January 2021 CMGMH Update:
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Greetings CMGMH Friends & Colleagues!
Welcome to the year 2021; may your year be filled with rest, health, and joy. It is no secret that 2020 was a rough year and everyone hopes and dreams for a less eventful year. Still, as tempting as it may be, 2020 cannot be a year forgotten and tucked away somewhere to be ignored as a fluke. The reality is that the last year revealed much about our nation and its people whether that be through the many protests and calls for justice following the murder of George Floyd as thousands declared that "enough was enough" or through the ability to adapt and create joy during the global COVID-19 pandemic. We must not forget our neighbors who stepped up to help care for those isolated at home, our appreciation for essential workers, nor the collective fury at the lack of systemic change regarding the racism that permeates throughout our society.
The New Year brings new hope with the approval of multiple COVID-19 vaccinations and what is hopefully a light at the end of this quarantine/socially-distant tunnel. Yet, due to wide-spread distrust of our political and medical systems, there are many who hesitate at the idea of a vaccine. Much of this distrust is founded in the years of racial abuse and neglect from the same entities pushing for vaccine distribution. The lack of information and/or abundance of wide-spread misinformation has also played a factor into the hesitancy of people around the world. Hence, this newsletter will be largely devoted to providing sources and information regarding the vaccine, including: how it works, how it will be distributed/who will access first, and the people who made all of it possible.
I do not know where this year will take us but my hope is that 2021 will be a year of systemic change, joyful reunions, and plenty of rest for us all.
All the Best,
Rebekah Drew
CMGMH Program Coordinator
AmeriCorps VISTA Member
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Talking About the Vaccine(s):
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Miscellaneous:
Center for Disease Control (CDC):
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The human immune system is complex, intricate, adaptable, and constantly working to keep the body running. Viruses, however, have the tricky habit of using the same systems designed to keep us healthy as means in which to proliferate and grow exponentially. The job of a vaccine is to basically "re-boot" the immune system by exposing the system to a safe, non-active version of the viral antigen. The body can then use those safe antigens in order to create a immune response should the body later come in contact with a live virus.
Through the years, many people around the world have developed a hesitancy/distrust of vaccinations. In order to combat public distrust of the COVID-19 vaccine, organizations such as WHO, the CDC, and labs around the world have published materials and literature to help explain what the vaccine will mean, how it will work, and more.
Here are a few notable resources:
World Health Organization (WHO):
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Recommended Video where CDC’s Dr. Henry Walke answers common questions about COVID-19.
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Distribution of the COVID-19 Vaccine:
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The CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), local municipalities, and more have been working to create strategic plans by which they will be distributing the COVID-19 vaccine over the next year. Here are a list of quick links published by these entities with the reminder that this is a mere sample of what is available and I recommend checking your local government's webpage or other reputable sources for additional information not contained here.
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Center for Disease Control:
Department of Health and Human Services:
Mass.gov:
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COVID-19 and Communities of Color:
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People of color have been drastically affected by COVID-19 through marginalization, discrimination, gaps in income and education, and a lack of the same resources many in the white community have enjoyed. According to NPR news, "African Americans continue to get infected and die from COVID-19 at rates more than 1.5 times their share of the population." NPR's research also reports a higher case and death percentage in African American/Black, Native American, and Hispanic communities that exceeds their share of the population (See Here).
People of color around the world have also played vital roles in the road to recovery from leading research scientists, such as Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, to stepping up to the plate as willing participants in the many medical trials required for vaccine production. Dr. Corbett isn't the only major player of color in the case for COVID-19 recovery. Sandra Lindsay, a nurse from Queens and a black woman, will go down in history as the first person in the United States to receive a COVID-19 vaccination (click here for the New York Times article discussing this momentous occasion). Calethia Hodges has inherited the monumental task of recruiting black and African American participants for COVID-19 medical trials as vaccinations are put on hold until they are tested among communities of color as well as the white population (NBC published an article here).
The need for communities of color in America is hardly a new idea as the U.S.A. has been built on the backs of black and African American laborers. Our nation would have nothing if not for the slaves, indentured servants, and underpaid workers who created and continue to sustain our economy. Moving forward, however, our nation must work with equity for all workers (no matter class, race, or socioeconomic status) if we wish to build a future where we do not rely on the blood of our brothers and sisters.
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Additional Readings on the Pandemic and BIPOC communities:
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Upcoming Programs & Webinars*
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Evening of Gratitude, Hope, & Celebration / Asian Mental Health Program Kick-off - January 28th: registration coming soon
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"Uyghur Crisis in China: Cultural Genocide" with Omar Kanat - Early to mid February (Date TBD)
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Greek Independence Date - March 25th
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Forum on Asian Mental Health - April 30th
*More information and details to come
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Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health
1 Wells Avenue
Newton, MA 02459
617-327-6777
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