Page 3 - BCAC International Awareness & Involvement Newsletter

THE EPIDIMIOLOGY AND SCIENCE OF COVID-19
"REFLECTION"
COMMUNITY FACTS
BROWARD COUNTY COVID-19 IMPACTS
ASK THE EXPERT
WHAT ARE THE LASTING IMPACTS OF COVID-19 IN THE BROWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY?
EXPERT JASMIN SHIRLEY MEMBER, BROWARD COUNTY ALUMNAE
Soror Jasmin Shirley retired as Sr. Vice President of Community Health Services of the North Broward Hospital District d/b/a Broward Health. In that position, she oversaw the Community Health Services division's day-to-day operations, including primary care centers, a home health and hospice agency, an infusion company, urgent care centers, and physician practices. She has more than thirty-five years of experience in health administration. Coming out of retirement, Jasmin Shirley serves as the Director of COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach at the Broward Regional Health Planning Council.
THE IMPORTANCE ON COVID-19 EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY
Communities in
County and
throughout the
Florida and the nation did not readily believe, trust and embrace numerous public
Broward others state of
health
recommendations, preventative
strategies proposed by public health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Secondly, the pandemic hit hardest in communities of color and individuals with underlying chronic conditions. These groups remain at high risk and continue to experience the greatest morbidity and mortality.
Thirdly, disparities in access to health, access to treatments, vaccine production and distribution, as well as the capacity and infrastructure of our hospitals, and healthcare professionals and the impacts on the economy took center stage nationwide.
Lastly, too often we had to address misinformation, conspiracy theories, mistrust, and non-compliance just to get folks to voluntarily help in the struggle to reduce viral transmission and get vaccinated.
IA&I - DECEMBER 2022
alerts, and mitigation
EXPERT REFLECTION
SOROR JASMIN SHIRLEY makes the following reflections. First, there are new and developing treatments for COVID-19. As we learn more about COVID-19 and the new variant strains developing globally, I am confident that our knowledge, expertise, and development of more effective therapies will increase and become readily available.
COVID-19 is a coronavirus that will not end. We will continue to deal with this virus-like many others, over time. Unfortunately, we are seeing more respiratory transmission of viruses impacting us simultaneously. The Influenza (Flu) season is upon us, with cases and deaths increasing earlier.
To combat COVID-19, we as community members must practice those preventative strategies known to be effective and commit to reducing the transmission of the virus to others. Diligently practice the Four W’s: wear your mask (good quality masks that are correctly fitted and cover both the nose and mouth); watch your distance, especially in crowded/public spaces with poor ventilation and the inability to space appropriately; and wash your hands/sanitize often.
Finally, get access to, receive, and complete the COVID-19 vaccine series and updated booster.
Give yourself and your loved ones the extra protection needed to reduce the risks and impacts of getting the severe disease, hospitalization and/or death.
I remember the day clearly, January 27, 2020, I was reading USA Today, and the center of the headline page glared about the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. On the left side of the front page was a public health alert: Racing to Find a Vaccine for Novel Coronavirus. This struck me like a lightning bolt. Here we go again, another novel virus! But this is a respiratory transmitted new coronavirus...Will we learn from our past pandemics from 100 years ago?
COVID-19 became personal for me, and I soon learned how easily one could let their guard down and get infected in the blink of an eye. After one episode of the disease and two hospitalizations, I welcomed the opportunity to come out of retirement and get back to work fighting the impacts that COVID-19 presented throughout Broward County.
We have come a long way since 2020, but there are still miles more to travel and millions of people to impact. So get the facts, understand the risks and act to protect and preserve your health and your loved ones. I SURVIVED COVID-19!
Knowledge is crucial, and action is survival. Feel free to call Soror Jasmin Shirley at the Broward Regional Health Planning Council at 954-561-9681, Extension 1261, for more information.
INDUSTRY