair and Vaccine event in Shreveport, […]
4 Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy
By Dena Vang As cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant continue to raise concerns across the United States, doctors and public health officials are urging pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to get vaccinated. Here are four things pregnant women need to know about COVID-19 vaccines. Pregnancy is a risk factor for having severe COVID-19 illness Pregnant […]
COVID-19 Safety: How to Prepare Your Kids for Back to School
By Dena Vang Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, families and schools have worked tirelessly to create safe learning environments for students while also providing services such as school meals, extended daycare, extracurricular activities and social services. With the 2021–2022 school year upon us, schools are continuing to adjust policies and practices with the […]
Toolkits to Help You Talk with Vaccine-Hesitant People in Your Community
By Dena Vang More than half the adults in the United States have gotten vaccinated. While these numbers continue to increase, addressing vaccine hesitancy among minority communities will continue to play a significant role in mitigating the disproportionate impacts of the virus and new variants for people of color and prevent widening racial health disparities. […]
COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy: What Expecting Moms Need to Know
By Dena Vang Pregnancy and childbirth are among life’s most cherished moments. While many women hope for a healthy pregnancy and delivery, complications tend to arise, especially among Black women. Prior to the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that Black women were three times more likely than Hispanic women and […]
Fraud Alert: How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19 Scams
By Dena Vang As America continues to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, prioritizing and educating the most at-risk populations about vaccines is crucial to tackling the pandemic. COVID-19 has further exposed the racial and ethnic health inequities in the United States. According to a KFF report, people of color, including older adults and others on Medicare, account […]