Healthy Savannah Recommends Getting COVID/Flu Vaccines Now Before Holiday Gatherings
(Savannah, Ga.) ‘Tis almost the season for getting together. But before everyone gathers for holiday feasting, celebrating and togetherness, Healthy Savannah wants to remind the public it’s time to update seasonal immunizations.
“The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over six months of age, and high-dose flu vaccine options are available for seniors aged 65 and up,” said Nichele Hoskins, Adult Vaccination Program manager. “This vaccine is widely available at the Chatham County Health Department, most pharmacies, and from area health providers.”
Respiratory illnesses like COVID, flu, RSV and pneumococcal pneumonia tend to peak between December and February, according to the CDC.
“COVID and other illnesses that affect the lungs typically spike in the winter when people spend more time indoors and often spend time together,” Hoskins said. “So we want our community to stay together during the holidays by staying healthy.”
That’s why Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia have launched a “Let’s Stay Healthy Together” campaign, to remind the public of the importance of building immunity now to reduce vulnerability to seasonal respiratory illnesses once the holiday season is underway. It takes about 10 to 14 days after getting the flu vaccine for your body to develop antibodies and protection against the flu.
The organizations are co-administrators of a five-year, $5.1 million Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant to foster sustainable and equitable health promotion among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods in areas of nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding and adult vaccination.
The campaign includes a public service announcement video being streamed on social media and broadcast on local government channels, with the message that the holidays often bring us closer together, and it’s important to stay healthy to stay together. Campaign posters are also displayed on Chatham County transit buses and flyers are being distributed in City of Savannah water bills.
The Chatham County Health Department currently offers the flu vaccine by appointment by calling 912-356-2441. Most people will have no out-of-pocket cost as many health insurance plans are accepted. There are also no-cost options for individuals without health insurance.
Shipments of the updated COVID vaccine for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season are also beginning to be available, with additional shipments expected in the coming weeks. Contact your health provider or the local county health department for the latest information on COVID vaccine availability.
“We are urging everyone to get vaccinated to build up their seasonal immunity now so they can stay healthy when they travel and gather with others over the holidays,” said Hoskins. “Our community health advocates are also doing a great job helping advance vaccine awareness, understanding, and acceptance in their neighborhoods, churches, and organizations.”
The REACH team has offered seven adult-vaccination focused Community Health Advocate (CHA) training sessions over the past several years, equipping more than 80 community members interested in advancing health equity and awareness of vaccine-preventable diseases in the Savannah area. An eighth cohort is now scheduled, starting with a virtual (online) listening session at 6:30 pm on Thursday, November 7. This will be followed by an online training session at 6:30 pm on Thursday, November 21. Community members interested in joining the conversation to advance health equity by attending the listening session or training to become a CHA should register by emailing CHAadmin@healthysavannah.org.
Those who complete the Community Health Advocate training and program are eligible to receive a $500 stipend.
Healthy Savannah and the Y recently recognized 21 graduates of the Winter 2023 through Spring 2024 cohorts in a celebration ceremony held on October 19 at the Vaden Automotive Corporate Office.
Healthy Savannah’s REACH team celebrated 21 Community Health Advocate program graduates on October 19, 2024. Pictured (L-R) Back Row: Sharon Wyche???, Dr. Elsie Smalls, Joanne Quarterman, Charice Stroud, Pamela Hurst, Melissa Bolechala, Eva Alas, Nichele Hoskins. (L-R) Front Row: Tonny Wellington, Cassie Jenkins, Ervenia Bowers (Not pictured) Sebrina Brown, Ianthia Davis, Kamura Davis, Salathiel DeLoach, Stacey Hall, Bridgette Hammond, Kim Jackson-Allen, Amber Kestler, Norman Luten, Lufecia Martin, Stephanie Tutt, Leslie Walker, Dona Williams
“I’m retired from Savannah State University, and instead of sitting on the couch, I can now be out there reaching people in the community,” said Joanne Quarterman. “The real reward for receiving this training as a Community Health Advocate is the thanks I get from people who call me and tell me the vaccination saved their life. My goal is to continue being an advocate for Healthy Savannah in order to save lives.”
For more information about the CHA program, visit Healthy Savannah’s Community Advocate Program webpage [https://healthysavannah.org/2021/07/09/community-advocate-program/]. For more information on the recommended vaccines for adults, visit Healthy Savannah’s Adult Immunization webpage [https://healthysavannah.org/our-programs/adult-immunization/]or the Coastal Health District’s immunization webpage [https://coastalhealthdistrict.org/programs-services/immunizationsvaccinations/]. Those interested in attending an upcoming listening session or CHA training should email CHAadmin@healthysavannah.org.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH: In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded a second grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) to Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. $5.1 million in funding is being deployed over a five-year period to be utilized in an “upstream” approach to foster sustainable health equity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods in areas of nutrition, physical activity and the reduction of chronic diseases. The renewed funding enables work to continue which began under the initial, five-year, $3.4 million REACH grant awarded in 2018, and a supplemental grant awarded in 2021 to increase awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 and flu adult immunizations. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the Savannah/Chatham County project team’s specific goals in implementing the new five-year grant include fostering physical activity by creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play; elevating the health and wellness of the community through policy, systems, and environmental change; and providing education and awareness regarding adult immunizations, especially as they relate to health disparities in chronic conditions of hypertension, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The administrators will also continue to foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them by supporting awareness and use of the HERO Help Me database. In July 2022, Healthy Savannah received the CDC’s 2022 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity Challenge. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals and entities whose work has contributed to advancing health equity.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.
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